I didn’t realise how much privacy mattered in an outdoor space until I actually started spending more time in mine. There’s something slightly annoying about sitting outside with a cup of coffee and realizing the neighbors can see straight into your little corner. Or trying to have dinner with friends while feeling like you’re sitting … Read more
I’ll admit something: I didn’t start growing herbs because I had some grand plan to become a gardener. I started because I was tired of buying a bunch of fresh cilantro or basil for one recipe, using half of it, and discovering the sad, wilted leftovers in the back of my fridge a few days … Read more
I used to think a garden needed a decent amount of space to feel like a garden. That idea changed after I tried to do something with a ridiculously narrow strip beside my house. It wasn’t much to look at — just a long, awkward patch of concrete and soil where a couple of pots … Read more
I used to think of moss as something that belonged on a damp patch of garden wall, somewhere between the stepping stones and the old flower pots. Then I saw a moss wall in a friend’s living room. It was one of those moments where a room suddenly made sense. The wall wasn’t huge. There … Read more
The first time I really noticed how not private my outdoor spa area was, I was halfway into the hot tub. Everything felt perfect for about five minutes. The water was warm, the evening air was cool, and I had a drink sitting on the little table beside me. Then I looked up and realized … Read more
I used to think having a little herb garden meant having a garden. You know, a patch of sunny soil, a few terracotta pots lined up along a path, maybe a cute wooden sign that says fresh herbs. Lovely idea, but not exactly practical when your outdoor space is a balcony barely big enough for … Read more
I used to think a long, narrow garden was one of those spaces you just had to put up with. You know the type. A thin strip of outdoor space running along the back or side of the house, with nowhere obvious to put the furniture and somehow always looking either too empty or too … Read more
The space under a staircase is one of those awkward little corners I used to completely ignore. It was too small for furniture, too dark for most decorating ideas, and somehow always became the place where random things ended up. Then I started noticing how beautiful a staircase could look with a bit of greenery … Read more
I used to think a backyard had to look a certain way before it could be considered a “good” outdoor space. A little patio, some plants, maybe a pretty table and chairs. That was the picture in my head. Then I watched kids actually use a backyard. They don’t care nearly as much about whether … Read more
The little dorm upgrade I almost skipped The first time I walked into my dorm room, I remember staring at the plain Twin XL bed and thinking, Well… this doesn’t exactly feel like home. The mattress was fine. The bedding was new. But something still looked unfinished. It wasn’t until I started looking at photos … Read more