SMALL SPACES: New Impressions from the Balcony Garden

This year the weather is really crazy - very humid but relatively warm - at least most of the time. It's good for the plants because they grow like crazy - not so good for the blooms I must say though. Simply not enough sunshine.

I have grown 3 different Tropaeolum this year and they are forming a real jungle in the meanwhile and the bees and bumblebees love their blooms which is wonderful - even at a height of more than 120 feet!!! I love bumblebees. Here are some vignettes how even a small space can transform into a lovely little garden.

This was the beginning of May:

As you can see I have quite a lot of pots hanging from the ceiling which is doing the trick if you are very constraint with space (even my little Oleander tree is hanging):

 4 weeks later it already looked like this - the Tropaeolum started to climb:

Now this is the view I have when I am sitting on my balcony - the ugly outer world has been shut off completely - at least by sight:

Our pigeons love this jungle - can hide between the leaves and relax there:

My Epiphyllum gave me soom blooms this year again:

Btw - this year I have spent less than a 100 bucks on my balcony garden including all the new pots/containers, potting soil, new herbs and seeds and even my new Oleander tree. (Last one was killed in the awfully cold winter). You see you don't need to spend a whole lot of money to create a little garden in your modest home.
Btw - you don't even need to buy expensive seeds or plants. Some vegetables have lovely blooms and the green leaves are sometimes very interesting, climbers and non-climbers. And if you are lucky you can even harvest the fruit in the end. Last year I even had some beans on the balcony. Unfortunately the rest of the plant was eaten untimely by lice.

I am growing a lot of Anthericum as well which can serve as a filler for empty places, is easy to grow from its own branches and looks wonderful when blooming (the blooms here are from my cactus though).

And this is my balcony as it looks now - wonderfully overgrown:

 (all photos above ©Petra Voegtle)

Here are a few more impressions what you can do with your balcony:

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This is a real surprise for me that you can grow Brugmansia on the balcony:

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Such a balcony garden adds to a romantic feeling - doesn't it - and is full of life instead of grey concrete. The plants create a soothing climate on your balcony, keep off dust and even pollution to some extent. They can serve as a windshield as well as a sunscreen. I could not do without them any more...

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Romantic Bedroom

After so much history it is time to return.
A bedroom is the most personal and intimate room of a house and reflects the owner's personality more than any other room. As most images we see are from rooms which are "staged" for photography it is immensely difficult to really detect a certain personality. The reason is that these rooms are part of an ensemble which is normally to be sold and therefore should not be filled with personal objects in order not to bewilder a potential buyer. The room should just reflect an idea how it could look like without making a too strong statement.

This bedroom though could need a bit more "friendliness", a bit more serenity despite the romantic touch, the ruches of the pillows and the bedding. Currently it looks a bit too gloomy for my taste. This could be achieved by the pigeon paintings I would hang on the walls. But judge for yourself. Below is the original room:

And this is the version I would tend to if it were my room:

Not much is needed in fact to brighten up a room - don't you think so too?

Here are the acrylic paintings from the pigeon series in detail:

"The Rain Dancer"
(from the Pigeons series) 
18" x 26" acrylic on cotton
©Petra Voegtle

 "Contemplation on a Feather"

(from the Pigeons series) 

18" x 26" acrylic

©Petra Voegtle

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GUEST POST: Candles and their Meanings

This is the time for candles. When the days become dark outside the human longs for warmth and light. Here is an interesting guest post by Isabella Woods:   
   

Eternal Flame: Our Favourite Candles and their Meanings

Candles are no longer the sole domain of that dreadlocked hippy everyone thinks is a little weird. Far from it! In fact, with the likes of Victoria Beckham burning scented candles at her SS12 fashion show, candles are about as cool as things get at the moment. What’s more, now that the nights are drawing in and getting colder and the holiday season is well on its way, they’re a great way of making your home as warm, snug and cozy as possible.  Light up, lie back on your leather sectional sofa recliner – or even better – indulge in a relaxing bath, and feel yourself mellow as the scent envelopes you. Read on to discover the different meanings of candles and our favorite scented candles out there.

