Check out these beautiful handmade resin vases by artist Kate Rhode with quirky floral arrangements by the lovely Cecilia Fox. More info on the collection, titled Ornamental Crimes over at The Design Files.
All photographs by Andrew Barcham.
Archives for category: Design
Welcome to the mean streets of Osaka (not really, this feels like the safest place on earth). Everything seemed to be in bloom – I can only imagine what cherry blossom season is like – and most homes and shopfronts have a pile of pot plants out the front. There is a strong connection to nature here, even in super urban cities like Osaka.
All photographs by Sophia Kaplan.
Tania’s taste is always spot on. Check out a few pics from her blog Delectable Daily.
All images via Delectable Daily.
We’ll be back to regular programming tomorrow, but until then please enjoy the final guest post by Liv for the moment (she will be back!).
House & Garden – June 1971 by Olivia Hantken
Carrying on from my last post, here is another House & Garden magazine which I adore. This issue was hard to pull apart, so I have chosen a bit of everything! From garden sitting rooms, to outdoor entertaining, and two amazing forest retreats.
Located in Waccabuc NY, and designed by architect Myron Goldfinger this amazing house still exists today and is actually for sale! Check out the listing here. Sadly it looks as if the house has been redesigned and lost some of its 1970s charm.
This bird watching structure is located on a riverbank in England, and was designed by two British husband and wife architectural teams: Richard & Su Rogers, and Norman & Wendy Foster.
Thank you so much to Liv for her beautiful contributions and enthusiasm for The Secret Garden.
House & Garden – June 1970 by Olivia Hantken
I picked up this treasure whilst shopping with my mum in Brunswick many years ago. There was a big stack and I regret that we only bought two! They float between her bookcase and mine as we not only love the beautiful images, but enjoy the time warp we enter when reading them.
Whilst not strictly gardens, below is a series of images from this issue featuring alfresco living ideas and interior design.
My favourite is without a doubt the bean bag room. This was taken from the penthouse of french actor Francois Perrier (on Boulevard St Germain of course!). He was aided by interior decorator Francois Arnal, who also painted the black and white composition on the far wall.
Along with the Zanuda bean bag chairs, the feature cactus and amazing ash trays make me conjure images of some of the amazing parties Francois must have thrown.
All images from House & Garden – June 1970. British, American, French No. 6 Whole No. 250 Volume 25 The Conde Nast Publication.
Be sure to follow The Secret Garden on Instagram @TheSecretGardenBlog for regular garden, design and flower pics.
French floral artist Claire Basler’s home and studio in Les Ormes, and hour an a half from Paris, is filled the nature. There is a constant flow of fresh floral displays which inspire her paintings, drawings and textile designs, all of which also blanket the property.
Photographs one and two by Mads Mogensen for Elle Decor South Africa, photographs three to eight and all artworks by Claire Basler.
Westerpark is one of my favourite parks in one of my favourite cities, Amsterdam. I spent an incredibly memorable spring day there with friends Loulou and Jacob back in 2009.
Photos one, two, four & five by Louise Tran, photo three by Jacob Hunt.
While we’re in the city, this Amsterdam restaurant was recently brought to my attention by new work mate and former Dam local Richard.
The greenhouse where De Kas Restaurant is now situated was built in 1928. It was due to be demolished but head chef Gert Jan Hageman bought it from the council (for €1.00) and renovated it into the restaurant and garden it is today. The space is green, sunny and very inviting. In warmer months you can eat amongst the herbs and take tours and workshops in the garden.
Photos by Jet van Fastenhout for De Kas Restaurant.
Friends are constantly sending me bits and pieces about gardens and flowers, so I figured it was time to give some a chance to guest post on the blog. So that brings us to our first ever guest post by the lovely Olivia Hantken. Liv works at innovative design and film collective Collider, and has a key eye for aesthetics. Please welcome her to The Secret Garden!
Frozen Flowers by Olivia Hantken
Tomorrow is the first day of winter, but in Sydney it’s feeling more like spring. Our gardens will be happy at least, and far happier than in Kiev, Ukraine, where winter can mean a freezing over of everything green.
Earlier this year the Ukranian’s embraced this notion and held their first frozen flower exhibition The Flowers of the Snow Queen. Inspired by Hans Christan Andersen’s children’s tale The Snow Queen, the event symbolises the coming together of summer and winter / warmth and cold.
Not related to this exhibition, but beautiful nonetheless are these pictures of flowers dripping in ice.
This one acre, family owned botanical garden and cactarium in Palm Springs is filled with 3000 varieties of desert plants. I would love to visit on my next trip to the States.
Photos one, two, six and seven by Amy Merrick. Three, four and five by Chuck B.
More info on the garden here.
The Secret Garden 
