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Retun to HOME page Return to GUESTBLOG page	Café Stone Corner With the garden season just around the corner I think I will guest blog about our Café Stone Corner, which we made last Spring, and enjoy very much. I think you should have different spots in your garden; some with sunshine, some with shadow and some with shelter, some with a view and some that are just quiet for your mind. When my dad gave me my tiny Summer cottage, Pan (http://samati.dk/pan/pan_uk.htm) I also inherited all the things in the house and in the shed. In the shed I found my grandparents’ vintage garden swing, and DH and I agreed that the tourists should not ruin it while I rented my house to them during July and August, so we brought it home – but where should we place it? It ended up at the very bottom of our back garden under our huge hazelnut tree. It soon became our favourite spot, since there was natural shadow all day long and we had the view of our huge (1,300 sqm) garden and our lovely house. But when it had rained, which it often does in Denmark, and we went down there right after the rain had stopped, it was quite muddy. My sister offered us about 7 sqm flags, which kick started the project. We started sketching the corner in SketchUp (free tool from Google), not very vintage, but it is a great tool for building projects, since you can draw with precise measurements for your projects, but you can also draw in 3D and download trees, bushes … we even downloaded a Weber grill and a garden swing to complete the picture. And thereby you can view how it will look before even getting started. Very smart. You can even calculate how many of each stone/flag you need. Early Spring last year, DH started digging … the vintage way. Soon our good neighbours came to help, our front garden neighbor is a gardener – it’s great to have goo neighbours. He then started with the frame which was made in dark flags to make a contrast. Now DH can never do anything the easy way, I’m glad he’s the one who always changes the projects so they become much more difficult than planned at first, because then he cannot blame me. ;) He was afraid that it would be a dull stone desert, so he invented this diagonal square of other stones in the middle of the project. It is not a joke that he has laid all the flags and then cuts out the square afterwards, this way he is sure that everything is straight and precise. After leveling the gravel he started placing the other stones. Around our huge hazelnut bush (yes, it is in fact a bush) was previously just weed which we mowed when it became too high, now we wanted a much more elegant flower bed – again DH invented, yes, he has great taste. A lot of swearing went on since natural stones are very different in size and shape, but the result is lovely. Here is the finished result early in the morning, the only time of the day with sunshine. We have lots of lanterns hanging from the tree and standing in the edge of the stone corner with tea lights in when we sit there during the nice Summer evenings. The very nice flower bed made of stones from fields. Buzy Lisa are the easiest flowers and lovely and colourful. My vintage garden swing which I had to paint after the project to make it look nice too. The table is also old, not vintage, our neighbour gave it to us and I painted it white. DH also built this flower box from remaining boards and lists, very nice. It is great being married to a handyman! :D Café StoneCorner quickly became the most popular place in our city! We literally have to fight for our rights to sit there. The youngsters throw bonfire parties, they barbecue, drink, and have a cosy time together all Summer. So we have to put up a "reserved" sign if we want to sit there. I hope I have inspired you to make a favourite spot in your garden too. I wish you all a lovely Summer. You can see the whole project on my website here: http://www.samati.dk/bubily/stenhj_uk.htm After you have read it let's thank Sanne or ask her questions about it HERE.

Bottom image or materials down here

Retun to HOME page

Return to GUESTBLOG page

Café Stone Corner

With the garden season just around the corner I think I will guest blog about our Café Stone Corner, which we made last Spring, and enjoy very much.

I think you should have different spots in your garden; some with sunshine, some with shadow and some with shelter, some with a view and some that are just quiet for your mind. When my dad gave me my tiny Summer cottage, Pan (http://samati.dk/pan/pan_uk.htm) I also inherited all the things in the house and in the shed. In the shed I found my grandparents’ vintage garden swing, and DH and I agreed that the tourists should not ruin it while I rented my house to them during July and August, so we brought it home – but where should we place it? It ended up at the very bottom of our back garden under our huge hazelnut tree. It soon became our favourite spot, since there was natural shadow all day long and we had the view of our huge (1,300 sqm) garden and our lovely house. But when it had rained, which it often does in Denmark, and we went down there right after the rain had stopped, it was quite muddy. My sister offered us about 7 sqm flags, which kick started the project.

We started sketching the corner in SketchUp (free tool from Google), not very vintage, but it is a great tool for building projects, since you can draw with precise measurements for your projects, but you can also draw in 3D and download trees, bushes … we even downloaded a Weber grill and a garden swing to complete the picture. And thereby you can view how it will look before even getting started. Very smart. You can even calculate how many of each stone/flag you need.

Early Spring last year, DH started digging … the vintage way.

Soon our good neighbours came to help, our front garden neighbor is a gardener – it’s great to have goo neighbours.

He then started with the frame which was made in dark flags to make a contrast.

Now DH can never do anything the easy way, I’m glad he’s the one who always changes the projects so they become much more difficult than planned at first, because then he cannot blame me. ;) He was afraid that it would be a dull stone desert, so he invented this diagonal square of other stones in the middle of the project. It is not a joke that he has laid all the flags and then cuts out the square afterwards, this way he is sure that everything is straight and precise.

After leveling the gravel he started placing the other stones.

Around our huge hazelnut bush (yes, it is in fact a bush) was previously just weed which we mowed when it became too high, now we wanted a much more elegant flower bed – again DH invented, yes, he has great taste.

A lot of swearing went on since natural stones are very different in size and shape, but the result is lovely.

Here is the finished result early in the morning, the only time of the day with sunshine.

We have lots of lanterns hanging from the tree and standing in the edge of the stone corner with tea lights in when we sit there during the nice Summer evenings.

The very nice flower bed made of stones from fields. Buzy Lisa are the easiest flowers and lovely and colourful.

My vintage garden swing which I had to paint after the project to make it look nice too. The table is also old, not vintage, our neighbour gave it to us and I painted it white.

DH also built this flower box from remaining boards and lists, very nice. It is great being married to a handyman! :D

Café StoneCorner quickly became the most popular place in our city! We literally have to fight for our rights to sit there. The youngsters throw bonfire parties, they barbecue, drink, and have a cosy time together all Summer. So we have to put up a "reserved" sign if we want to sit there.

I hope I have inspired you to make a favourite spot in your garden too.

I wish you all a lovely Summer.

You can see the whole project on my website here: http://www.samati.dk/bubily/stenhj_uk.htm

After you have read it let's thank Sanne or ask her questions about it HERE.

Bottom image or materials down here