Wednesday, June 2, 2010

The Chinoiserie Blogger's Retreat


Longtime followers of Chinoiserie Chic may recall that last year, inspired in part by Miles Redd's iconic blue door, I painted my shed door in Farrow & Ball Chinese Blue and found a fabulous antique Tibetan dragon door knocker on eBay. I also spruced up the inside of the shed, painting the ceiling, staining the walls and shelves, hanging a chandelier, and organizing my gardening tools and flower arranging supplies. Here was the reveal. I was recently inspired by a gorgeous shed by interior designer Michael Devine to turn my shed into a spot where I can blog as well. Michael Devine was one of five designers involved in a great project at The Berkshire Botanical Garden called Living Stylishly in Nature: Re-Imagining the Humble Garden Shed. He imagined his shed as a spot where a garden blogger would sit and blog. By relocating a few items from my home, I have a great little spot to escape and blog. Stay tuned here over the next week for a series of posts on Chinoiserie ideas for furnishing your garden including more sheds, outdoor fabrics, furniture, and accessories.

My shed door


Mile's Redd's door


Michael Devine's shed





My shed-click on the photos to enlarge





26 comments:

  1. Wow! Fabulous! What a gorgeous shed...it feels funny to call such a gorgeous spot a shed! ;) I love it, great job! What an inspirational place to work! xoxo Beth

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  2. hi beth,

    i could live in any of these "sheds." they are all so beautiful.

    ~janet

    ps ~ does the term blanc de Chine refer to any statuary that is shiny white or must it has a asian subject? for instance i have a shiny white artichoke statue, does that qualify?

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  3. what a lovely retreat... too nice to be called a shed!

    xo,
    cristin

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  4. You've inspired me to create a little nook of my own! I just love this idea!

    xx,
    Vanessa

    www.vanessaandvalentine.blogspot.com

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  5. I never imagined a shed could be so lovely!!!

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  6. This is too cool! I wish I had a place like this of my own to go and blog for hours on end! Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Oh my! Beautiful! I'm in love with your shed.

    We are about to get one for our house, but I need it for furniture storage so I don't think it's going to look as pretty as I want it to.

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  8. OMG can I come live in your shed? I love it all especially the door knocker. Lucky you and you deserve it. I know the work you put in on the blog an dhow nice to have a retreat.

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  9. love that lace work garden stool. Well, I like all your post.

    yvonne

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  10. That is a gorgeous spot for blogging! I'm jealous!

    :) Hazel

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  11. Ruby's Upcycle Designs-Thanks-I think it's a great example of upcycling.

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  12. Meg-Thanks-I think it turned out great!

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  13. Janet-A strict definition would be an Asian design even produced in Dehua in China, but definitions have really been relaxed now to describe white glazed decorative objects, so you can call your artichoke blanc de Chine!

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  14. Vanessa-Great-please post what you do.

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  15. Walrus Studio-It was a fun project!

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  16. High-Heeled Foot in the door-Maybe you can customize the exterior.

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  17. Marie Arden-I rent it out by the night!

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  18. Yvonne-I love unique garden stools.

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