Gardenista

Tired of fighting with your outdoor holiday lights every year? Us too. Rather than wrestling and wrangling string lights into submission, consider just hanging one (or three) statement-making lit ornaments instead. It’s the minimalist, and lazy, approach to decorating for the season—and we’re here for it. Above: These 3D Foldable Lighted Spheres are available in three sizes (15-, 20-, and 32-inches) and emit a warm glow; from $107 at Grandin Road. Above: The Stargazer Illuminated LED Vine Star

Over the past few years some designers have preferred to label themselves as artists, perhaps viewing their outputs on a different plane from those by their fellow creatives. It’s a long-running debate on what is deemed worthy of being described “art”; in the late 19th century, it was a hot topic, as the Arts & Crafts movement believed that beautiful design and decorative arts were as worthy of discussion and reverence as fine art or sculpture. What about gardening? Could the creation of a garde

Everything old is new again. Recently, we’ve been researching gardening tools from older generations that have stood the test of time. Here are five that intrigue us: 1. Olla Watering Pot Above: The Large Terracotta Garden Hydrator is $45 at Garrett Wade. For more options, try the Olla Watering Pot, which comes in two sizes, at Lehman’s; from $40. This unglazed terracotta pot is an ancient watering tool that is buried beneath the soil, where the water slowly releases itself through the pot’s po

This is part of a series with Perfect Earth Project, a nonprofit dedicated to ecological gardening, on how you can be more sustainable in your landscapes at home.    Fall used to be a time of endless raking and cutting back perennials, but now that we’re leaving the leaves and stems the way nature intended, we have more time to do things we enjoy in the garden, like sharing the native plants we love with friends. What can be better than giving plants you know have been grown organically, coming

Happy November! True, most tender annuals are done by now, and some tender perennials are showing signs of cold damage. But even if the more joyful aspects of gardening are past, there is still work to be done in the garden. The chores for November fall into four categories, which handily all start with “p”: pruning (neatening up), protecting, propagating (and planting), and planning.  Featured image above by Frank Heijligers, from Expert Advice: 9 Tips for a Moody Winter Garden. Pruning (and Ne

Kate Berry is a creative powerhouse. A floral designer in her past life, she can whip up a gorgeous centerpiece with utter ease. During her tenure as editor-at-large for Martha Stewart Living, she mastered both the glue gun and the piping bag. Later, as the chief creative officer at Domino, she learned exactly what goes into making an artful home. Now the U.S. editor-in-chief of Cabana Magazine, Kate can add one more skill to her resume: wallpaper designer. The multi-talent recently launched her

Happy All Hallow’s Eve! On our calendar: hot cider with a celebrated artist, an exciting new book by a longtime contributor, a stunning exhibit at the most beautiful cemetery in NYC, and other eerily good autumn news. Above: This fall, put a broom on it. Photograph via Inigo, courtesy of Cassandra Ellis, from The Witching Hour: 15 Times a Broom Doubled as Decor, from the Archives. The High Line debuted its first section 17 years ago—can you believe it?—and soon its last garden, at 34th street,

Welcome to The Editors’ Cut, our monthly column dedicated to beautiful and useful finds for all over the house. In this installment: Every room needs an element of black. It’s a stylist trick we’ve learned over the years, though we’ve come to believe that aubergine, espresso, dark olive, and other moody hues also add a dose of intrigue. As the days get shorter, we’re leaning into the dark with candles, quilts, and more. Have a look. — The R/G Editors Above: Fan’s been admiring this demure burgu

What does a top garden designer do to relax? He gardens, of course—but not exactly where you’d expect. Cleve West, winner of seven Chelsea Flower Show RHS Gold Medals, spends his free time tending to a plot that couldn’t be more different from the conceptual spaces he creates for clients. Not especially private and the opposite of chic, his patch is in a West London community garden (in the UK it is called an allotment) and has been his personal project for a decade. Cleve’s 2011 book, Our Plot,

Editor’s note: This is the latest in a series of posts by Sally Kohn— journalist and CNN political commentator, TED talk giver, and design aficionado—chronicling her adventures in remodeling. Above: The exterior as it is now. Let’s level set. I live in a 1780s barn that was turned into a house in the 1950s, and as far as I can tell the windows and the siding haven’t been changed since. The fact is, many parts of our money pit farmhouse need updating. Some, like the 1950s asphalt roof built dire

