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Saturday, June 2, 2012

La Belle Époque Backyard Tour


It is a beautiful sunny morning here on the ridge, and I couldn’t resist grabbing my camera and snapping some photos of the backyard and gardens.  It is such a relaxing oasis for us and we are very fortunate to be surrounded by such amazing scenery in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.

I’ll show you the back today and post about the front later.  There’s lots of landscaping.  Here is a view of the back of our house.  Please forgive the glare of the sun….

There are stairs to the left (which takes you to the garden overlook) and right (which takes you to the garage side of the house).

Last year our backyard was featured on Pikeville’s Garden Tour.

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Let’s start with the left side.  This is the view as you come to the top of the stairs. We had the cobbled stone laid in a couple different places on the property.  This gate leads you to our side yard.

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And, there’s the bench we sit on that overlooks Pikeville.

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The city of Pikeville below.  Yes, we really do live on top of a mountain.

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This is the view as you are sitting on the bench.

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This is the only magnolia tree that I have and it sits just outside the sunroom window.  It is getting ready to bloom although you can’t tell in this photo.  Love my cherub statue.

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Headed back down the steps.

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Reclaimed log with an artisan made concrete leaf.  I like to have cool things hidden in the landscape.  They add an unexpected surprise and excite the senses when found.

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Looking toward the pool house.

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All of the stone is bluestone.  The planter on the wall is made from an antique piece of French iron fencing and a vintage French copper gutter (which you can’t see because of the flowers).  The daisies are beginning to bloom.

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The pool is concrete and gunite with a raised hot tub.  The waterfall is one of my favorite features.  It has such a soothing sound.  My husband and I like to say it’s a small pool or a large water feature!  We’d already had pools with diving boards and slides in the past, and didn’t want that type to maintain when the kids left home.  So I guess it’s more of a grown-up pool.

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This is the dog run, although Murphy never runs.  LOL  He reminds us that Cavaliers are definitely lap dogs who like to lay around.

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Looking back toward the house.

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Some of our property over the hill.

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I’m gonna have to replace that icky looking umbrella.  The sun has faded it terribly.  When it is raised it has lights underneath that look pretty at night. 

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The lavender is shooting up and looks like it is going to do well again this year.

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Here is what we call the garden wall.  The roses were blooming during prom, but aren’t doing so well now.

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This is a late 1800s poly-chromed terra cotta freize that came from an old building in Chicago.  You can see it came in pieces and our stone mason was nervous about tiling it into the new stonework.  But, I love architectural details like this and had to have it when we found it at Architectural Salvage in Louisville.

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All of the hot tub, outdoor kitchen, and garden wall stonework was cut, chiseled, and laid by hand in separate individual pieces.

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Steps to the hot tub.  The lavender smells so good.

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Our landscaper used a lot of large boulders in the landscape that came from the back of the house when they were excavating.

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The outdoor kitchen area.

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It’s not very big, but we were able to add a sink, an outdoor cooktop in addition to the grill, and an under the counter refrigerator. This set of furniture is by Gloster.  It’s probably my favorite outdoor furniture and is made in England.

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This is the loggia.  We love to hang out here in the evenings when all of the outdoor lighting and pool lights are on.

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Most all of the other furniture pieces are either Lloyd Flanders or from the French company Fermob.   I really need to get new cushions next year!!!

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These are the stairs to the right leading to the garage side of the house.

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There’s a large field to the left and this is where we took some of the prom pictures of the group of kids.


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Coming back down the stairs.

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Murphy and Ollie checking out the water temperature!  You can rest assured neither one will jump in!


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I have basil growing on the balcony for fresh summer caprese salads.

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I showed you my hydrangeas in the front yard yesterday, but these are potted on the balcony.

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The fencing around most of the property is aluminum, but we wanted something special for the balcony and had this wrought iron design custom made with gold fleur-de-lis.

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And, lastly the view from the balcony. I have coffee out here a lot on summer mornings.  The balls in the pool are stainless steel and make for great pool decorations when we are entertaining.  I think I got them from CB2 a couple years ago.

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It is a privilege to live in the Appalachian Mountains.  We see deer, turkey, and fox regularly here on the ridge.  But they are safe…..there’s no hunting allowed in the city limits!!!

BTW….for those of you who watched the Hatfields & McCoys mini-series starring Kevin Costner on the History Channel this past week, I live in THE Pikeville where a lot of the feud took place.  I can just about see the Dils Cemetery where Randall and Sarah McCoy are buried from my house and the original courthouse still stands downtown.   Lots of history here…

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend,
Kim

Linking up to:
Favorites on the First: Gardens at The Polo House
Garden  Tour Linky Party at Jennifer Rizzo

22 comments:

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Kim, you have the backyard of my dreams. How beautiful. I love a view and how lucky you are to enjoy that everyday. Just exquisite.

Rooms by Ann said...

WHAT A GORGEOUS BACKYARD. THE VIEWS ARE AMAZING.

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

I think I could vacation in your backyard, Kim. It's beautiful.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

WOW. Kimberly, your estate is stunning. Thank you so much for visiting me today; in turn, I can come to visit your lovely grounds! AND YOU TOO are a Francophile???? YOUPI, as they say in French! Do come back next week chez moi and visit all the participants for the Paris party!

