How Does Your Garden Grow?

Garden urns on pedestals help vary the plant height in Bunny Williams's greenhouse, making it look lush, green and positively magical by candlelight. Courtesy of An Affair with a House.

We're in the thick of summer now. Thanks to a decent amount of rain, things are still looking lush and green here in New York--and that's so much more pleasant than the seared grass, dead leaf look, don't you think? I spent part of the weekend helping a friend landscape his patio. The transformation reminded me how even one plant can have a big impact, especially if it's in a great planter.  Auctions are a great way to uncover affordable vintage garden pieces. The biggest sales of this sort are in the spring (and I will review those next year, my dearlings, I promise you). But even now, you can unearth some real gems...and use them immediately! Of course, such items, particularly the cast iron, tend to be heavy, so the key here is to think local (or ask the auction house for a cheap but economical trucker). I looked around the country for great finds, and, without further ado, bring you a sampling of the best of them. Stay cool!

The Classic Garden

All the classic elements, a la  Mary McDonald: Interiors: The Allure of Style.

A pair of monumental classical urns. Simply stunning. In Pasadena on July 19th, estimate $3,000-5,000.

A similar pair of classical cast iron urns, at auction in Cincinnati on July 23rd, estimate $500-700.

A planter on a stand adds color and drama, from An Affair with a House.

Gorgeous concrete Corinthian pedestal, at auction July 30th in South Carolina, estimate $50-100.

An armillary on a pedestal transforms a courtyard. From Timeless Elegance: The Houses of David Easton.

A lovely (but dirty!) pair of neoclassical garden urns. At Doyle, New York, on July 21st. Estimate $600-800.

Impressive cast iron planters, at Doyle, New York on July 21st, estimate $500-700.

Blue and white on the porch, Bunny Williams style. From Point of View: Three Decades of Decorating Elegant and Comfortable Houses.

Chinese hexagon shaped porcelain planter, at auction in FL on July 30th, estimate $150-250.

John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross's New Jersey porch. Photo: Simon Upton, courtesy of Elle Decor.

Chinese ceramic stools work everywhere. Now, they seem to be sold everywhere but many of the ones in catalogs aren't very well made. Try a vintage one for  better quality and a more unique look .

Pair of white glazed garden seats. In New Orleans on July 30th, estimate $200-400.

Chinese garden seat, at auction in New Orleans on July 30th, estimate $200-400.

Blue and white Chinese garden seat, in MA on August 4th, estimate $300-500.

Ceramic garden seat, at auction in Chicago on July 28th, estimate $200-400.

The Whimsical Garden

Of course we must start with Tony Duquette. The majolica urns on stands and ceramic garden seat are all classic auction finds--and great for showing off plants. From TONY DUQUETTE.

Dragon jardiniere and matching pedestal, at a PA auction on  July 23rd, estimate $200-300.

 

Green jardiniere on stand, at auction in Hatfield, PA on July 28th, $300-500.

Pair of Moorish plant stands, in Tallahassee on July 30th, estimate $75-150.

The Rustic Garden

Miles Redd does rustic right with these great painted signs and a vintage trunk.

photo: William Abranowicz. The fantastic porch of  Mari Ann and Michael Maher courtesy of Elle Decor.

Pair of cast iron jardinieres, at Doyle, New York on July 21st, estimate $400-600.

Copper jardiniere, at auction in New York on July 30th, estimate $300-400.

Driftwood pedestal. At auction in New Orleans on July 31st, estimate $250-400.

Adirondack plant stand, at auction in MA on September 10, estimate $100-200.

I am going to close with one more shot of Mari Ann and Michael Maher's fabulous porch--since that's where I'd love to be on this hot and sticky day!

photo: William Abranowicz for Elle Decor.

All This Rain and I Need a Splash of....Yellow

It has rained for three days straight with a forecast of more to come. All this gray weather makes me crave the sunshine,--why don't I bring it indoors? Yellow is such a warm and welcoming color. It took me a while to get around to decorating with it, because I don't wear it (funny how that works). But indoors, it's great. Strong yellows make a splashy accent. Many designers seem to agree..

Domino Magazine (now located here),  photo credit: Melanie Acevedo

First up is J.Crew exec Jenna Lyons's townhouse, where a bright yellow couch brings life to elegant neutrals. (Did you know the Domino archive can now be found on the website for Bride Magazine?)

Domino Magazine, PHOTOGRAPH:DITTE ISAGER

Next up, another room from the Domino archives.  Just a small bright yellow vase really pops against the white, bright pinks and dark floors, something Markham Roberts clearly realizes as well.

Courtesy of Markham Roberts, Inc.

Mary McDonald: Interiors: The Allure of Style, photo: Robert Tractenberg

And designer Mary McDonald, the queen of more, seems to love bright yellow with black and white. Below, she uses several bright yellow vases to enliven an entry hall.

Mary McDonald: Interiors: The Allure of Style, photo: Miguel Flores-Vianna

With all this in mind, I set off to see what bits of sunshine were available at auction. I immediately found these two twentieth century yellow carved Peking vases, very similar to the ones above, at Cowan's Auctions in Ohio, 9", with an estimate of $500-700, auction date May 21st.

Yellow Peking vases, Cowan's Auctions

The same auction house also has this pretty Chinese garden seat with dragons, estimate $400-$600. Garden seats have become ubiquitous, but this one really stands out.

Cowan's Auctions, Chinese Garden Seat

For those with more modern tastes, this latticino Murano glass bowl, offered by Pembrooke Auctions of Kansas City on May 21st with an estimate of $250 to 350, is both beautiful and functional.

Murano glass bowl, courtesy of Pembrooke Auctions

If all of this is too refined, how about this adorable rustic painted yellow bucket being auctioned off on June 4th the Conestoga Auction House in Pennsylvania? Estimate $100-200. (With all these estimates, keep in mind you might snag the item for much, much less.) It's perfect for pens, pencils and desk supplies!

yellow bucket, courtesy of Conestoga Auction Company

Who can resist Rookwood pottery, especially in the form of this pretty little vase? Humer & Nolan, out of Ohio, have an estimate on it of $120-170, and are auctioning it off on June 5th.

Rookwood vase, courtesy of Humer & Nolan

And finally, let's finish where we started, with a gorgeous bright Peking glass vase, circa 1900, being offered by Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches, on May 24th, estimate, $400-600.

Yellow Peking glass vase, courtesy of Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches

Wow, I feel better (even though it's still gray, gray, gray out). Hope you enjoy the splash of sun.