‘The best time to plant a tree (or vine) is five years ago.  The second-best time is today.’

– Brad, my gardener (and countless other garden lovers)

These wise words were offered to me when I lamented to my gardener that I had not thought of planting Wandering Fig eleven years ago, when we moved into our current home.  Our garden includes a CMU retaining wall that is functional, necessary, and not particularly attractive.  It’s doing its job, so I wasn’t interested in replacing it.  However, I was interested in disguising its severe, drab appearance.  Since it lands on a paved terrace, for a while I was stuck on the idea that potted plants were the way to go, with mixed success in covering about 30 linear feet of wall. 

A few years ago, it dawned on me that I could plant Wandering Fig in the upper bed and train it to grow down the wall.  It’s been a slow process, but to my great delight the tendrils seem to have established themselves this year, and they are beginning to spread out over the unclaimed real estate that is my CMU wall!

The thing about gardening is that there is the benefit of creative activity in the present moment, but also the sense of contributing to something with a life of its own, that may comfort, calm, or inspire unknown future visitors, beyond the original gardener.

My son travelled to Japan over the summer, and I’ve been completely enchanted with the moss-covered gardens of the Saihoji Temple in Kyoto.  When the temple was conceived 1300 years ago, did anyone imagine how it would evolve and the worldwide allure it would hold?  Even without having been there in person, the photos of the Moss Garden evoke a sense of serenity and ancient wisdom. 

Here in Northern California, I feel a similar reverence and grounding sense of perspective in the Redwood trees, some of which date back well over 1000 years.  When the living world offers so much beauty and tranquility, it’s not surprising that we are drawn to incorporate elements of nature into interior design. 

I’ve been obsessed with this Scalamandre wallpaper lately, and I have my eye on it for an upcoming personal project.  When I can’t actually be hiking in the forest, I’d like to surround myself with the pattern of pine tree branches and needles.

Reclaimed wood slabs are a special way to bring some forest into the home.  An exposed live edge, like the console table above that we recently had made for an entry foyer, offers an even more tactile experience to connect with the tree’s history.  Because these pieces are made from fallen trees, or trees that need to be cleared for forest health, it’s possible to get a larger-sized slab than what is milled for traditional furniture production.  I like to imagine the slab infusing its new home with the stories and quiet wisdom that are embodied in each tree.

Lighting is another way to mimic nature indoors by incorporating shapes found in the natural world and recreating light and shadow patterns that activate a space.  Ever since I saw this Manhattan Loft by Mark Cunningham featured in Milieu in 2022, I’ve been captivated by the way that the whimsical chandelier by David Wiseman softens the urban atmosphere.

If you would like to talk to me about your interior design project, click the link below to submit an inquiry form and schedule a Discovery Call:

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In spite of the urban coziness, many of the neighborhoods lend the feeling of strolling in a garden.  A combination of street trees, enticingly lush alleys, and glimpses into private gardens all contribute to this feeling.  But the detail I was most enamored by were the window boxes.  Each one adds loads of character to the home and the identity of the entire street, the way that a great pair of shoes can complete an outfit.  

Whether a home was modest or grand in scale, the attention to the window boxes extends a message of hospitality and pride in one’s home.  It’s a small garden element, but makes a big impact. 

As a gardening enthusiast, I was enchanted by all of the different combinations of leaf shapes and sizes, flowers, and color.  And of course, bonus points go to the gardeners who coordinate their plant selections with the color scheme of the home!

Most of these photos were taken in the French Quarter of the City.  If you go, and share my enthusiasm for gardening, please stop by Mrs. Whaley’s Garden on Church Street, and report back to me!  It is one of the few private gardens that is open to visitors, but only sporadically.  Sadly, it was closed both times I tried to go. 

The post Window Boxes in Charleston – Small Details, Big Impact appeared first on Nystrom Design.

It’s no secret that we at Nystrom Design have a passion for all things art and nature. So you can imagine our delight when these loves combine in the form of an outdoor sculpture garden. Today I’m going to walk you through a few of my favorites.

