Take a cue from the English for garden rooms

Dear Sandi: My husband and I recently returned from two wonderful weeks touring England by car. One of the things I fell in love with the most were the conservatories that were attached to so many, even modest, houses in the country. The feeling is quite different than the American garden room. How can I get a bit of this feeling in my own garden room? —Debbie L., Beaverton

Hi Debbie: You are quite right; the feeling in the English conservatory has an entirely different feel than most American garden rooms.

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We tend to be much less formal, and our garden rooms usually are a true extension of our living space, often decorated in whatever style we like without considering this room as separate from the rest of our home.

Unlike American garden rooms, which most commonly are a slanted roof with a glass room attached to the house, many of the English conservatories are built in the classic hexagonal shape that gives them an immediate sense of age and history.

You can create this sense of age with the type of materials that you use and how you accessorize the room.

If you have walls that are simply painted, consider giving them a treatment to simulate the look of old stucco or a crumbling wall. There are many products for this or you can experiment with fibers, paper and paint to create your own aged wall.

Hard-surface materials with the appearance of age and use (brick, stone, etc.) can be used as flooring to give an instant feel of permanence. These same materials can be used to create a small water feature in the conservatory, adding ambiance and much-appreciated humidity for plants.

Also, start hunting antique shops, flea markets and garage sales for antique containers. It often is more interesting to have three to five different plants growing together in one large container than the same plants in their own pots. Don’t overlook small containers though. An old soup tureen would be perfect for a small plant.

Also, I would look for a couple of trailing plants to grow up the wall and across the windows, ceiling, etc.

Since you’re looking, you also should keep your eyes open for any old pieces of garden

Sandi Reinke is an author, frequent television guest and lead designer for loose ends (www.loosends.com), a Salem-based interior décor, garden, and casual lifestyle company. To ask Reinke a decorating question, e-mail info@looseends.com or mail her at the showroom address, 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, OR 97302. Phone: 503-390-2348.

furniture, such as cast- or wrought-iron chairs, benches, etc. Although not the most comfy furniture, cushions and throw pillows can make them more inviting. Just be sure to choose fabric that is classic, stripes or checks or small printed patterns vs. tropical.

Because the English are gardeners extraordinaire, also put on your shopping list, such things as antique garden tools and watering cans.

Old seed boxes, buckets, pails or even an old wheelbarrow all can be planted up. Just be sure that whatever you use is watertight. If not, simply line the piece with heavy-duty plastic (garbage bags are great for this). Make friends with the local salvage yard and always be on the lookout for old architectural pieces.

August 20, 2004