Garden Design, SampleBoard.com & Pinterest

A classy garden masterpiece can be created using classic French furniture and classic style urns and other garden accessories. Use gentle soft whites, creams, beige and grey to add a sense of serenity and peace. The essence of this style of garden is the tranquility achieved from the use of white and cream flowers with gentle green foliage.

Concept  board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Also a garden can easily be brought up to date by adding some quirky garden furniture. Bold colors and contemporary styles can made an ordinary garden space unexpected, extraordinary and fun. The great thing about using furniture to update a landscape is it can easily be changed and updated again and again. If you often like to change the interior spaces that flow into your garden space this could be a great option for you.

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

For a more dramatic effect you can use black, dark grey and a variation of texture. Outdoor fireplaces are very much in vogue and strong color variation, different patterns and textures add to the drama. Gardens with outdoor fireplaces are obviously designed for use at night as well as during the day.

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

My brother recently had a Christmas in July party with the outside fireplace as a feature. Unfortunately we were unable to be there. Will be there next year; Christmas in Aussie land is during the summer. Although I have been here for years I miss the white Christmases of Europe. My husband laughs when I say I want to experience another white Christmas he thinks I would not cope with the cold. Maybe not, my niece spent two years in Europe she was so excited to see snow for the first time but she said she actually cried with the cold.

A family winter wonderland scene in England

In this blog I have created some garden mood boards combining some wonderful pins from Pinterest and the brilliant editor features and images of SampleBoard.com. I can’t get over how they work together so well. It is easy to create excellent eco friendly concept boards using these highly compatible sites. If you are an interior or fashion designer, decorator, wedding planner or landscape designer you too can create professional looking concept/mood/sample boards by starting a SampleBoard.com account. You can then upload images from your Pinterest account to add to the boards with just a click of the mouse. Hope you have as much fun as I am combining the excellent Pinterest and the brilliant SampleBoard.com.

 Author: Rosena MacFadzean for SampleBoard.com – concept creation online

The edible outdoor room

Another of my favorite garden designs from the DVD ‘The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie’ is the outdoor room he calls Atlanta. This is a brilliant garden design for those who would like to reduce their environmental footprint.

Jamie’s design brief; create a productive garden the motto from the client ‘If I can’t eat it I don’t want to water it’. The large garden also had a slope which meant the water and nutrients quickly drained away.

 Atlanta garden dining space image via www.nuhomedesigns.com

The landscape design Jamie created was inspired from a visit to Atlanta Georgia. He felt Atlanta had a wonderful mix of old style southern charm and cutting edge environmental design. He was inspired by the 400 square feet curved vertical vegetable and herb garden in the Atlanta Botanical Garden. He also visited the Robert Green house. Green had studied with Frank Lloyd Wright. This was reflected in the design of the house and the landscape.

Strong architectural lines of the timber pergola and the use of concrete, natural stone and timber informed Jamie’s choices. He translated the floating stone pontoons used in the Green Japanese inspired garden into timber platforms that appear to float on the landscape.

Edible garden Atlanta Botanic Gardens image via www.morgancreekchroniclesblogspot.com.au

Jamie built retaining walls of concrete faced with natural stone inspired by a bench from the Green house. The walls would overcome the sloping site and make sure the water and nutrients remained in place. They would also act as dividing walls between the different growing areas.

As well as the floating timber decks meandering through the garden Jamie designed and built a large timber pergola to be used as a dining area. The posts of the pergola were painted green to blend in with the vertical gardens making up the walls of the dining space. The slatted timber roof was painted brown.

The garden was planted with fruit trees; apple, cherry, plum, lemon, peach and fig. Blackberries, blueberries, olives, strawberries, spices, herbs, kiwi fruit and numerous seasonal vegetables were also planted. Two of the few non edible plants used the wonderful architectural like sago palm and ebony night mondo grass.