Storm King Art Center – New York

Located in the Hudson River Valley of New York (about an hour north of NYC), Storm King is a completely open-air museum with one of the largest collections of contemporary outdoor sculptures in the country. Spanning about 500 acres of rolling hills, Storm King is home to a collection of works by well-known masters such as Alexander Calder and Richard Serra as well as more contemporary artists such as Andy Goldsworthy and Maya Lin.

While at Storm King you don’t just view the art – you experience it. Set against green hills and blue sky, the monumental black and red Calder sculptures make a strong visual statement. And their impact is only heightened by the opportunity to stand alongside, walk around, and even walk under or through these giant pieces.

One of the most beautiful times of year to visit is in the autumn when the air is crisp and the leaves are changing color. It’s easy to spend an entire day meandering through the property – by foot, by bike, or even by guided trolley car.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art – Denmark

When my husband and I had the opportunity to visit Denmark a few years ago, I asked Ellen for her list of must-sees. (After all, she had been lucky enough to spend a summer studying in Copenhagen while earning her Masters of Interior Architecture.)   Top on her list was the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, and once there, it was easy to see why.

Located about 20 miles north of Copenhagen, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art doesn’t just house art – it IS art. From its gorgeous modern Danish architecture to its impeccable landscaping and gardens, there is beauty and design to appreciate at every corner.

After exploring the modern and contemporary art within its walls, we spent the rest of our afternoon strolling around the museum grounds. Located on the shore of the Oresund Sound, there are large sculptures set against sweeping water views. Or meander a bit more through the lush gardens, and you find art tucked quietly amidst the trees.

Filoli Historic House & Garden – California

During this past pandemic year, I found a renewed appreciation for the beauty and safety of the outdoors. Without being able to travel too far from home, we were lucky enough to find an escape in the nearby Filoli Historic House & Garden in Woodside, California.

Most notably, we took advantage of visiting this past Fall (thanks to Ellen for the tip!) to see the exhibit entitled “Kristine Mays: Rich Soil,” which featured a series of life-size wire sculptures thoughtfully placed throughout the gardens. Mays’ sculptures depict the human form through garments – each embodying a fleeting gesture or movement.

While the gardens are gorgeous to visit on their own, there was something uniquely striking about walking past each of these sculptures set against the backdrop of the exquisitely maintained landscape. Each time, it felt like passing by ballerinas dancing among the flowers.

And no matter which garden you find yourself in this summer, don’t forget to stop and smell the roses!

The post A Walk Through Bridget’s Favorite Sculpture Gardens appeared first on Nystrom Design.

When life as we knew it halted, and work and school shifted to home, I made a conscious decision that what formerly had been my time to drop off the kids and commute to my office, would not default to work time.  Instead, it became garden time. 

Weekends that formerly were filled with soccer games and social events suddenly opened up for family projects.  Lucky for me, my kids were on board with the idea of a vegetable garden.  We had traveled to the Loire Valley in France last summer, and visited several châteaux to feed our imagination! 

I had visions of paths lined with lavender, and neat rows of cutting flowers that would attract butterflies and bees. 

Naturally, our vegetable garden would need some surrounding topiary, for a playful twist.

With plenty of inspiration, my kids and I got to work making a plan for our own extensive grounds.  After carefully surveying the land, we determined that we had space for two 6’ x 3’ planter boxes.  Okay, so not exactly château-scale, but then again, we weren’t planning to feed a banquette hall full of guests, like the one below from Château Chenonceau. 

Once we identified space in our garden with the best sunlight, we looked on Etsy for raised garden boxes that we could easily assemble. Our neighborhood has lots of gophers, so we knew we would need to line the bottom of the box with wire mesh.  We also knew we wanted to grow root vegetables so we looked for a taller box with plenty of space for carrots and beets.  We found kits that fit all of our criteria from Infinite Wood Craft, and we put them together in a single afternoon.

