Welcome to the Project Venice outdoor reveal! This fresh garden is a great example of how to go bold with color & pattern outdoors, but still have it be sophisticated and even calm.
We were super excited to work on this project with the couple who rented this back house in Venice Beach because we could see the potential underneath a poorly maintained space.
Unfortunately, as is so often the case in LA, their landlord put together this space completely half hazardly and unfinished yet was still charging our clients a small fortune in rent each month.
Without dumping a ton of money into a space they don’t own – my clients were desperate for a much needed transformation.
I’m very excited to share today’s before & AFTER but first lets start with the concept.
CONCEPT //
The well traveled bohemian surf family who’s garden mixes natural textures with modern design. A hi-low blend of existing furniture, new pieces and vintage elements.
THE PUP //
One of the main goals with this project was bringing in a ton of greenery to freshen up the space but with a 9 month old Labrador puppy named Lefty in the house – having all of the plants be dog friendly was high on the list!!!
I mean, look at that face! Of course we wanted to make sure she was safe and healthy in her yard.
Our design concept didn’t allow for flowering plants & I needed to find lots of tropical, bright greens to go in the space. You would think that would be easy but it’s really not. I spent hours scouring the ASPCA website looking for plants that fit into our description but would also be 100% non toxic.
There was a huge learning lesson about how most everything you see in gardens these days are just not on the dog friendly spectrum – especially lots of cactus and succulents!
I will post below the selection we used – but I highly recommend you check the ASPCA link above when considering your own garden.
Ok – so with the concept & the parameters set – lets get down to the fun stuff!
BEFORE //
Here is the space before the transformation –
Not surprisingly, my clients were hardly spending any time outside.
Since their outdoor space was half the square footage of their entire Venice rental and we are blessed with pretty good weather year round here in Southern California – I knew that needed to change immediately!
Let’s check out the change…
AFTER //
We painted the existing sheet fence & posts with a fresh coat of Sherwin Williams Iron Ore & Natural Choice. This change alone brightened up the entire space and created a fantastic backdrop for all of the color and plants to come in.
Lots of plush outdoor pillows in layers of patterned blue were added to the seating areas to create a sense of comfort and “lounge-ability”. I am not sure thats a word – but you get it.
Tall planters and hanging baskets now line the patio bringing some much needed life to the space.
We also refinished the original orange oriental side tables in three shades of punchy blue allowing a breath of fresh life to come back to tables the client had owned for years and years.
This section of the garden still needed to be functional – containing the clients washer/dryer and the drop off area for drying wetsuits and leashes.
We repurposed a vintage rowing ore into a hanging rack and brought in tons of planters, palms and papyrus plants to create a jungle around everything we were trying to hide.
Bright blues and fresh greenery really bounced off the dark fencing – helping to revive this space completely.
Lets look at that again…
In the California real estate climate – this project is a complete testament to the fact that even a renter can create an environment which is true to their own personal style and taste.
We successfully were able to revamp the entire garden and bring more life to an area that they now use every day!
A little oasis they can call their own.
xxx,
Heather KW
SHOP THE SPACE // PLANTERS // UMBRELLA // COUCHES, TABLES & CHAIRS // HANGING PLANTERS // PILLOWS – PILLOWS – PILLOWS // LIGHTS
DOG FRIENDLY PLANT SELECTION // Ponytail Palm, King Palm, Cyperus Papyrus, Prayer Plant, Creeping Rosemary, Spider Plant, Escheveria
HEATHER KW STYLES 
Looks amazing and very comfy. Well done. X
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