For many years, candles have been seen as a symbol of hope and love. They’re a welcoming sign at the end of a long journey, or a focal point in all manner of religious ceremonies. We have used them for years to help show us the way, to remember a special person or occasion, and to create a sense of calm. But the colors of candles also hold meanings, too. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular color candles and their meanings –

• Red – red candles can mean a sign of health, vitality, fertility and strength, but they’re most obviously connected to passion, love and desire. Red candles are perfect for romantic nights in.
• White – white is believed to be a cleansing color so light a white candle if you’re in need of calm. It is also linked to purity and innocence so you will often see white candles at events like christenings and weddings.
• Black – this color is so often associated with bad things, but in the case of candles that’s as far from the truth as you could get. Lighting a black candle is believed to help in getting rid of negative energies.
• Gold – this particular candle color is hugely popular over the festive season and it’s not surprising when you consider it symbolizes wealth and success as well as divinity.
• Silver – again, this shade is very popular in the holiday season, but unlike gold it isn’t about wealth. Even though it can be considered quite bling, silver is actually a neutral shade that’s good for using in meditation.
• Yellow – this color candle is perfect if you’re studying as the color can really help lift the mood and help you focus. The shade is also believed to reflect wisdom and intelligence. So when you’re cramming for exams, light a yellow candle and let’s hope it works!

Now that we’ve discovered the meanings of colors for candles, it’s time to pick our favorite scented ones. Most scented candles tend to come in neutral shades like whites and creams but occasionally you’ll find ones that are colored…

Jo Malone Candles

Probably the most famous name in the world of the scented candle, and with so many fragrances it’s no wonder why. Victoria Beckham’s a fan (she used them to scent her NYC fashion show), and so are we. The newest offering from Jo is called Wild Bluebell. It’s got notes of lily of the valley, jasmine and musk – very cottage garden and perfect for a pick-me-up on cold dreary days.

Dior

This ultra luxe designer label might normally be out of your price range, but – fingers crossed – you should be able to indulge in one of their scented candles. We like their Ambre Nuit candle which is the same scent as the fragrance from its La Collection Privee range. The deliciously deluxe scent of amber is perfect for creating a truly luxurious atmosphere. Ideal for romantic evenings in by a roaring log fire with the drapes drawn closed.

Caroline Herrera Candles

If you’re in need of some extreme ‘me’ time, then check out the lovely range of scented candles from Caroline Herrera. These candles are a great way of helping you to de-stress at the end of a long hard day as they’ve been all created to help aid a sense of serenity and calm.

Pecksniff’s

It may have an unusual name but Pecksniff’s is certainly not to (excuse the pun) be sniffed at! It’s one of the last independent British fragrance houses so if you’re hankering for something that errs on the side of tradition in that truly British way, you’ll love the candles here. Their fragrant home medium candle is available in four scents – alive, happy, calm and naughty.

There are plenty of ways to light up your life. We reckon candles are the perfect solution, especially at this time of year, and there's such a variety available that you're bound to find the fun, festive candles you're looking for.

Thank you Isabella for this lovely post!

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Wrought Iron Bed and a Golden Nymph

I really love this little bedroom. It is incredibly sweet and full of romantic. And of course the wrought iron bed. I never had one but I find these kinds of beds wonderfully oldfashioned and somehow I always associate a feeling of happy childhood with them. Strange isn't it? Wrought iron beds are definitely not for kids only...

This could be a gorgeous bedroom in a cottage. I could imagine a scenery with an old rose garden and many large old trees around the house and and ...

...and of course I would not leave this room alone, without a single art piece on the wall. I have one that would complement the bed, the colours perfectly:

The silk wall hanging has been entirely hand quilted with silk thread and painted. Even the intricate patterns on the figure's dress is painted with metallic pigments.

"Golden Nymph"
50" x 26", Silk Art Quilt
©Petra Voegtle

Normally this is hung with hand made wooden dowels but the wall hanging could be also mounted on a stretcher frame and additionally framed - see link.