While we waited for our kits to arrive, we planted seeds indoors, and were delighted when our little sprouts popped up.  Sadly, they did not survive the transplant.  For round two, we planted the seeds right into the ground in late April. 

San Francisco has an unusually cool and foggy summer climate.  Sprouts popped in early May, and then took their time to fill out.  We harvested beets around July, cucumbers in early August, and now it’s late August, and we are monitoring our green tomatoes with eager anticipation. 

Our herb garden is just starting to fill out, and picking our own basil and parsley is such a simple joy. The dill and chives are coming along, slow but steady. 

My visions of topiary and lavender, were satisfied with Nasturtium and Santa Barbara Daisies – reliable and low-maintenance ground covers that attract butterflies and bees, and require very little water. 

In a time when so much feels out of control, I’ve found great comfort in my new morning gardening routine, and the (semi)-predictable patterns of nature. 

The post Vegetable Gardens – Aspirational and Actual appeared first on Nystrom Design.

It’s no wonder that we would want to include design elements that connect us to positive associations in our daily environments.   

This painting by Isabel Emrich was the first ‘real’ piece of art that my husband and I bought.  I originally saw it at Chloe Gallery in San Francisco, and I had such an emotional reaction to memories of ocean swims that I brought my husband back to see it too.  It hangs on a wall near the front door where I see it every day when I leave the house, and reconnect with my free-spirited-swimmer-self.   

Emma Gardner is a rug designer based in Petaluma, California.  Her colorful and whimsical designs already had my loyal attention, but when I came across this staircase runner she designed for a poolside cottage, it was true love!  

Our Berkeley Hills Clients were quick to select this turtle-patterned wallpaper for their guest room and office.  When we presented it as an option, they shared with us that they had gotten married in front of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Open Sea Exhibit.  As they said their vows, there were mating turtles in the background!  Read more about this project here.   

For a recently retired couple, we included serene references to the ocean, which were especially significant to the husband, who had spent most of his career at sea.  Although their Sunset Neighborhood residence didn’t come with views of the ocean, we included artwork that does the trick. 

I hope you find your own version of the endless summer!  

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I almost decided not to make this blog post.  I had planned to share an article I wrote last fall for the Camp Tawonga Blog, as an expression of my disappointment that sleep-away camp has been cancelled due to COVID-19.  It was going to be entitled ‘Summer Camp Nostalgia’.  But I am aware that my kids missing a summer of sleep-away camp is the least of our problems right now. 

I decided to still share the article I wrote because I believe so whole-heartedly in the community that Camp Tawonga has built, and I hold on to the belief that it is possible for such kindness and inclusivity to be prevalent in the real world.  The mission of Camp Tawonga is rooted in compassion, social justice, and the concept of  tikkun olam, or ‘repairing of the world.’

I don’t have the answer for how our country is going to heal from these wounds that date back centuries, but I know there is trauma that needs to be healed.  The camp director when I was on staff, Ken Kramarz, always reminded us to ‘be a channel, not a dam’.  A lot of suffering and anger has been building up for many years, and the floodgates are now open.    

In the context of current events, as I re-read the article below that I wrote last fall, my first reaction was to feel a little self-conscious about sharing these experiences because of how they represent my white privilege.  But then a different voice in my head chimes in to ask how we can make it possible for every youth to have access to formative, outdoor enrichment experiences.   

From the Tawonga Blog:

Last summer my 14-year-old son participated in the Camp Tawonga Northwest Canada Quest Trip, a 3-week outdoor adventure with eight other 14 and 15-year-olds and three young adult wilderness leaders.  At the end of the trip, a group of eager parents waited at the designated pick up spot and cheered as two SUVs full of kids, windows down, music blasting, rolled into the parking lot.   As a bunch of excited and scruffy looking kids emerged, full of laughter and inside jokes, I found myself choked up with an emotion that is familiar, but still always seems to take me by surprise.  Beyond gratitude, it’s an awareness of moments where it’s possible to feel completely comfortable in our own skin. 