Your pool is gorgeous, the house is divine, I can only imagine that the interior is just as impressive. HAVE FUN!!! Anita

Karen said...

Kim,
What an amazing property and garden you have. Such a beautiful view.
Karen

Art and Sand said...

Kentucky is one of the 18 states I have left to visit and your photos make it look beautiful. A road trip might be in order this summer.

Art and Sand said...

Kentucky is one of the 18 states I have left to visit and your photos make it look beautiful. A road trip might be in order this summer.

Sarah said...

Kim, I'm so glad you stopped by to visit my garden because it brought me directly over to see your lovely home and gardens. Wow, what a view! I can tell you are a detail person. Love seeing all the special bits and pieces that you have added about the landscape. I'm your newest follower and look forward to visiting often.
Have a great weekend ~ sarah

Debra@CommonGround said...

wow Kimberly, i feel like I've been on vacation, truly breathtakingly gorgeous!! Love all the detailed touches!

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Gulp.

Oh my word.

Someone lift my chin off the floor now, please.

Stunning beyond words. Oh. MY.

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

I am so excited to meet you, Kathe!
I love your backyard tour and this is probably THE nicest and most creative backyard landscape plan I have ever seen. With your slopes and inclines, whomever put your tiered plans together did a sensational job! Truly wonderful.

Love it all.
Thanks so much for sharing your hidden backyard room with a view --- and what a view!

Alison
Your newest follower.
:)

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Kim, I am cancelling my beach vacation and coming to your back yard instead. Evrything is beautiful and I love the pool.

Ivy and Elephants said...

You have an amazing home! The grounds are fabulous with that wonderful view. We'd love to have you share with us anytime. Thanks so much for Your sweet visit.
Hugs,
Patti

Ricki Treleaven said...

We are on a mountain, too, with pretty views, but the back of our property slopes uphill, and we have woods. I absolutely love your back garden. I love all the blue stone, and the flagstone around your pool is so pretty!!! I bet your lavender smells divine. Thanks for the tour! I know it took some time to put the post together, and I appreciate it.

xo,
Ricki Jill

Anita at Cedar Hill said...

What Kim said. What a gorgeous backyard. I would love to see that every day.

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

Wow! You have one amazing yard and view! Beautiful!!!

Dee

Debbiedoos said...

Uhh...I am speachless Kimberly! Just gorgeous! I would love to do a home tour sometime if you are interested just shoot me an email.

Anonymous said...

Hey I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed reading your blog. You have good views, Keep up the good informative info. I am almost brand new to blogging and really like your post, it is really on target Thanks for all of your time & work

Anonymous said...

Hey I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed reading your blog. You have good views, Keep up the good informative info. I am almost brand new to blogging and really like your post, it is really on target Thanks for all of your time & work.Bull outdoor products

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

I never tire of seeing your gorgeous home and gardens...they are magnificent!

PCovi said...

I was already having fun on your blog, but when I saw you were a fellow Kentuckian I was more excited...then I saw Pikeville ...well I went to college a hundred years ago with three girls from there...they were so gorgeous and friendly...it just made a mark on me!
I also am a Francophile...so...nice to meet you :)
LOVELY home!!

Gwen said...

Your home and gardens are a treasure. There are no imperfections. I sensed a nervousness(?) about everything being on display for the world to critique and I wanted to assure you that your ideas--reusing the boulders from construction--as landscape features, cutting unnecessary bulk on fence by using aluminum but the hunt for a true iron piece for your special balcony shows the specialness of you and your spouse. A faded umbrella?? We all have those!! In a year in CA heat and days of only baking sun. Don't you think it looked nice from the distance? Not harsh but rather patinaed ( is that a word?!!) and if there's no hole, it is the end of the season so it did its duty well. You said it looked gorgeous with the twinkle lights on. Your beautiful of many patios. I'd never criticize your cushions. They looked puffy and comfy. Oh deep inside I felt you pointed out a speck of a flaw in your own eye... And I think of our loving Savior who says do not point out the speck in another's eye for you've got a log in your own. You are the opposite. Pointing out your tiny tiny flaws when it is all okay. Who has roses as beautiful in August or such as another time? :-). Take a breath. Look at your photos from my eyes. I see blessings. I am not envious nor do I believe you deserve less. I believe you've been given a gift of an eye for design. You've created a sanctuary where, if you were to desire, could take a cup of coffee and your Bible and read Psalms of praise for The Lord for His Beauty you can enjoy. I have much loss and attack but could you you Tube In the Garden and sit outside in a favorite spot and it is morning... You know you can be in your own garden and have sweet fellowship with The Lord --linger awhile --and He will walk with you and talk with you ...that is what I imagined as I mentally pretended I could walk in a garden like that and I am not criticisizing you. Just so humbly I wanted you to see through my eyes. No flaws. If there it is not glaring but if you wait a year for cushions, it's ok. You've been blessed but beyond that, you can go to the garden and pray! Take time to truly enjoy that. God is blessing you. And I see a gentle not proud person in you. Blessings.

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