Garden guru and <em>Southern Living</em> contributing garden editor Carmen Johnston shares her top take-aways from a recent show house visit on how to achieve beautiful green spaces--whether you're a gardener or not!
Carmen Johnston, of Carmen Johnston Gardens and a Southern Living contributing garden editor, recently visited Nashville’s newest signature home event, the Nashville Symphony Show House. She was inspired by the home and gardens, and here are her take-away tips from the charming Southern contemporary folk-style home. PinA little bit of green has a big impact! Note the inviting plants in the background beckoning guests indoors.
I am a proud Georgia peach, but after seeing the Nashville Symphony Show House for the first time, I was ready to uproot my family (and my garden) to move into the stunning Southern home. I have seen a lot of show houses over the years, but this is by far the most inviting. Seriously, I can still hear it calling my name! The space is perfect for entertaining, the kitchen is incredible and the overall size is just right.
What can I say? It was love at first sight. Of course, the excellent use of greenery throughout the show house is what really caught my eye. And with that, here are my suggestions for how to implement the same tasteful garden style in your own space:
1. Put your best blooms forward with annuals or hydrangeas at the front door. Anchor your porch with boxwoods to greet your guests as soon as they arrive.
PinThe front porch is symmetrically anchored by two pairs of planters, hedges and flowers. Image credit: Alyssa RosenheckPinPrior to entering the home, guests are greeted by a bold display of succulents.PinThe front of the home is anchored by sturdy hedges and symmetrical placements of flowers, front porch furniture and planters. Note the three pots parked unassumingly on the side of the porch.2. Take it down a notch with a few special nooks throughout the garden. Small-scale gardening is a great way to create intimate places for your guests to converse, or for you to enjoy your morning cup of coffee or late-night book.PinThe back of the home offers a spacious garden area, complete with patio seating, beautiful greenery and elegant lighting.PinAnother view of the back of the home shows how the use of plants and hedges breaks up the large patio area into more intimate nooks.PinSit a spell and enjoy a good book, a cool iced tea or an engaging conversation with a close friend.
3. Hit ’em with your best pots—the best pots for your front door, that is. When choosing containers to flank your front door, you want to go big before you go home. Two pots too small is not a good look!
PinTwin pots flank either side of the front door and offer a smorgasbord of heights and colors.
4. Stuff ‘n’ shove your entire house with succulents! These plants are extremely low-maintenance, needing to be watered only twice a month. They are also incredibly stylish and look great in any and every pot, from galvanized to glass.
PinSucculents are a great way to bring life to your home, and they look great in any container.PinBaby succulents peek over the edge of a beautiful wooden planter inside the home.
These four garden solutions are so simple and easy to achieve. It just goes to show you that in order to transform your home, a little green is all you really need. As for my garden and me, we will continue living in Georgia for now, but the Nashville Symphony Show House will always be a source of inspiration for all my green dreams.
The Nashville Symphony Show House is open for tours daily through Sunday, June 28, in the Forest Hills area of Nashville with on-site parking. Built by the 2012 Southern Living Custom Builder of the Year, Castle Homes, visit their website for more information and tickets.
Photos by Leila Grossman of Grannis Photography
Our unofficial motto at StyleBlueprint is "Be kind. Do good." We encourage this to be the basis for all comments on our articles. Provide feedback that adds to the story. Some controversy or disagreements are part of any good dialogue between friends, but anything that tears down or belittles others is subject to disapproval or removal. Thank you for being a member of the StyleBlueprint community! View our Community Guidelines.