Each summer when my kids get on the bus to go to Camp Tawonga, I feel this rush of gratitude for the summers that my own mom sent me off to Camp Tawonga back in the 80’s.  As my kids head into their teen and pre-teen years, I’m reminded of my final year as a camper when I was 12.

As Tawonga families know, the overnight backpacking trip is a core part of the regular Tawonga summer camp experience, and not always embraced by the campers.  My 12-year-old self was no exception and my camp BFF and I stubbornly packed our shampoo and conditioner with every intention of washing our hair in the icy cold river where we’d be camping.  Because obviously we could not possibly survive one day without washing our hair!  The morning of our departure from camp, my cabin was up at dawn, we piled ourselves and our gear into the camp van, rode to the east side of Yosemite, transferred to a motorboat, road across Saddlebag Lake, then began our backpacking trek deeper into the backcountry. 

Once we had set up camp, one of my counselors asked if anyone wanted to explore, and without hesitation, I joined her, along with one other bunkmate.  My hair-washing plans were forgotten, and we were off!  I remember being captivated by the pristine backcountry, and the excitement of what we would discover over the next rock or hill. 

The beauty of Saddlebag Lake and the experience of shedding the concerns of my pre-teen-self left such an impression on me that 30 years later, I returned to Saddlebag Lake with my family for another magical experience.  In the time between these two visits to Saddlebag Lake, I’ve had many meaningful Tawonga experiences as a staff member, loyal Family Camp attendee, camp parent, and one of many Tawonga love stories, having met my husband on staff.

Our family trip to Saddlebag Lake brought back memories of what it was like to be a pre-teen, straddling the worlds of childhood and adolescence.  At times wanting to run off and play, other times wanting have the space to try on different versions of whoever I was becoming, and still needing some guidance to help the best parts emerge and thrive.  I am so grateful that Camp Tawonga created that space for me, and I view that backpacking trip as a formative moment in my relationship with the outdoors, which has shaped me personally, as well as our family culture. 

So, when my son got home from Quest and I was speechless with emotion, maybe it was just one of those full-circle experiences that makes it feel like we are exactly where we are meant to be.   

I am optimistic that we (or our kids) will be back at camp next summer, and it will be even more meaningful than ever.  Leave a comment if you have a formative summer camp experience – I’d love to hear about it. 

The post The Privilege of Summer Camp Nostalgia appeared first on Nystrom Design.

Countless studies show that nature plays a role in our mental and physical health and healing.  There are so many big and small design moves that bring nature inside. One of the easiest things to do is walk into your yard and gather a few cuttings.  Even if you live in a region where things go dormant in the winter, perhaps you can find a few branches from an evergreen tree. In my own yard, Calla Lilies are abundant during the late fall and winter.  In the image above, I grouped them with branches from our Smoke Bush and used it as a centerpiece for a dinner party.

One of my favorite ways to reference nature is through the materials I select for my clients.  Fabrics and wallpapers offer endless interpretations of natural elements that can bring whimsy and playfulness to a room. 

I’m always cataloging new products that I hope will eventually find a place in one of my projects… or my own house!  The patterns above are some of my current crushes. For more inspiration, check out our Color + Pattern Pinterest Board. 

The best architecture always demonstrates a sensitivity to the context of the building.  The setting will inform how the structure is situated on the site, the choice of materials, and how the sightlines are set up for the best views.  The image above is the work of Specht Architects from a feature in Architectural Digest.  Imagine how lovely it would be to begin and end each with the view from the bathroom above.  If it were mine, I might never leave!

One of my favorite Bay Area architects is Bernard Maybeck.  He was part of the Arts + Crafts Movement of the early 20th Century and may be best known for The Palace of Fine Arts.  He also built a number of private residences like the one pictured above, which was recently for sale in the Forest Hill neighborhood of San Francisco.  This house epitomizes a whimsical California lifestyle that blurs the boundaries between inside and out. When I saw that the house was on the market a few months ago, I had to go take a peek!  The sunny bay window, warm wood tones, and cathedral ceilings are features that take their cues from nature and make the space feel warm and inviting.

