Visitors delight at the
surprising serenity
patio, tucked into the center of Seattle yet well-insulated
from the hubbub of the city. Equally remarkable is how this
garden sanctuary took root on a barren concrete surface.
Furniture, a gazebo, and an array of potted trees and
shrubs made it possible to turn this sterile plain into a green
haven. “It’s like wandering through a lush forest,” Steve says.
The containers divide the garden into a dining area, gazebo,
and reading nook, forming the “walls” of these outdoor
rooms. The plants also shield the patio-located in a popular
Seattle commercial district-from the public and protect it
from harsh winds, heat, and glare.
The patio’s
850
square feet, visible through the home’s
floor-to-ceiling glass walls, nearly doubles the condo’s living
space. Steve thinks of it as a work of living-and livable-art.
“For me, it’s almost like a painting.,” he says. “You can see
this picture of the garden from inside and then walk into it.”
It’s an inviting tableau, and proof that there’s more than one
way to turn a blank canvas into a masterpiece.
Steve likes to read in |
the cozy nook just off
the master bedroom
,
left.
A row
of Italian
cypresses
,'.this photo,
divides the dining area
and gazebo.
164
NOVEMBER
2009
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