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Romance pure and a chinoiserie Wallpaper

Did I tell you that I love romantic bedrooms? Probably. But bedrooms are the only rooms in a house where you can live out these kinds of feelings and not be embarrassed if you do so because hardly anyone else (at least not a stranger) will know. This is an argument - isn't it? Your bedroom is all yours and you can do what you want.
Btw - I adore the richly carved bed in this photo - it is heavenly - I wished it were mine...

So I virtually threw out the mirror on the wall - there is still the small one - and replaced it by a painting. I love doing this kind of things to see how it could feel... What do you think? I also removed the lamp which I found to be a bit out of place - colourwise.

 original image source and with courtesy of 

http://www.livingetc.com

The acrylic painting is called White Wall and belongs to the Reminiscences series. I have shown this painting in quite a few room vignettes - if you check this link.

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A Charming Bedroom with a Romantic Touch

I love this bedroom which is apparently an old farmhouse makeover. Not imitated but real old wooden beams - unpainted!- give this room a very romantic feel without the typical flowery embellishments and things like that.

I also like the original painting on the wall which may have been someone else's heirloom and adds the same feeling as the aged beams overhead. Hanging it without frame perfectly fits into the setting in this room, keeping everything as simple as possible. It looks as if you could find exactly the same landscape outside of the window.

In order to add some more cheery feeling to this room I would suggest an alternative to the original painting such as this one, an acrylic work from the Reminiscences series. The series portrays the aged leftovers of planted walls and windows of the old Olympic student village in Munich short before they were demolished.

 original image source and with courtesy of 

http://www.livingetc.com

Below is the photo with the original painting:

This acrylic painting is called Blue Door and was painted on cotton.

"Blue Door"
(from the Reminiscences series)

26" x 18", acrylic

©Petra Voegtle

If you like to know more about the series and its paintings including other room examples  check this link.

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A Bedroom with warm Colours and a Mystery on the Wall

This bedroom looks wonderful with its warm colours. I love cozy bedrooms. The magnificent bed with its breathtaking headpiece just adds the right touch to a romantic feeling. What about dreaming here of an amorous time travel back into the Italy of the 19th century into one of these ancient palazzi? A room such as this could be very inspirational...

Normally I am not a friend of ruffles but used in a decent way as in this room they are a perfectly matching decor and by far not as decadent as the interiors of those ancient palazzi.

The original painting on the wall was also a good match but I would add a bit more mystery of course, a touch of ancient lives and a bit more exotic scenery. So I virtually replaced the original painting with this silk painting/collage of Machu Picchu from the Magic Symbols series.

  original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com

The series of the Magic Symbols describes the icons and secrets of ancient cultures mankind has surrounded himself since the beginning of time. The single images are multi-layered, each telling different stories about the human past, the beliefs, the fears, the longing for protection and hopes for a fullfilled life. No matter how old thoses symbols are and from which region of the world they come from and what they stand for - they keep returning from century to century, from one language to another.

While the landscapes of the ancient cultures might have changed due to climatic or socio-political transformations their heritage has not. They left us the fundaments of human civilization.

"Machu Picchu"
(from the Magic Symbols Series) 

40" x 13", silk

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A Bedroom for the Romantic Soul

This is truly a bedroom for the romantic soul par excellence and I need to show this to you. It speaks of emotions, of nights spent with reading an old fashioned romance novel while listening to soft music while you can hear the ocean waves washing the sand....
This room seems to be taken out of a film, playing in good Ole England and any minute you expect the pretty young girl opening the door and bringing a basket with delicious fruit and a candle for the night... Geez - enough sugar?

Yes I know it may be redundant to place another painting on these walls but in order to increase the contemplative moments I have the following suggestion - you have to look closely though and the major part of it is left to your imagination...

The painting I am talking about is Contemplation on a Feather from the Pigeons series and is shown below in a virtual gilded frame as I could imagine it in this room.

original image source from My Home Ideas/ Southern Accents

"Contemplation on a Feather"
(from the Pigeons series) 
18" x 26" (without frame) acrylic
©Petra Voegtle

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 If you would like to know more about this series please check this link.

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