Well I have to admit, our house has taken a bit of a back seat this spring/summer. With opening Penney & Company and taking on so many decorating clients, freelance magazine gigs, TV and more, there just hasn’t been time to putter in the garden or touch up chipped paint. It’s okay though; things, I trust, will even out and I’ll be able to steal a bit of time here and there to take care of the house.
Our House. Photography by Donna Griffith as published in House & Home Magazine
This past two weeks, we’ve had two major jobs done. First, we had our furnace and air conditioner replaced. Second we had our eaves troughs completely replaced. Two big, expensive jobs that don’t rate high on the pretty or decorative scale. But you know, they do give a certain feeling of satisfaction knowing we’re taking care of our nearly 100 year old house. It feels good to tend to it and keep it in good shape.
Next, I have a little fall gardening on my mind. Our street was torn up for road work all summer and we now have a new side walk and boulevard with some fresh new grass. I really like it! But it’s time to add a little landscaping and provide more separation from the street. I’ve wanted to extend our existing privet hedge for a while now and also add some flowering crabapple trees.
Privet hedging is so lush and a true classic!
It’ll take a while for our little crabapples to look like this!
Flowering Crabapple
Well you can imagine my joyful surprise when I found two pink flowering crabapple trees at my local Home Depot on sale for $20 a tree! And then, I found three flats of privet shrubs (a good 12-14″ tall) for TWO DOLLARS A SHRUB! I loaded up the car and drove home with tree branches around my head (looking like a Mr. Bean episode if I ever saw one) and am looking forward to planting them soon.
I’ll let you know how it goes!
Wow…..what a gorgeous house!
love it…and good buy!
Beautiful house! I love the way it looks now and I’m sure the crabapple trees and privet hedges will only add to its charm.
Such a lovely home…the kind that I would imagine you would own….*nifty*….cheers, Valerie
Your Dutchman’s Pipes are amazing. It seems like such a vintage plant and it looks amazing covering yor porch.
So funny to see you refer to “eaves troughs.” My mom is Canadian and that’s what we always called them growing up. But when I moved to Boston, no on knew what that meant. They’re gutters here. I like eaves trough better.
Hi Michael,
Your home is wonderful! It reminds me of the home I grew up in as a wee one on Heath Street in Toronto.
LOVE your landscaping. Really wish I had a green thumb like my grandfather,alas not one of my talents. The crapapple trees will be a lovely addition.
Enjoy the cooler Autumn season!
Regards,
Alexandra
lovely home, you had the same replacements done this year as I did…now to make it all pretty! love gardening…frees up your mind when you can escape outside to garden…
You should watch a BBC tv show called Restoration Home – it is amazing. They follow families who have bought old (really old) dilapidated homes and brought them back to life using traditional methods. They also trace the history of the homes it’s my new favourite!
Sent from my iPhone
You have a beautiful home Michael! The crap apple tree looks so pretty! They look exactly like Cherry blossom trees
Thanks for the heads up at Home Depot!
Your house is gorgeous. You have beautiful taste
Your home is beautiful Michael. I agree with one of your other fans as well. Your home looks lovely now so with your new crab apple trees (and what a bargain) it will be fabulous!! I love gardening! It is a wonderful escape from this busy world and the results are rewarding. I find gardening is like decorating the outside of your home instead of the inside!
Barbara