Jamie’s clients were delighted with the productive sustainable outdoor room created by the team. Here’s a link you may find interesting Jamie Durie talking about vertical gardens  http://youtu.be/xeXWjDwTRe0

Mood board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Author: Rosena MacFadzean for SampleBoard.com – concept creation online

A formal outdoor room

Treated myself to a reviewing of the DVD ‘The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie’ and thought I would blog about some of his ideas. In the third series he creates some really inspiring outdoor landscapes. One of my favorites the Hamptons inspired outdoor room.  This garden is a contemporary take on a formal garden design. 

Formal garden concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

The large garden’s most challenging problem was the lack of privacy. The garden was overlooked by a number of neighbors so Jamie felt the beautiful garden designs of the Hamptons in New York would best suit this situation. The house was an older style home built in 1903 and he decided a classical style garden would enhance the character of the home.

Jamie’s approach to garden design is to see the garden like a house with the need for a number of different rooms for different functions. He aimed to take the 2D like space and give it a 3D like feel.

He borrowed from the understated classy garden designs of the Hamptons with their high hedges creating screens for privacy. The use of man made structures and plants inspired his choices. As you walk through the French doors into the back garden he has created you step onto a series of pale colored timber decks. There is a sunken hot tub surrounded by plants, on another deck is a small table and chairs just right for an early morning coffee.

A simple fountain is placed in the middle of the garden at the end of a pale tiled pathway. There is lawn with sun lounges. Jamie has achieved instant privacy by creating raised planter boxes of about 2 yards (1.8 meters) high planted with tall plants and trees.

At the back of the garden he has created a raised area for dining. The timber decking is reached by a series of timber steps each planted out with low plants. Jamie has also placed a marquee at the bottom of the garden.

The garden appears lush and private with an understated classic look. The planting around the edges is punctuated with rectangular light boxes. The boxes are about 6 feet high made of timber covered with an outdoor fabric; on the outside timber battens hold the fabric in place, inside lighting. The garden is stylish and elegant with a wonderful range of plants, flowers and trees; hydrangeas’, buxus, magnolias, junipers and Japanese maples. The pale colored decks, paths and white furniture enhance the garden’s appeal.

The Hamptons inspired garden image via www.jamiedurie.com

SampleBoard.com has a whole new look, has been improved and rebranded

The sampleboard.com team is buzzing with excitement SampleBoard has a cool new website. All of the best original features have been retained. But it just got a whole lot easier, faster and it is still the greenest way of creating great professional looking design concept boards.

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

The original SampleBoard.com site was launched in 2010. The aim of the creation; designed by designers for designers was to digitize the process of making sample boards. The traditional way of creating sample boards took a lot of running around, time and energy. I remember days of driving around for hours in and out of the car in the Queensland heat.  I love SampleBoard because it is eco-friendly and time efficient.

              Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Interior designers, decorators, landscape designers, fashion designers and wedding planners can create design concept boards using the extensive library of images and/or easily upload their own images. SampleBoard is also a great place to interact with other designers and share ideas.

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

In this blog I have included examples of my first adventures on the new sampleboard.com site. The best way to really view the changes is to have ago. Please let us know what you think we welcome your comments and suggestions.

Concept board created by Rosena on SampleBoard.com

Designers | How to make your job application stand out from the rest

Designers some tips on how to make your job application stand out from the rest

Designers the tips offered in this article could help you to get your dream job. There is a real art to creating the perfect application. There are some basic fundamentals if forgotten can cost you dearly. Find out the five easy steps you can take to achieve success.

Interior designers, decorators, graphic and fashion designers sometimes forget to create interesting, sparkling, exciting applications to reflection their creative flair. I have seen it happen. Over many years I have successfully applied for jobs, have helped others to achieve success and selected for interview people applying for positions with companies I have worked for.

Time spent creating sparkling exciting applications pays dividends

Some of the things I will mention may be common sense but you only get one chance the slightest mistake could cause your application to be placed in the bin. It happens. Often hundreds of people are applying for the job. If you want to stand out your application must have impact.

