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When we moved in 17 1/2 years ago with a three year old and infant,
our first priority was the yard…and living in an area beset, graced,
with deer…we quickly fenced the perimeter and found someone
to create stone columns, and then over the years, a series of
retaining walls.
The triangular shaped lot slopes up to the house…
and the house is actually built into the slope,
so that the master bedroom at the far left has its own
outdoor patio, and my little office at the right top
has a bird’s eye view of the surrounding
hillside…
This is the downside view of the original 1939 house…
set in beyond the grape trellis is a one car garage that
we use as a project room…and at it’s back my
husband has claimed a storage room for a wine cellar..
Up above is the living room from which this garden
view was snapped last spring…
Running the length below the house where the best sun is…
is my pride and joy, despite the weeds and a persistent gopher…
Behind the rows of lavender, on both sides are about 20 peony
plants, several espaliered apple trees and a dozen antique Bourbon
roses with wonderful French names. In Northern California
many people ice their peonies but I do my own gardening and
save myself as much effort as possible…
Practically edible beauty…
with so many plants, if we suffer through a nice cold winter
I can usually count on a 100 blooms…
Found this from a stone yard for @ $20 years ago…
love adding bits of architectural detritus amongst
the pretty living things…
This is a forest area below the garden…
I planted white Ice Wings narcissus and Spanish blue bells years ago
that come up in the spring, sometimes in the summer
we string our hammock between two oaks…
These zinc lanterns are my attempt to dog proof our entry
after the house was repainted last year…
Our German Shepard “Bronte” is over 13 years old…
Her name is a nod to the literary Bronte sisters..
and means thunder…which is appropriate in her case…
So…to be honest…there are usually 15 pairs of shoes
scattered about the entry…want to put a nice honed bull-nose
piece of Carrara marble on the table…
Hmm…I could go for gray here…any advice?
Immediately to the left off the entry is the kitchen…
I was thrilled when I found out the guys that did our retaining walls
would do the floor, laid out the limestone tiles, numbered them,
and hovered over every piece as it was installed..
added just a few pieces of a grayish stone tile to break it up…
Counters are Jerusalem Gold honed limestone,
Back-splash a marble mosaic…I wouldn’t let the installer put grout
over the joints because I thought he’d over do it…so yet
another thing I need to get around to doing…
We kept the original custom cabinets, and painted them antique ivory
with an aqua interior, added crown molding only to cabinets…
stainless steel appliances, work table…
A cozy corner in the kitchen…
*
To see the garden in the spring click here …
to be continued…
This is seriously making me green, purple and yellow striped with envy 😉
It’s gorgeous! Fantastic home… A little Eden…
WOW what a magical garden, I love it!
I love your house! It is as delightful as I imagined it to be. Your posts are always so gorgeous- I knew your home would have to be,as well. You have fantastic taste. I cannot wait to see the rest.
Trish,
I love it, I love it, I love it,…………………………….You have just a wonderful house! And so good that you do a lot yourself in your garden!
Now we see where the logo picture comes from!
Looking forward to seevthe rest!
Greet
So beautiful. Love your garden. Please show more of that!
Hi Vicky. If you click on lavender photo on my right column it will take you to some spring garden photos.
Please adopt me!
Lee
Trish, you house and garden is very, very beautiful.
Love everything about it from your lavender and peonies, to your fabulous kitchen and that darling cozy corner and chair.
Dog proofing the house! … our first dog was a huge long haired German shephard Max and with his tail knocked over some large pots and then Heidi, our Giant Schnauzer had the horrible habit of slobbering all over the French door windows. That was a hard job keeping them clean!
I hope that your week is going well and thanks for sharing your fabulous photos of your beautiful home.
hugs
Carolyn
Hi everyone! Carolyn…you’ll probably notice I avoided a head on shot of those kitchen glass doors. I recommend everyone photograph their house. 1) you see all the things you need to do, and 2) you can edit out the imperfections!
I wondered who’s garden was in your header… Its absolutely lovely. I laughed at your refusing to let the installer do the grout, because I have a houseful of things like that.
You have no idea how comforting that is!
Trish – what a wonderful house tour. I was so engrossed I half expected you to come around the corner. Your house and garden is beautiful. I
love to meet other people who do their own gardening – it’s hard work but as your divine garden shows it’s worth every moment and ounce of effort. I’ve only just started growing peonies so am much inspired by your magnificent specimens! Can’t wait for Part 2 – please don’t keep us waiting too long! Leigh
What a delight to tour your gorgeous home and gardens. I feel like I want to move right in! I adore the kitchen–the colors, the surfaces, the cozy corner. I can’t wait to see more.
Hello Trish……I am impressed … your house is wonderful … the house and the garden look like to me a dream …. but in addition I like itsinceyou herhave decorated … it is very cozy besides nice… Thank you for teachingher to us…. Berta
Thanks for sharing your home with us !! It is gorgeous , every detail is so lovely and so YOU
I’m speechless!
OK, not speechless….but WOW! Your home and gardens are spectacular…I should have expected that from your beautiful blog…
Beautiful kitchen! Magical garden with best choice of plants and flowers!
Thank you for sharing your home, cannot wait to see the rest.
What a delight visit today, you home is BEAUTIFUL! Your gardens are breathtaking, I love, LOVE your lavender garden with the tiny stone path, brings me back to Valence. So LOVELY!!! Love your foyer pieces…can’t wait to see what you decide with the wall color. I was helping my best friend pick out new colors for her home and we went the gray route to make all her warm furniture pop. Your home is such a magical place, so lovely to have you share it with us!!! Merci!!!
~Miss Kris~
I am really thinking of Gray for the entry. At one time every room was dark…now that I’ve chipped away at the darkness…I’m ready to layer in some slightly darker tones.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful home and garden with us! I love your place!
Your welcome Bonnie. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing the pictures of your home. And thanks for adding Beadboard to your blog roll I am very flattered as I have admired the beautiful pictures from your shop on the Trouvais website….Your garden is beautiful and I love the entryway. Looking forward to more “eye candy”.
I love your shop photos and French photos…they’re wonderful, thanks!
I am dying!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is so gorgeous!!!!!!! I love eveything about your house, eveyrthing! it is so atmospheric, really really special. to be continued – when??????
I know this is an old post, but I have lost myself in your blog this evening…so many beautiful pictures…I was looking fore fireplace inspiration, and found so many.
One question, your French display case against the back wall – can you tell me how wide it is? We are looking at furniture for inspiration of proportions on the wall cabinets in the kitchen, and I think this has such lovely proportions with the center part wider than the flanking parts.