Southern Garden Home Garden Tour

Last weekend we had almost 1000 people visiting our little corner of the world.

As most of you know, I live in the Garden Home section (Middleton Place) of Twelve Oaks, a gated community in Shreveport, Louisiana.  This past weekend, the garden/yard of one of our neighbors was featured in the
Le Tour des Jardins Garden Tour,
sponsored by 

Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners

Joyce's small garden was one of six beautiful private gardens throughout our area featured in this popular annual event.

Since you couldn't be here, let me share it with you.

 Joyce inherited the garden design and basic plantings from the original home owner which is planned to maximize every inch of this small space.  She has however, taken his design and added her own personal and feminine touches to make it her own.

 Sasanquas, Japanese maples, colorful annuals, and roses abound in this Twelve Oaks garden surrounded by a unique, antique fence.

   The walkway to the backyard, guarded by a custom-made iron gate, holds its own intrigue and anticipation.

 

Are you ready to step inside a private world in this beautiful garden?

 The rustic wooden door opens onto a surprise waterfall and koi pond surrounded by an outdoor patio with a fireplace and kitchen.

 

 While shooting these pictures, Joyce pointed out her friend who has built a nest in the fence vine and was willing to pose perfectly for me.

 On the opposite end of the yard from the pond is this bamboo fence.

Behind this unique bamboo wall, guarded by a draping Japanese Maple, is hidden the gardening/tool/compost area as well as the air conditioning unit.

 

 

 Now, let me show you the relaxing and inviting patio and outdoor kitchen as seen from the side door.

 

Joyce has incorporated colors from inside her lovely home as well as those in her garden to tie in the large outdoor sitting area and kitchen.

 

Because of the varying weather and mosquitoes in the south, Joyce has the option of leaving the patio open, closing it off with a mosquito curtain or closing the rustic windowed doors.

There is no question why this beautiful and inviting southern garden was included on this prestigious garden tour.

Thank you Joyce, for sharing it with us.

Before and After Wednesday - Back Porch Remodel

I am joining Kathleen at The Dedicated House

 for
 Our Back Porch Remodel

Before & After 
 

Six and half years ago, when were ready to downsize, God gave us the most perfect - for us - little jewel box of a house.  It is a Garden Home in one of the most desirable gated communities in our city, Twelve Oaks.

Did I say it was a gift?

Before
We loved our little back porch and spent as much time out there as our Louisiana weather would permit.  To help keep the pesky mosquitoes away, we had a custom ordered Mosquito Curtain installed.  It worked but our use was still limited to a few nice days a year.

Doors on each end open to side entry and into our master bedroom.

The flooring was stained, stamped concrete.

After much debate and some feedback from you fellow bloggers, we decided to enclose this space and make it a year-round extension of our bedroom/sunroom/breezeway.
And these are the results!

After
View from our bedroom toward side entry.
We painted the walls the same color as our bedroom which further extended that space.
We removed the original back door and used it in the new bumped-out wall.

Another view from bedroom.  Don't you just love the brightness of the new room and how the two rooms flow?

This is the opposite view - from side entry toward master.

 Now, for some details.

The sofa is really the only piece of furniture we had to buy.  Everything else was either on the back or front porches already.

The painting was given to us by a dear little lady over 40 years ago and I had it hanging in my garage.  Can you imagine anything more perfect for this spot?

We are so pleased with the new built-in cabinet and granite.  I designed the drawers to hold my placemats and napkins.  They fit perfectly!

I found these matching pillows at TJ Max and they are exactly what I needed/wanted.

This is the view from our living room.  I love the way the new room expands this space and how it looks from the front door.
We leave the windows between the rooms open for ventilation.

The plant has seen better days but seems to like its new home.

I have enjoyed arranging some of my eclectic inherited/collected items on these shelves.

View of the rear of the house and new addition.

So that is our Before and After Back Porch Enclosure.
We are loving the space and wish we could share our GIFT with each of you.