Stand out from the crowd by delivering an impacting cover letter.

Step 1

Read the job advertisement carefully

This may sound silly but you would be amazed how many people completely miss an all important part of the job description or some other vital piece of information. Make notes as you go. For example for an interior decorator position posted on the MyCareer website by the Laura Ashley’s company I noted they wanted a highly motivated person with a passion for people and an understanding of retail and the list goes on. What they mention first is usually what they consider to be most important.

Step 2

Find out about the company

Visit the website check out the colours, patterns and motifs used. Try to find out about the people who work in the company. If possible find a telephone number. You can then call the company and find out the person to send the application to. It always looks better if you have gone the extra mile and put a name instead of sir or madam.

Get a name much better than plain sir or madam

Step 3

Work out a colour scheme for your application

You can use the information gleaned from the website to help you choose colours for the paper, folders and/or cardboard you are using in the application. Instead of plain A4 sized pages get creative. Select some colours from the website or company colours. Or you may want to go down the recycling route. The ideas are endless. As designers you should find this easy to do.

Using a different colour instead of black or blue for the text is a good idea. For example the Laura Ashley Company is known for soft delicate hues. So maybe a light beige paper with a toned beige text colour would appeal to the reader of your application.

Step 4

Compose the cover letter 

Word the letter carefully use positive words. Address the job criteria spelt out in the advertisement. Try to give evident of how you meet the criteria. It is best to use short carefully constructed paragraphs. Start each paragraph with a different word. Take care not to use ‘I’ too many times. Keep working on the letter until you are able to express yourself in one A4 size page.

Keep the cover letter to one page

It is important to make sure the letter is easy to read. Use only one or two different fonts. One font for the heading; one for the body of the text. The size of the lettering is also vital. If you make it too small and difficult to read it could end up in the bin. You will find examples and more details on http://creativebuzzing.wordpress.com  the notes will give you an idea of how to word your application.

Make it easy for the reader to read

Step 5

Coordinate your application package

Use the same colours for your curriculum vitae (or resume), skills audit, educational and reference pages as used in the cover letter. It is wise to have your name and contact details on each page. This keeps bringing your name before the person reading the application.

Create an interesting folio for your application

Present the application in a coloured folder or envelope. Make sure the colour works with the colours of the pages you have selected. Pure white, beige, grey or black usually work with most colours. I do offer a word of caution check out the company carefully. A conservative company would be looking for someone who can fit in with the company image. Where as a contemporary company will be looking for someone who is trendy and up to date.

So there you have it five easy steps to design success. Happy job hunting.

Author: Rosena MacFadzean for SampleBoard.com

Garden Ideas l Select your Garden Theme or Garden Style

landscape design moodboard created on sampleboard.com

Six garden ideas to help you choose the best garden theme for you

A number of factors can influence the garden style you choose for your garden. For example, the style of the house, your personal taste and the climate need to be taken into consideration. There are a great number of different garden themes you can choose to create an exciting functional garden space.

The Contemporary Garden

To create a restrained contemporary garden use contemporary materials and ornaments. The contemporary garden is usually sleek, sophisticated, uncluttered and minimalist in looks. It can be striking and elegant. It is best to create the scheme using some of the same or similar materials used in the house. Brushed aluminum furniture or stainless steel table and chairs work well in this sort of garden. Trees and bamboo in containers can be used for focal points. They can create vertical contrasts when used on paving. They can also be used to screen utility areas of the garden or unsightly views. Potted Bamboo placed against a wall can be very effective. Glass spheres can add shine and sparkle. Placed in a bed of pebbles, with stones or as part of a water feature and lighting they can add a sense of drama. The contemporary garden has limited colors. Green dominates with may be a bright red (or another strong color) item. Plants are selected to emphasis shape and texture. The best trees to place in containers are the box elder, the ash leafed maple, Japanese maple, Japanese angelica tree, the crab apple, Bosnian pine and the dwarf mountain pine.