The post Connecting your Interior Space with the Outside World appeared first on Nystrom Design.

The place where I notice this the most is in the woods because of the way the light filters through the trees.  The winter rains turn everything green and mossy, and the forest feels a little enchanted. We are so lucky in the Bay Area to have an abundance of breathtaking places to hike, and a mild enough climate to enjoy them year-round.

Ten years ago, my husband and I began a tradition of taking a long hike at the end of the year, which just happens to coincide with my birthday.  It’s become a time to reflect on the previous year and look ahead to the next year. Whatever challenges we may have faced over the year, it’s easy to gain perspective when we are surrounded by the mountains and towering trees

Today I’m sharing 5 of the hikes we’ve done.  But they are all favorites, so we’ll go by year!

2009: Tafoni & Fir Trail Loop, El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve (Peninsula).

One minute you’re hiking in a lush forest and the next these massive sandstone formations pop up in front of you.  They are speckled with wonderful patterns formed over millions of years, and in the winter, the bright green moss creates a vibrant color combination against the variations of greys and sand colors.

2014: Goodspeed Trail to Gunsight Rock, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park & Hood Mountain Regional Park (Sonoma County)

This hike was so beautiful that it seems we forgot to take pictures, except for the obligatory selfie at the top!  The hiking trail has everything you would want in the way of natural beauty. And the view from the top of the rolling hills of Sonoma County makes it more than worthwhile.  

We made a long weekend out of it and stayed nearby at the Indian Hot Springs in Calistoga.  There is nothing better than a cool winter hike followed by a soak in their Olympic-sized pool, filled with naturally warm mineral waters.  

2015: Matt Davis & Steep Ravine Loop, Mt Tamalpais State Park (Marin)

This trail from Mount Tamalpais down to Stinson Beach is sort of like a crash course in the varied terrains of Northern Californian, ranging from evergreens to oak grove, to a meadow, to the ocean. 

In the winter, the oak trees lose their leaves and bright green moss covers the gnarled branches, creating a spectrum of greens and a random lacework pattern that contrasts against the grey winter sky.

2017: Heritage Grove & Hiker’s Hut Loop, Sam McDonald County Park (Peninsula)

We did this as a day hike but discovered that there is a rustic little cabin that you can rent through the Sierra Club.  Personally, I love the backcountry experience of waking up in a remote and pristine setting. However, I’m not such a fan of lugging all the gear, so this is my kind of backcountry camping!  But we will save our stay at the Hiker’s Hut for the warmer summer months.

2018: Baltimore Canyon + Dawn Falls Trail Loop in Larkspur (Marin)

Last year’s hike was not quite as remote as other years.  In fact, this hike is just a short walk from Magnolia Ave in Larkspur.  This means that after the hike, you can stop at Posie Ice Cream Shop for delicious ice cream and inventive flavors!  

The first part of the loop follows along a creek and on the opposite side are a series of homes nestled into the forest.  I’m always a fan of A-frame homes, but this one especially caught my attention. The concept is so simple but works so well as a mountain cabin from both the inside and the outside.  

Our hiking selection for 2019… still TBD!

All of these hikes are from a tattered copy of ‘101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area’ by Ann Marie Brown.  

We only have about 90 more to go! 

The post Winter Hikes appeared first on Nystrom Design.

This house and garden from the town of Urke were by far my favorite.  Nordic folklore was a big part of my childhood, and although this house seems too cheerful for a troll, a hobbit could definitely live here!  In this tiny town, located along a fjord known as Hjorundfjorden, you can’t exactly compete with the dramatic landscape, but this garden is just the right complement in scale, color, and form.

I could not get enough of these tiny boat houses with sod roofs!  Green roofs and roof gardens have been growing in popularity in the United States, but in Norway, they’ve been part of the vernacular architecture for centuries as a way to utilize local materials and provide better insulation. 

