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Anduze pot

Monterey Colonial garden update! Big difference!!!

May 24, 2016 By //  by Penelope Bianchi 3 Comments

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Hi there!  I have had a lot of requests for more updates on the Monterey Colonial our daughter

purchased a few years ago here in Montecito!

The previous posts are at the end of this post!

She removed some shrubbery crowding this beautiful jacaranda tree; and changed the planting

behind the boxwoods to only purple agapanthus.  There were lots of them sprinkled all

over the property; so she moved them all here.

When they bloom under the purple blossoms it will be a show!

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Here is the front porch with the Anduze pots with topiaries. Everything simplified!

there is a lovely new gate in the background on the left.  It was made to match the back gate.

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Around the back of the house;  she has added oak leaf hydrangeas,  and star jasmine.

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Right around  the corner.

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Another new gate to match the back gate!  The pool is on the other side!

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Remember when you couldn’t see the pool from the garden?  She opened up the hedge!

It is still private; but you have a glimpse!

The beds are also simplified with white agapanthus, iceberg roses and Viburnum.

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The original back gate!

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The other side!

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Behind the above hedge is another whole garden!  Avocado trees, wildflowers, fruit trees

and raised potager beds!

3 avocado trees all different species so they fruit at different times!

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My favorite! Lavender, matillija poppies,  artichokes and herbs!  And roses!

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I think they are doing a beautiful job of this garden!

I think my favorite of all are these oak trees in the front which were never

“trimmed up”!!!!

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Congratulations to our daughter, her husband and their gardener!!!!

Monterey Colonial garden update! Big difference!!!Read More

Filed Under: Blog, Design, Gardens, Landscapes, Montecito Gardens Tagged With: Anduze pot, boxwood, gardens, Joseph Plunkett, Montecito, Monterey Colonial

A blogpost from Brooke at Velvet and Linen about me!

July 15, 2015 By //  by Penelope Bianchi 5 Comments

This was a post a few years ago by Brooke Giannetti at Velvet and linen!

an evening with penelope bianchi and lars bolander…

Having never attended school for interior design, I’ve always wished that I had a mentor. There have been a few times when I have met other eccentric, like minded designers, but they have never been receptive to sharing their knowledge.

Then in January 2009 I started receiving wonderful comments on V&L from Interior Designer Penelope Bianchi. I didn’t know anything about her, but I could tell from her comments we shared a similar design aesthetic. Her comments were always honest and straight to the point. She wasn’t afraid to share her opinions and offer advice. In a recent comment she explained that “drapes” are for coffins and “curtains” are for windows. Like I said, she is very straight forward!

A couple of months ago, I received my copy of House Beautiful and fell in love this Santa Barbara home.

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Image via House Beautiful

The interiors had a collected “undecorated” feel to them.
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Image via House Beautiful

The pink plaster made the rooms glow!

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Image via House Beautiful

This image actually inspired me to paint my bathroom pink.
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Image via House Beautiful

The rooms were perfect in their imperfection!
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Image via House Beautiful

That day I brought the magazine with me to carpool pick up so that I would have some time to read the article while waiting for Leila to get out of school. Thank goodness all of the windows were rolled up (and I was sitting down!), because I screamed when I read that this gorgeous home was actually the home of Penelope Bianchi! This was more proof (if I needed any) that Penelope and I were kindred spirits.

Then last week I received an e-mail from Penelope inviting Steve and me to Lars Bolander’s book signing at her home. Penelope and Lars Bolander! This was an event that I definitely could not miss. So yesterday Steve and I drove up the coast to Santa Barbara for a once in a lifetime evening…

This was my “love at first sight” moment. The gravel path…

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The gates made out of  thick twisted vines…
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The aged lanterns.
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As we walked into the gravel courtyard, we were greeted by Penelope’s charming, vine covered guest house.

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Mismatched terra cotta and stone pots, whimsical  garden statues, and a pair of lacy iron benches flanked the welcoming entrance.

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The shutters were weathered to gray perfection.

