They are made of palm tree trunks, hollowed-out and finely-sanded; the insides burned and the bottoms capped. The tree is Borassus flabellifer (Toddy Palm); renewable and fast growing, similar to bamboo.  All the trees used for these pots are plantation-grown.  All harvesting and sanding is done by hand using traditional methods in Bali, Indonesia.

I have incorporated the Palm Pots into an intimate little outdoor living room that I recently designed.

The furnishings are from Bradford Lifestyles, with the Palm Pot and the coffee table from  The Urban Gypsy, 614 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC (www.theurbangypsy.com), one of my favourite resources for funky furnishings!

- reduces the amount of runoff collected by sewers

- save water and $$$

- be environmentally-responsible

HOW IT WORKS

Rain barrels come in all shapes and sizes.  The one pictured is designed to look like a terra cotta vase.  It stands approximately 48″ tall.  Terra Luma Design has several sizes and styles to choose from!

For some, this is statuary. For others, Music. Each elements adds meaning to your space.

The Urban Gypsy (in Vancouver) and Berbere World Imports (in Los Angeles) are great resources.

Another favourite is 18 Karat!

Terra Luma Design clients get a discount at each of these venues!  If you are looking for something specific, just ask…  we probably have a source that is perfect for you!

Perhaps a Baby Ganesha will inspire you as much as it has me!

Imagine sitting quietly outdoors…  in a outdoor meditation room where you can escape and empty your mind… a breathing space from the chaos of the day. Increasingly, many of my clients want their outdoor space to be a place where they can decompress.

As you begin to envision your meditation room, take some time to consider both the function and how each element will create harmony with your environment.

In my experience, here are the top 5 considerations in the design:

• Noise – What can you hear as you sit quietly?  If you hear the overwhelming noise of traffic,  consider adding additional plants  to buffer noise or include outdoor speakers for you iPod.
• Decor – How can you bring soothing elements into the space?  Water fountain, natural wood and cushions create calm in any space .
• Colour – What colour(s) would you like to be in you space?  Color as a psychological tool is very powerful. Consider the effects of your favorite colours on your mood.  Build a palette of calming and soothing foliage and textiles.
• Location – How does the sun and wind impact your space?  Would you like to meditate in or out of the sun? What is the best layout for the space?
• Privacy – How private is your space?  Enclose your outdoor meditation room and use sheer curtains to create privacy.

In terms of functionality, plan for storage of cushions and blankets to ensure they stay dry in inclement weather.

Regardless of the size of your outdoor meditation room, your design should be as unique as you – unlike any place else.

The window was modified to allow for easy pass-through from the home’s indoor kitchen to the shelf on the outside!

Classic bar-b-ques are being re-fitted into outdoor kitchens.  Old-school lawn furniture is being replaced with swanky outdoor sofas and club chairs with beautiful outdoor cushions.  We’re casually eating around fire pits with our iPods broadcasting tunes through wireless speakers.  Today’s outdoor rooms are giving their indoor counterparts a run for their money!

One of the first steps you need to take in planning on outdoor room is to determine whether you want to build a deck or an at-grade patio.  Compare your finished elevation of your home to that of your garden.  There are pros and cons to both decks and patios and you’ll want to check local building codes for any restrictions.

If you choose a deck, why not incorporate storage beneath?  Consider the investment of a premium tropical hardwood such as Kayu Batu.  If you opt for a patio, consider all the materials available including Pennsylvania bluestone, flagstones, limestone and a wide variety of concrete paver styles!

While these design decisions set the stage for your outdoor living, they are just the beginning!  Personalize your space with funky planters, living walls, water features and decorative stone!  And extend the usability of your outdoor room by adding landscape lighting and a heat source (such as infra-red heaters or a fire pit) so the party doesn’t end when the sun goes down!

A water-hungry ficus hedge hid most of the home’s facade, and a large berm dominated the front garden.  Mature Washingtonia robusta (Mexican fan palms) and olive trees were retained, and the garden was amended with a mature 12’ tall Yucca rostrata, several Opuntia violacea santa-rita (prickly pear cactus) and Ferocactus wislizenii (barrel cactus) accent a Parkinsonia hybrid (‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde).  Irrigation demands were reduced by more than fifty percent and the home has a fresh new look.

For a video walk-through of this project, please click here.