Monday, June 30

Bringing the Outdoors In.

One of my favorite tricks when I'm looking to brighten up my apartment (and my mood!), is to add some fresh cut flowers around the place. I like to make a habit of heading over to our local San Francisco Flower Mart on Fridays, so I've got fresh bouquets all weekend long, when I'm around to enjoy them and have friends coming by. The flower mart is good, because you can can get great flowers and plants at slightly higher than wholesale prices (unless you have a resale license, in which case you can buy them at wholesale prices!). I'm a sunflower or gerber daisy kinda girl - they're such happy flowers and I can usually find a good bunch for under $10. Another of my favorite spots for picking up fresh flowers are the neighborhood corner markets all over the city, and I like buying from the mom & pop shops.

Whether it's cut flowers, or live plants, both add a fresh look and a bit of color to your home. And live plants (I'm not talking crazy vines everywhere!) obviously last much longer, so they're even less expensive and get you more bang for your buck, so to speak. And growing fresh herbs is the best! Not only do they look great and smell so tranquil, but there's also a really good feeling you get when you trim off a sprig of your own rosemary to toss into your recipe. I don't know why, it's just gratifying and makes me smile. If you've had trouble growing your own perhaps check in with You Grow Girl for forums and advice.

This weekend, I also brightened up my little terrace, adding new fresh herbs and succulents (they don't need much water). I also turned it into a little zen oasis - complete with old kilm rugs and a new floor lounger and lounging pad I found on sale at West Elm, so I can stretch out and enjoy the garden and some sun (at it folds up into thirds for easy storage inside). It brings a little bit of the outdoors, indoors! Flowers and plants, nature's little way of brightening your home on a budget.

13 comments:

Tracey said...

Great shots! I agree with you and the fresh flowers! They are an instant mood booster and always make me smile! Especially like the containers on the balcony!

Unknown said...

I love gerberas too.

Anonymous said...

Does your balcony get dusty? Mine does. How do you keep it clean?

Anonymous said...

random question - but what do you do with the rugs when it rains? do you take them inside? or just let them get rainy then air out?

looks great!

sfgirlbybay said...

it does get a bit dusty as there's a ton of construction going on right now on my street...but i just shake the mats out. i'm going to make a slip cover for the lounging cushion too.

pixel girl - the bottom rugs are plastic, and i'll just grab the kilm when it threatens rain and bring it inside!

thanks!

Sarah said...

Your lavender looks great. Nice little zen garden there.

Maryam in Marrakesh said...

ooh so pretty. I spent all last week buying random fruit trees and rosemary for the garden. Now I am broke but happy:)

Anonymous said...

working in a flower shop for a while make me appreciate flowers even more. i love gerbers and alstroemeria. your balcony is gorgeous!

Suzanne : : S.HOPtalk said...

Lovin that floor lounger and the mix of succulents with lavender--great combo!

Anonymous said...

I do the same thing except that I grow the flowers in my garden which is a lot of fun and very rewarding, but I don't live in a city so I can do that...

your little terrace looks so coz with the rugs and all tucked underneath...what a sweet spot to curl up with a good book and enjoy life and smell the flowers..

best,
carol

Brooke Howsley said...

Fresh flowers and plants are something everybody can afford - thanks for sharing your favorite source for well-priced stems. I also love just walking through the flower markets even if I don't buy anything...

Carrie Nicole said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE that lounger!! Is that the yves blue one? So fantastic!

sfgirlbybay said...

it's the the white canvasand i order two of the small back loungers to go behind it - it's awesome!!