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I yearned to be a guest staying here! I could imagine waking up, sipping tea and warming myself by the fire.
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Walking out of the guest house doors, we faced the gorgeous garage with its wavy tiled roof (Penelope later explained that she asked her contractor to tell the roof installers to lay the roof as if they were drunk!) and magnificent gray doors.

The landscaping of the entire property had a lush overgrown quality that added to its old world charm. Penelope had to explain to her gardner that he needed to throw out his trimmers and blower. No pruning allowed.

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Potted boxwood ball topiaries, geraniums, and citrus were so authentically Mediterranean.

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Between the main house and the guest house was a small gated hidden pathway.

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The main home was divine. Covered in vines, moss, and patina!
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We walked through the Bianchi’s home to the back yard where we were greeted by the beautiful smile of the man of the evening: Lars Bolander!  Although we sell his book in the store, I couldn’t resist buying a copy for him to sign.

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Finally we meet! Yes, this is the amazingly talented (and beautiful too!) Penelope Bianchi, shimmering in silver.
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Penelope was kind enough to take time away from her hosting duties to give us a tour of her magnificent property.

We walked across the back patio….
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through a gravel covered space populated with three iron chaise and…
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a wonderful array of cement animals.
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The Bianchi’s  garden was a visual explosion!

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Everywhere we turned we viewed gorgeous vignettes.
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A sitting area was nestled between two trees behind the house.
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Walking down this lushly landscaped path, we had no idea what to expect.
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As the landscape opened wider, we found ourselves in front of the Bianchis’ duck pond. Penelope placed the duck house in the middle of the pond so the ducklings would be safe from predators.
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As Penelope explained to me, the entire back yard is dedicated as a natural bird habitat.

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Even a fallen tree provides housing for wild life.

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Penelope guided us back towards the house…

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We walked past the house in the other direction…
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only to discover another lushly landscaped path….

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That lead us to: The Chicken Coop!

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Penelope kindly allowed us to enter the coop after hours (the chickens have the “free range” of the property and walk themselves back to the coop at night).
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Most of the chickens were too fast and blurry for Steve to capture, but the rooster was cool and relatively still.

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Penelope built another house for the chicks and their moms.

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Walking around to the other side of the house, we stopped at another fabulous outdoor dining area.

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Penelope’s friend Richard joined us and described the parties that took place in this space so vividly that Steve and I felt as if we had attended those events.
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As we turned the corner we caught a glimpse of the Bianchi’s grandchildren’s play house.
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An Asian inspired bridge crossed the dry creek that creased the property.
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Penelope’s stories about each area were captivating.

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After touring the grounds we headed back towards the main house, where Penelope told us a story about the owl house she placed here.

She was very excited when she saw some rustling in the house, thinking she finally had an owl. Out popped one of her hens who had somehow found its way up on the roof and had babies in the owl house!
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This is the outside of one of the most magnificent rooms in the house.

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Inside we experienced the indoor/outdoor garden space where the vines were just as welcome as the guests.
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A small desk sat in the corner. A perfect place to work and connect with the gardens.
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This is where I would sit and read or just enjoy the landscape.
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We left the garden room to join the party in the main house. The central room of the Bianchi’s  home is large but very warm and inviting.
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Penelope created several cozy sitting areas in the space.

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Who wouldn’t feel comfortable sitting in one of Penelope’s chairs by the fire?

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The window seat was filled with a glorious abundance of vintage textile pillows.
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The walls were covered in faded paintings and antique mirrors…
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We left the main room and entered the master bedroom. Oh how wonderful is this bed nook!

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The large ottoman at the foot of the bed hides the television.
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A small desk sat on one side of the room.

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I think the bathroom was my favorite room. I loved the corner sink cabinets and the placement of the vanity in between. All of the colors are wonderfully muted.
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The tub is the Queen, sitting majestically at the end of the room.
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Steve pulled me out of the bathroom to continue the tour… Even the laundry room was inspiring. I need one of those drying racks. It’s so practical hanging from the ceiling.
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Only Penelope would light the back hallway with three of these tole ceiling fixtures from John Rosselli.