The English Garden

The English garden style creates a sense of nostalgia. Roses, old-fashioned climbers and weathered bricks add to the illusion. The colors selected should be delicate and the scents subtle. Meandering paths in an informal design with period features add to the theme. Arches, arbours, old stone sculptures and statues with vintage style seating create an old world charm. The best plants to use in an English garden are bulbs, flowering shrubs, old-fashioned roses in pink, pale yellow, violet and white. Primroses, geraniums, peonies, camellias, iris, magnolias and hydrangeas planted in hidden island beds along the meandering path add to the romance and mystic of the English garden.

modern landscape created on sampleboard.com

The Simple Modern Garden

The modern garden is disciplined, restrained and is made up of a few simple elements. Space is left to allow an appreciation of the line, shape, form and color of each item in the garden. Raised beds and split-level decking with a small cascade can create interest. A limited number of species of plants add to the simplicity of the modern garden. Architectural plants work best in this style of garden. The term architectural plant usually refers to plants that have huge distinctive leaves. They often have characteristic shapes for example the yucca. The Buxus (box) and Taxus (yew) are also considered architectural because they can be trimmed into geometric shapes, columns, pyramids and spheres. The best plants to use within the modern garden are the cabbage tree, cabbage palm, Italian cypress, beech and American angelica tree. Some grasses can be added; the giant reed, reed grass and feather grass. To keep with the simple theme no accessories are added.

The Small Garden

If you have young children and a small space great care needs to be taken to ensure the compromises made in the design allow for future development. Flexibility is the key here; as the children grow the needs of the family change. A children’s play area and a patio were the children can be easily viewed and supervised is of supreme importance. The play area can be covered with bark chips as lawn would wear easily and tend to be muddy in winter. Ensure the safety of the children. Rubber surfaces provide a better grip than wood or metal in play equipment. Shade is also important. Space for the barbeque, outside dining and plenty of storage space adds to the functionality of the small garden. Raised garden beds can be designed to include seating and can become an interesting feature especially in a flat level garden. Screens can also create interest. Safe planting that is easy to maintain with no potentially dangerous water features are the best choice in this instance. The best plants for a small garden are small ornamental and fruit trees to add height. Easy care shrubs, perennials and climbers can also be added. Establishing a kitchen garden can be a positive experience for children.

bamboo and timber landscape created on sampleboard.com

The Formal Garden

The formal garden is usually symmetrical in design, level with close-cropped lawns. Red bricks used to create a central pathway, a pergola with steps leading down or up into the garden with knot inspired formations of beds and lawns are features within this landscape. Box hedges with lots of roses and topiary hedges can be used to define the garden spaces. The red brick, box hedged straight path can lead down from the rose covered pergola to a formal seat or water feature or statue used as a focal point. Various roses rambling, climbing, dwarf and bush roses are used with standard roses and shrubs. Privet hedging with in season flowers can be used. Evergreen hedges trimmed to create a niche for a clipped laurus robblis (Bay) in a container are often used in the formal garden to add to the formality of the scene.

Mediterranean Garden

Places with hot dry summers can accommodate this style of garden. Glazed tiled patios, terracotta tiles, pottery, rendered walls painted white, blue or orange are features of the Mediterranean garden. Tiled/mosaic pictures or wall murals with a fountain or pond of crystal clear water are common additions.  The best plants for the Mediterranean garden are Fig trees and pelargonium in pots. The yucca and the globe thistle are also suitable. Large terracotta pots with palms and grasses. Agave, pampas grass, sea holly mulched with crushed stone or pebbles over the soil add variety.

You can use the ideas from any of the garden styles mentioned above to create your unique funky garden. Some styles lend themselves to blending. For example the contemporary and formal styled gardens. It is wise as if possible to choose plants, flowers and trees that are native or indigenous to your area.

Use our digital landscaping mood board editor to create your own garden style, or join the professional landscape designers on the SampleBoard website.

Author: Rosena MacFadzean for SampleBoard.com