excelsior slowdown

the herringbone cotto…..so so good, and SUCH a fabulous way to brighten up the neglected space under the deck; in order to add a bit more light & cheer and make it more useable, we painted the ceiling white, the supports charcoal, clad the walls in the same knotty cedar as the fence and covered it with plantings from the ceiling and established in containers; the hanging settee was the cherry on top and a perfect place for mom & dad to watch the kiddos play - although the floating cedar slab steps to the main garden are one of my favorite elements (it’s the little things). Speaking of play - the newly tiled back patio doubles as a spectacular stage for performances, also a fantastic spot for morning coffee and happy hour around the firepit.

*photos by Dani Coulter

Patio area with a wooden slat wall, hanging wicker bench with blue cushion, potted plants, and hanging planters, with a black-painted wooden support beam and a herringbone-patterned brick floor.
Outdoor patio with a wooden hanging swing, a large potted plant, and a garden with various green plants behind a wooden fence.
Patio with large potted plants and hanging planters, wooden stairs, wooden privacy fence, and leafy greenery.
An outdoor patio area with wooden flooring in a herringbone pattern, potted plants including ferns and leafy plants, wooden benches, and a sitting area with black cushions. Sunlight creates shadows through a wooden pergola.
A backyard garden with purple flowers, green plants, and a shaded outdoor seating area with wooden structure.
A modern outdoor patio with black and white geometric patterned tiles, enclosed by wooden fences. There is a black L-shaped outdoor sofa with cushions on the right side and a large planter with green plants on the right front. A wooden bench is at th