Posted by
HGTV.ca Editorial Team
Saturday, May 28, 2011 3:50 PM EDT
And now a word on the 'G' in HGTV! We're in one of our favourite seasons right now, when warming rays of sunshine (save for rainy, dreary Ontario) coax green buds to bloom into lush canopies of natural shade, and flower beds sprout vibrant pops of colour. For HGTV that means we can finally take design outside! It seems simple enough -- weed a little, throw in some potted flora, let the rain do its thing and you're done. But our Flickr members are teaching me a thing or two about making a real effort. Check out what some people have done to make the surrounding area of their homes as inviting as the inside.
Landscaping
Driving by terrykemper's pie-shaped, shared front yard (left), I would definitely take some inspiration on how to be a good neighbour! The tidy planting helps both homes maximize on curb appeal. Exterior Encounters (middle) dresses their home with a real stone wall and vibrant red flowers, and for you city dwellers, check out the low-maintenance work of Merton Design (right).
Water Features
DIYing a water feature is a bit out of my depth but pnt103 (left) speaks to me with this DIY pond. Love the fish! And if I can't make that pond, I certainly can't make Cuvu's gorgeous pond that's twice as lush and twice as enviable...
Decks
So you've got a great deck to soak up the sun. But when it rains ShadeTree Canopies (left) keeps on "decking" with a sheltering arbor. Originally a cedar stain that dulled over a few winters Funessa uses bright red paint to update the deck (middle) -- it's just screaming for great patio furniture. A measly deck isn't enough? You might want to go with a full deck experience, in which case elspethbriscoe has set the bar with this deck/path/multi-element zen retreat (right).