What is a stock tank you may ask, and what does it have to do with gardening? It is a large galvanized container that is used to keep livestock hydrated. They also make wonderful gardens! When we bought the Little Glass House ten years ago, the previous owners left four large tanks. I knew that when we reimagined our backyard space, the tanks were going to be a feature. With drainage holes drilled into the bottom and drip irrigation lines,…
Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California is two miles down a mostly one lane road. As you might imagine, during the summer it can be a frightening proposition. It also is one of the windiest spot with sand that buffets your face…nature’s idea of dermabrasion! All this aside, it is the beach made famous in the iconic Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton movie, The Sandpiper. When the crowds are gone, it can actually take your breath away with its sheer beauty. On…
When I can combine two of the things I love, Big Sur and hiking, it’s a good day! Just to clarify, while I truly enjoy hiking with friends and family, there is something meditative and restorative about going solo. Much to the consternation of my family, I know there are risks going it alone…but I’m not talking about hiking for days…three to four hours tops! I always tell someone where I’m going and let them know when I return. This…
Big Sur has become a popular destination and is on many bucket lists. It’s beauty is dramatic and pristine. With more and more tourists, it’s fragile environment is at risk…so much so that there is a Big Sur Pledge which I highly recommend taking. We are all stewards of this magnificent place and it is sad to see people disregard the rules either blatantly or unknowingly. After reading and taking the pledge, here are a few tips that I’ve found…
Let me start out by making clear that I am not an exhibitionist. As a small child, I have fond memories of coming back from the beach sandy and a bit sunburned but eagerly looking forward to the outdoor shower (or “plein air”, as I like to call it). It was the only one in the rented bungalow! Never mind that there were often a dozen of us in need of washing off the sand and suntan lotion…it was worth…
When we bought our Big Sur home, it came with permits for two studios. We have been working on one of them. When it is completely finished, I will do a blog on the before and after as we await more permits. Last month, I ordered a sofa from RH. (As I’ve mentioned before, RH is one of the only companies that will deliver here!) According to the RH site, it wouldn’t fit through the doorway of the studio. My…
With Memorial Day just around the corner, I thought it would be the perfect time to switch things up at The Little Glass House…a summer refresh, if you will! Summer is all about the outdoors and bringing it inside. I wanted to declutter and open things up a bit. A trip to the Barnhouse Market pop up shops in Santa Barbara was the jumping off point. A few new pieces started the summer refresh ball rolling! I found a gorgeous…
I’ll admit it…I’m a bit of a book hoarder; design, garden, and lifestyle books to be precise. I have books on benches, under night stands, piled on stools, and covering virtually any shelves! I go back to them time and again for inspiration or just to get lost in the beautiful photographs. I have acquired four gorgeous books recently that I know I will come back to frequently. One in particular may just be my favorite of all time! I…
Big Sur has something I like to call the “funk factor”. The creativity is off the charts, and often it is out of necessity. With the closest hardware store an hour away and frequent road closures due to mudslides, people learn to make do with what is available and it often leads to creative solutions. Our contractor Brendan Wahl is just such a person. He has lived in the area all his life and to him there aren’t problems, only…
You know how when you improve one part of your home, it makes the other parts look tired and old? That’s exactly what happened with our deck. We were told we could likely get another few years out of it, and so we had put it on the back burner along with a kitchen remodel. Fast forward ten months, we had new windows, siding , and outdoor furniture. The deck stuck out like a sore thumb! It was old redwood…