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Introduce EuropEan flair to your back yard by Hilary Klassen From Parisian cafés and English gardens to the vineyards of old Italy and echoes of the Renaissance, the venues and vistas of Europe have inspired design in myriad ways all over the globe. That inspiration is beautifully manifested at Garden Architecture & Design (GAD), a long-time fixture of Riversdale. With its central location, it is now forms the hub of the Riversdale renewal, steps from the Farmer’s Market as well many new shops and restaurants. It is here that other worlds open up, and global influences are felt. Here a European courtyard can be imagined and then replicated for your back yard, or scaled for your patio. Begin with impact items like old world European statuary to help set the scene. “With their rust patina finishes, these cast iron statues look like they’ve been sitting in a European garden for centuries,” says Neil Robinson, who co-owns GAD with Delores Wionzek. Other antique reproduction pieces such as cast iron urns and concrete pieces in hand-carved stone create similar impact in a European courtyard. Stone benches and planters, pineapple finials, Corinthian columns and smaller statues are some of the many options available. “They’re just stunning pieces to place in your garden as a focal point,” says Robinson.
Photo: hilary Klassen
To complete your European-style garden, select attractive and comfortable seating. The addition of a fire table will extend your outdoor living season.
English gardens offer order and serenity in a more formal arrangement. To create impact, Robinson suggests incorporating a series of three globe boxwoods in planters, and possibly ending with a cone boxwood or topiary to anchor the series. The use of very simple planters for this kind of ‘item impact’ planting achieves a minimalist look, a mark of English gardens as well as today’s growing minimalist culture. Blending in some metal elements in the form of wrought iron, metal sculptures and aluminum furniture frames creates additional interest. Robinson says mixing metals is not a problem. When appropriately balanced, cast iron statuary, stone and metal features come alive with the addition
of these beautiful green plantings. Vines are a common feature in the architecture and gardens of Europe. Adding vines to your backyard garden, such as a mandevilla with its profuse blossoms, brings additional beauty to your space. Next, choose attractive and comfortable seating to complete your European garden. Garden Architecture features an abundance of seating arrangements – the options are endless. “Choose your fabrics to create the desired ambience. You can do rich opulent colours, outdoor jacquards and prints, big florals, or classic patterns – you’re unlimited,” says Robinson. The selection will help
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This secTion was creaTed by conTenT works, PosTmedia’s commercial conTenT sTudio.
Photo: hilary Klassen
Old world statuary and antique reproduction pieces like cast iron urns can help transform your back yard into a European courtyard.