My husband and I visited Balestrand 15 years ago, but only stayed long enough to take a day trip to the Glacier Museum.  We were so enchanted by this quiet town that we returned with the kids, and gave ourselves more time to explore.  Above is a picture of a garden full of Lupines, with the fjord in the background.

The street that starts at the Kviknes Hotel, and runs parallel to the fjord is lined with decorative homes that were originally built by artists at the end of the 19th century, and even the birdhouses are treated with an artistic flair.

Containers filled with flowers are a simple way to add a friendly touch to an entry.  This lone flower pot on the post of this entry gate is all that’s needed to make guests feel welcome with a little burst of color. 

Balestrand is home to numerous organic fruit orchards, as well as Ciderhuset, where you can taste over 100 ciders and juices, and dine at the restaurant.  But don’t go on a Saturday, when it’s closed for private events, which is what we did!  It was still a lovely walk, and we enjoyed drinking their delicious Balholm brand of cider with dinner at our hotel.

A trip to Norway is not complete with a visit to the Vigeland Park in Oslo.  This impressive collection of sculptures is set in an expansive public park and depicts each stage of the human lifecycle with raw emotion and tenderness. 

The garden of the Urnes Stave Church feels peaceful and rooted in history, with the church dating back to approximately 1130.  I always love a framed view, and was especially struck by the contrast between the dark interior of the church and the sunny day outside.

The post Garden Hopping in France and Norway – Part 2 appeared first on Nystrom Design.

In today’s blog post, I’m sharing pictures and reflections from 3 of the French gardens I visited over the summer while traveling with my family.  

I spent my junior year of college living and studying in Aix-en-Provence, but never made it to the Loire Valley.  Ever since, I have been dreaming of going back and cycling to the Châteaux of the Loire Valley. It turns out, this is a crowd-pleaser for the whole family!  Our boys loved cycling, and I got my fill of garden inspiration.

Of course, the interior spaces of the châteaux are exquisite, which I’ll be writing more about next week. 

Our first cycling excursion took us to Château de Chenonceau, which gracefully spans the Cher River, and has gardens named after two of its early royal residents, Diane de Poitiers (1499 – 1566) and Catherine de Medici (1519 – 1589).  Both of these women oversaw important architectural and landscape improvements at the châteaux. 

Above is an image of the château photographed from Catherine’s Garden.  These gardens are lovely, and I would absolutely stroll them with all of my influential guests if I were the Lady of Chenonceau, but I found myself most drawn to the intimate, tucked-away parts of the garden – the labyrinth with a shady pavilion at the center, and the cutting garden.

So, let’s talk about this cutting garden because the other thing I learned while touring Château de Chenonceau is that there are 2 year-round florists who prepare fresh flower arrangements for the rooms using flowers and foliage cut from the gardens.  Such a dream job!  

Below is one of the creative flower arrangements, incorporating the Allium Globemaster seen in the picture above.

Our second cycling excursion took us to Château d’Amboise, perched on the hilltop of the charming town of Amboise, which is also the town where Leonardi da Vinci spent the final 3 years of his life.

I was enchanted by the use of topiary in this garden, and how the sculpted spheres of boxwood emphasize the rolling hilltop.  Boxwood can feel very formal, but here it felt whimsical and created an extra allure to the winding paths. 

While in France, we made sure to spend a few days in Paris to see some of the classic attractions, which of course, included Château de Versailles.

The gardens of Versailles were designed to impress visitors, and the grandiose scale matches the Château itself.  But there are tucked-away moments that I find easier to relate to. One of my favorites is the allée of trees off to the side of the formal garden.  It is a relief to arrive at this protected shady walkway after the exposure and vastness of the upper terraces.

Our European adventures continued with travels through Norway, and in a few weeks I’ll be sharing some of the sweet garden sightings we had during the second leg of our trip, so stay tuned!  

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