by SUSAN A PP LEG ET HURST photos KRITSADA producer SH IRLEY REMES

a

ll the bustle and noise o f his b u sy Chicago

n e igh bo rh ood m elt aw ay at the end o f the day fo r

Peter G e orgio u, w h o tu rn e d his sm all backyard

into a c o z y e xte nsion o f his con tem p ora ry hom e.

“T h e re is a com fortable flo w betw een the house

and garden that makes it a relaxed and happy

place,” he says.

“ I w anted to b rin g the in d oors and outdoors together,” Peter

says. “So I used colors and m aterials th at w e re sim ilar to those in m y

hom e.” Fences and other w o o d structures m atch the m odern ca b in etry

in his k itch e n and fa m ily room . C o lo rs o f in d o o r w alls and fu rn itu re

reappear outdoors. B luestone used at the entrance to the house is

seen again in benches and lo w w alls in alfresco conversation and

d in in g areas.

T re e s and fences p ro vid e generous privacy, m aking curtains

unnecessary at w in d o w s, fu rth e r b lu rrin g the lin e betw een indoors

and out. M o re im portantly, th e y insulate the space from the in tru sive

h ubbub o f the city. “P riv a c y and se ren ity— th e y’re im portan t to me,”

Peter says. “W h e n I com e hom e, I w a n t to get com fortable and be me.”

SETTLE IN

Every

aspect of Peter

Georgiou’s garden,

from the green and

red cushions in the

conversation area,

above,

to the color of

the fence,

opposite,

takes its cue from

indoors. Peter had a

trellis,

opposite,

made

to suit his style and

stained to match

the fence.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS JULY 2009

1 3 9