Who says you have to live in the French country side to have a French inspired garden? And who says it even has to be a garden? My neighbor has excellent taste, and she designed a transformation for her courtyard that would fool anyone into thinking they were in France rather than Lexington, KY.
She is an artist, and so she knows how to work with a blank canvas and can envision what she wants and how to get it.
She even has the gravel pathways to fool the eye and the brain into thinking you are about to go on a garden stroll.
And she has little treasures tucked away secret garden style.
To keep it interesting, she depends on textures and keeps the colors to a minimum. She has several white flowers like perennial Annabelle hydrangeas…..
…..and annuals like white geraniums.
Even though the courtyard is traditional with touches of rustic, this contemporary hammered stainless steel feature fits right in as the centerpiece of the entire area.
We enclosed our breezeway so it could become our mudroom, but she embraced hers with a fabulous sitting/dining area. When the weather doesn’t permit eating in the open, she and her guests can eat under the roof.
I am crazy about this rustic table and bench.
She painted this huge oil that is the view of her garden opposite this sitting/eating area.
Her underground irrigation system keeps everything lush and green.
Here’s another gravel path, and it leads to her art studio.
Her open eating area is on a patio next to her kitchen.
This is the same view in our courtyard. There’s quite a difference. Our courtyard is almost entirely brick with planting areas around the perimeter. Her courtyard doesn’t have any brick.
You can see how we each took a different approach to the way our courtyards look. Ours Ralph Laurenish look was inspired by one of my trips to Paris, and her look was influenced by the French countryside. Same, same but different. There are six townhouses where we live, and each courtyard is completely different. I’ll be showing you another one soon.
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Both courtyards are so beautiful! Love her pathway and all her beautiful hydrangeas. I have not see white geraniums in Texas but would love some. Another great post!
I enjoyed the glimpse of both gardens. This is definitely a post worth saving, as I love your neighbour’s ideas, just as I love yours for your courtyard.
I rarely get time to comment, but would like you to know that I enjoy each and every one of your posts.
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How gorgeous!!!
And that area leading up to the art studio would be a dream come true – especially having an art studio 🙂
Thanks so much for posting – what a pleasure to see!
XOXO
I love it! The greenery and gravel are very French. I didn’t know you were in Lexington, we are KY neighbors as I am in Taylorsville outside Louisville! Jennifer
It’s nice to meet you. I think there are a lot more Kentucky bloggers than we will ever know. There were several at Haven.
I love the two courtyards. They are a little different but both equally as beautiful. I love the green with the brick. Thank you for sharing..Happy Tuesday..Judy
Absolutely beautiful!
Same, same, different, lovely.
How gorgeous! What a paradise!
Jennelise
Thanks, everyone for being so complimentary about my neighbors courtyard. I will certainly pass your remarks on to her.
She did a beautiful job of making in look like a french courtyard but I agree with the other commenters that they both look beautiful! I am loving your brick patio space!
XO
What lovely spaces! Both well done.
My next house will definitely have a courtyard garden!!…Love your neighbor’s garden…so beautiful..and the painting is stunning!!…and Janette, I have always admired your garden too!!!
What a lovely garden. I love both of your courtyards!
I loved this post, Janette. Both courtyards are beautiful and of course I love that they are both tres chic French influenced.