Garden designers use boulders to create a focal point, punctuate a corner, define a space, add gravitas, fabricate steps…and so much more. Here, we’ve gathered inspired examples of all the ways they can be used in an outdoor space. 1. Whimsical Seats Above: Photograph by Marion Brenner, courtesy of Surfacedesign, from Quick Takes With: James A. Lord and Roderick Wyllie. Above: Photograph by Gillian Steiner for Gardenista, from Pretty in Pink: An Artist’s Dry Garden in LA’s Topanga Canyon. 2. O

As soon as late summer edges toward fall in New York, I begin to lick my pawpaw-loving lips. As this native North American fruit gains mainstream recognition it has become easier to source both the fresh fruit as well as pawpaw saplings. Despite the rising tide of awareness, many people are still unfamiliar with them and have yet to taste a fresh pawpaw. And if you have lusted after the perfumed fruit but have not met one, there are few things about these green-mango lookalikes you may not know.

Welcome to Psst, where each month the Remodelista and Gardenista editors share an inside look at what we’ve been reading, watching, coveting, pinning, visiting, and otherwise loving lately. Without further ado, a glimpse of what we’ve been up to in October: Photographs by editors, except where noted. Above: “As a former competitive sailor, I love these bags and outdoor pillows—all made from recycled sails. They’re from sailor and designer Emma Casey of Landfall, who spent seven years at sea tra

On our radar? Bouquet carriers, rugs inspired by Welsh blankets, and a brand-new, first-ever design sample sale going on this weekend. Read on: Above: Psst: Paid subscribers get an exclusive discount from The Floral Society now through October 30; info right over here. Save the date for two events with Frances Palmer at Nickey Kehoe shops in LA and NYC. Gasp. How brilliant is this? For those who have a habit of buying cut flowers every week, a most unique bouquet carrier. This is our kind of

Why wait for spring to declutter? Fall, when you’re readying your nest for a couple seasons of indoor pursuits, may be the better time to get organized. We spotted on Remodelista some particularly good-looking storage finds. Happy shopping! Above: Elevate your office trash bin with this Shaker Dust Box, Find more Shaker-inspired finds in The Year of Shaker: A Design Movement Goes Mainstream (Plus 10 Sightings). Above: Laundry chores may feel less tedious with the deVOL Clothes Horse. Discover

Aster, Asteraceae: “Divine Daisy” It is a mildly sad sight at the end of the summer when many plants lose their luster, with flowers fading and leaves looking a bit burned, as if they forgot their sunscreen. But late summer and early autumn is when perennial asters can save the day, and the garden. Coming up: the most colorful season at Old Court Nurseries in England, a small family-run operation specializing since 1906 in propagating its own Michaelmas daisies (and many other varieties of aster

In addition to fall being a great time to get new plants in the ground, it can also be an ideal season to fertilize your lawn, trees, shrubs, and perennials. But you have to do it correctly: During these cooler months, plants are slipping into dormancy and not actively growing. Depending on how severe or mild your winter is, they can be anywhere between completely dormant to growing very, very slowly. If you fertilize right, you’ll be giving them the best send-off to their winter sleep. Before y

When Bette Lou Fletcher and her husband Bruce moved to Sag Harbor, New York, during their retirement, Bette Lou was determined to build the garden she’d always dreamed of. She connected with local landscape designer Daria Szalinska, who had just established her own design practice, Landelier Landscape Atelier.  Bette Lou told Szalinska she longed for a garden room, an abundance of flowers that would feed and attract wildlife, and a deer-free zone to grow vegetables and cut flowers. One thing she

The abundance of summer might be waning, but there are still many things to do in the garden—fall bulbs, I’m thinking of you—before the ground freezes and you can kick back and dream big with your stack of seed catalogs. Here is some handy gear that will help you tackle your tasks with ease. Carbon-steel Hori Hori Knife Above: The Hori Hori Knife is $27.90 at Hida Tool. This carbon-steel hori hori knife is indispensable. It has to be the most-used tool in my garden kit. The sharp point pierces

We’re officially in witching season—a time for hot apple cider, moody palettes, and the soft glow of candlelight. Enter: The Floral Society, a home and garden shop beloved by R/G editors that, as it happens, carries an impressive variety of candles, holders, and matchboxes for your hygge needs. Plus, for those who like to get a jump on holiday shopping, these pretty little items make great stocking stuffers and hostess presents. Read on for the brand’s exclusive discount for R/G subscribers: Ab