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Even the hallway was a place where I wanted to linger.

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Back in the main living room, I met some Velvet and Linen readers: Laura, her husband Cleveland (sorry Cleveland, you blinked!), and their daughter Brooke (visiting from her studies abroad).
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We spent a few more moments chatting with fellow Lars Bolander admirers, before we started on our drive back to Los Angeles.
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I took one last look at the Bianchi’s magical home, trying to remember all of the details  and the amazing evening we just experienced.
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Thank you to my friend and mentor, Penelope Bianchi. You’ve had more of an impact on my life than you will ever know.

xo

Brooke

If you would like help creating the home of your dreams, email me about our design services. You can also purchase many items found here on Velvet and Linen as well as “to the trade” furnishings through Giannetti Home. Email Kelly about the details.

A blogpost from Brooke at Velvet and Linen about me!Read More

Filed Under: Blog, Design, Friends, Gardens Tagged With: Anduze pot, animals, antiques, bantam chickens, Brooke Giannetti, decorating, garden, habitat, House Beautiful, Lars Bolander, patina, pond, Velvet and Linen

Garden update on the Monterey Colonial in Montecito!

May 4, 2015 By //  by Penelope Bianchi 12 Comments

The gardens have  been worked on extensively for the past few  months!

Huge improvements!!!

Not too much has changed in the front;

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Things are starting to bloom!

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The real changes are on the side….

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what was a shady mess where nothing much would grow

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To a charming space!  Bricks (hand-made ones…that is key!!) are laid in sand…..not mortar….that is key also!

So elegant and slim lines between….and easily moved here and there!!!!  No mortar!!!  (then it becomes “hardscape”;  an anathema to me!)

This is so lovely!  They added the old brick steps…..and two stone benches.

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Looking toward the pool.

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They changed the terrace from terra cotta tile to brick;  added the steps and replaced the lawn on either side of the pool with brick.  (Old, hand-made brick much of which was elsewhere on the property!)

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The lawn was too shaded to grow or thrive;  so this made a beautiful and comfortable poolside.

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Another view.  I love it!!!!  Simple and elegant!

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The hedge used to completely hide the pool ;  now  it is sheltered  and private;  but welcoming!

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Boxwood and white roses surround the lawn.  Just planted!!!

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The back terrace now has a path from the pool (the path used to “dead end”!)

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This is the back terrace.

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The eating area off the family room and kitchen.  The barbecue is cleverly disguised on the right!

( I spend my entire life disguising barbecues and televisions and screens!  Most men

love how they look!  EEEK!  I make sure they function well…….and then I disguise them!!)

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What an improvement!

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The view from the back terrace!

I will post the interior changes soon!  It is a process!

Garden update on the Monterey Colonial in Montecito!Read More

Filed Under: Blog, Design, Gardens, Montecito Gardens Tagged With: Anduze pot, before and after, garden, Joseph Plunkett, landscape, Monterey Colonial, pool, restored, terrace

The Olive Allée!!!

June 10, 2013 By //  by Penelope Bianchi 54 Comments

Definition: (from  Wikipedia)

“Allée is traditionally a walkway  with a line of trees or large shrubs running along each side , which is used,

as its French source venir (“to come”) indicates;

to emphasize the “coming to,” or arrival at a  “focal point”  or an architectural  feature.

In most cases, an  “avenue” is planted with all of the same species or cultivar

so as to give a uniform appearance along the full length of the avenue”.

  Landscape designer Margie Grace and I collaborated on our “Olive Allee” here in Montecito.

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 I love “allees”;  the symmetry and the canopy is beautiful.

The cypress tree in an Anduze pot is the focal point this way!

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  UH OH!!

I need another “focal point looking this way!

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 This is the cypress in the pot  at the end of the “allee”!

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I’m not sure what this “focal point” is;  The house is part of it!

