Anyone who was lucky enough to witness the infamous “Chelsea flower show”, in Spring in the heart of London, will have witnessed the unprecedented increase in the use of vegetables in the ornamental garden i.e. pea plants growing, delicately up wrought-iron supports, ornamental pumpkins and squashes sprawling, boldly through […]
Art Topiary in Italian Gardens: Villa Lante, Bagnaia. Ph. flickr/Roberto Ferrari Italian garden design has always adopted the use of art topiary to establish strong, evergreen structures. From the origins of the Italian style gardens, designers have shaped evergreen plants into both symmetrical, obtuse and representational forms to […]
Interior decorating in the Tuscan style Tuscany is one of the largest regions in Italy, and over this large geographic extension there are many types of interior decoration, ranging from the magnificent interiors of the palazzi or castles of Florence or Siena, to the majestic decorations of manors of the […]
The D’Este Murano Glass Factory: The D’Este Murano glass factory was established in 1965 by a man from the island of Murano. He operated the company until 1995 when the activity was passed on to his sons. D’Este has always been a family enterprise. Presently, there are 6 master artisans […]
Italian Decorative Accessories: Tuscany Although Tuscany occupies a large geographic area in Italy with many different environments, and although it comprises a wide range of housing solutions (ranging from simple farmhouses to magnificent castles and luxurious country manors), there are certain underlying themes and decorating solutions that are generally recognized […]
Harmonizing Planting in Italian Gardens The effect of light and shade is a major component of Italian garden design and is known as the ‘Chiaro-scuro’ effect. As one passes under a dense tree canopy or under a pergola, smothered in wisteria, one experiences differing concentrations of light. This light to […]
Useful Information on Growing Rosemary in your Garden Rosemary, that great Italian culinary herb that is listed in every Italian recipe, an aromatic herb that is used in almost every dish from Scotland to Rome. How though, does one grow the stuff? If you have ever created small herb garden, […]
Colour Schemes for Italian Gardens bee on lavender Ever wondered why a field of bright red poppies look so stunning against the light green grass of a Tuscan field in early summer, or why the deep blue flowers of the Florentine flag Iris look so spectacular set against their spiky, […]
How to Prune Mediterranean Plants For many of us the thought of a helpless plant having its limbs hacked off by a human evokes a sense of horror and the feeling that the poor plant is suffering a terrible, un-natural ordeal in the process. However by leaving certain plants without […]
Murano Glass Jewelry Murano Glass Jewelry – Some Truly Fantastic Finds Murano glass is world-renowned. It’s elegant, sophisticated and extremely beautiful. Usually, when you think of Murano glass pieces, jewelry doesn’t spring to mind. Chandeliers and wine goblets, perhaps – but not jewelry. By the time you are through reading […]