Creating a Garden Room

I'm trying not to complain because so far we've had a very temperate summer but lately the humidity has been much more like what one would expect for August in Virginia. Often, during the day, I like to get out of the office and take a walk but yesterday once I was outside, in the sticky air, all I could think about was getting into the shade. Fortunately, around historic Colonial Williamsburg there are numerous opportunities to duck under an arbor, a trellis or a tree to get some relief. I ended up wandering over to one of my favorite places to sit - a bench under a canopy of wisteria overlooking this beautiful fountain outside of The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg. Ahhhh, content, finally!



Still sweating, but just barely, I became aware of the combination of parts which total sum was creating such a pleasant experience for me on such a hot, muggy day. The water element, the juxtaposition of lush green grass and colorful blooms, the shade provided by the arbor and the way the hint of a breeze moved through the vines - and it occurred to me the tremendous importance of the accessory pieces that make being outdoors in the peak of the summer pleasurable.

The idea of an outdoor room or “garden room,” as it was called in the 18th century, has come in and out of fashion over the years. In colonial times, having a “pleasure” garden in addition to a “kitchen” garden was a sign of wealth. Unlike the utilitarian kitchen garden, the pleasure garden might have been used for afternoon tea or private reflection and was often separated by rows of boxwood hedges and trees. Both gardens were an integral part of the home but it was the pleasure garden that was created to be a private sanctuary. This concept of being enveloped in a secluded garden oasis has enticed people for centuries.

While much has changed about our wants and needs in a garden, a sense of enclosure continues to be a major defining element of a modern outdoor room. Today, we still incorporate elements from nature, like trees and shrubs, to create “walls” in our outdoor spaces but we also use a variety of accessories, as rustic as a trellis or as sophisticated as outdoor curtains, to create just the right environment. If greenery is scarce, large planters and urns filled with groups of plants and small trees work well to anchor an outdoor expanse and visually divide the space.

Once the outdoor space has some parameters, an outdoor rug can further define the room and establish a relationship between furniture pieces. Items like wall hangings and light fixtures add substance and character to the space—making it truly an extension of the home. Encourage customers to maintain the look and feel of their interior décor. An entirely new look to suit the alter-ego is best saved for a mountain retreat or a beach house, not used in a room intended to be an extension of your home. Colors and styles should coordinate for a seamless flow from the interior space to the outdoor space.