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How simply gorgeous this is!

 Here is an enormous allee of old oak trees;  Centered on the front door!

(a very old and gorgeous plantation in the South)

   8a8a40a8dd0cc4a2b2b7f5b4f45ad875The centered tree is this focal point!

(I think this is in the South of France)

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Another gorgeous one, this time the axis is on  the middle arched door!!

Allees are a lovely addition to a garden!

They “contain the view” and lead you toward their “focal point”!!

 

  Landscape designer Margie Grace and I collaborated on our “Olive Allee” here in Montecito.

More about our Garden here. It tells the story of all the challenges!

She does a magnificent job!!!

At every kind of style!!!

 

The Olive Allée!!!Read More

Filed Under: Blog, Design, Landscapes, Montecito Gardens Tagged With: allees, Anduze pot, Bianchi, cypress, focal point, Grace Design, Margy Grace, Montecito, Oak allee, olive allee, on axis in the garden, South of France, Southern plantation, symmetry

Spring is Springing in Santa Barbara!

April 15, 2012 By //  by Penelope Bianchi 28 Comments

I posted the very beginning of Spring a while ago.  Some people say we have no “seasons” in Southern California!”

Yes we do!!  Spring is in full swing!!

DO WE HAVE SPRING???

YES!!!!!

We have a handsome new deer trophy!  (wrought iron)  in a proud position!

The house is fully cloaked with ivy!  (People ask me why I bothered to pick a color of the plaster!)

You can see the plaster in the winter;  all the leaves turn colors and fall off!

I found a wonderful “dovecote” from the estate of the wonderful artist, Jack Baker!  I’m hoping doves will make nests!

The arbors are covered with different roses!

This giant azalea is as old as I am!  There are pictures of me as a child next to it!  It is in a big pot!

These roses all came from the wonderful place “Rose Story Farm” in Carpinteria!  They only have old roses;  and roses that have fragrance!!

(I learned there  that you have to leave your nose smelling for a full ten seconds to get the fragrance!)

This is the stupendous  (I think!) view from the window by my husband’s desk in his office!!

“The maternity ward” has a hen with five chicks!

They are so fast!

Can you see the wisteria in the tree?

Our grandchildren’s clay art works are displayed on this table!  It’s their “Art Gallery”!

This is the “olive allee” with its focal point of an Anduze pot we bought in Provence!

and our lovely “faux bois” bench from my friend Janice who owns “Janus et Cie”!

 Our proud “trophy “!

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at night….I learned from Tara Dillard!!  Pretty to see in the windows!!!

Another angle!

The roosters are so happy to have their tails back!

I love the damp and mossy stuff on the pots!  and the other rooster!  (I AM SO SO lucky to inherit pots !!)

Tara says to buy pots and garden accessories that people will “fight over, at your estate sale!”

A happy rooster!

We really do have Spring , Summer and fall in Santa Barbara!

The only thing we really don’t have is “Winter”!  I must admit!

I almost forgot!  Here are the “Spring slipcovers”  They go on the first day of Spring!!!

A lovely little bird took a tuft of our cat’s fur (I put it on the bushes when I brush her) and flew off to put it in her nest!

I’ll do another post  about the garden when it’s Summer!

And we have a mallard sitting on at least 8 eggs in the floating duck house!  I will show you right away when they hatch!!!

HAPPY SPRING!!!!

Spring is Springing in Santa Barbara!Read More

Filed Under: Blog, Design, Gardens, Home, Landscapes Tagged With: Anduze pot, arbor, baby chicks, bantam chickens, Boston ivy, cat fur in the bushes for helping birds make nests, dovecote, duck house, ducks, faux bois bench, focal point, fragrant roses, gravel, Janus et Cie, old roses, olive allee, Penelope Bianchi, Provence, Rose Story Farm, roses, Santa Barbara, slipcovers, spring, Spring in Santa Barbara, spring slipcovers, trophy deer, trophy deer heads, vines in trees, wisteria, wrought iron deer head

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