Creating the secret garden on a dime

 The back of the tiny house was looking pretty rough (I can't find the before photo) - it had no architectural details, and mainly looked like a garage with white siding.

The rear of the house was mostly clay! Though a few plants survived - thankfully the mimosa/silk tree miraculously made it (and in the photo below, you can see a few blooms). As well, some older hues survived, though this year we gave them an aggressive pruning which won't pay off till 2026.

The area behind the house has an unusual shape and size, and I envisioned a classic "secret garden" landscaping plan. I also knew the house needed a few architectural details. Notes on what I did are below the photos.

I started with shutters to match the main house - to my surprise, the size I needed was on clearance for $30 a pair - a real steal! I had received a solar lamp, the kind that belongs on a post, for free - but it didn't come with a post! This was a major challenge given the hardware and dimensions. After looking into a ton of options and talking to various lumber yard employees, I bought a 4' fence post ground spike ($15) that gave it the stability it needed (it's metal and real glass, weighs quite a bit), then got a fence post with some decorative details (which was also on clearance for $16!). 

I really wanted a flagstone path - but getting a small quality of flagstone proved a challenge - until I found a listing on facebook marketplace! The seller was only about half a kilometer away. Initially, I missed out on the sale, but the buyer left some unwanted pieces behind, so the seller invited me to come clear it from her driveway for FREE! It was enough to create the path you see in the photos.

As for the plants (and there are indeed fairly lights and path interspersed among them), they are almost all transplanted from other parts of the garden! In the centre is a yucca that survived - and it was glorious when in bloom. On either side, there is some mint which I prune to shape, hostas, stonecrop, some interesting and delicate ornamental sage, creeping sedum, several varieties of creeping phlox, veronica, and snapdragons. I tried to vary the colour and texture, and get as many flowering varieties in as possible. They are new transplants, so I expect the blooms will be better next year, but I'm mostly happy with the way it's come together. 

The opposite side (not pictured) is still a VERY immature garden, and it will be at least another year before that side really takes shape. 

Chandler Speaks!

 I mean, this is a little more Humphrey's vulnerable vibe, but I am hoping that Chandler will grow into this persona! I can't get enough of his puppy cuteness here.

The Gucci(ish) Wallpaper Closet Reveal!

 Many high-end designers (including Ali Budd, where I originally saw it) are using the Gucci heron wallpaper, which is really more of a mural. A little context - Gucci has a limited selection of beautiful and dramatic wallpapers, which run about $750 a roll. Worth googling, and have a look at Ali Budd's online portfolio for some really interesting wallpaper ideas. SNL's Heidi Gardner also used a Gucci wallpaper, which she presents during her Architectural Digest midcentury Kansas home tour. 

I fell in love with the whimsy of an oversized herons pattern, and the now-iconic Gucci mint green is fresh and cheerful. But...I can't justify or afford $750, especially since I wasn't sure if I would like such a dramatic wall mural in person.

I had the idea to style the small walk-in closet in the guest room, since the wall facing the door was empty, and it seemed the perfect spot to add some whimsy that would be (in my view) too much for an entire room. I also thought it would be a neat backdrop to create a dressing area using things from my old house: an oval full-length mirror, a glass console that was in my old entryway, etc.

I discovered that a number of Aliexpress vendors had "interpretations" of heron wall murals that are very close to the original. And they are inexpensive! I decided to take the plunge, and order a few rolls. I went with this vendor, a steal at $10 CDN a roll for paper, and $18 for my preferred peel and stick. I sent them measurements, they send a digital proof, and it arrived in less than 10 days. 

I am so impressed with this paper - it was a breeze to hang, and it's staying up. Because this was custom-printed to my measurements, the pattern was pre-aligned on the panels (so no matching a repeat pattern), and it was already sized to the wall. As it was peel-and-stick no tools or paste were required - it's similar to working with post-it notes. I worked bottom-to-top to make sure the herons were perfectly aligned, and the entire process only took about an hour total, not including breaks between rolls. 

I used the oval mirror to break up the pattern, then the glass console as a dressing table. I had an acrylic folding chair onto which I added a plush cushion for texture, and I stole Chandler's little napping mat (it's Mon Chateau from Costco Canada, and they usually sell them every December). 

Since I was able to use things I had from my old house, the only expense to style this closet was about $60 for the wallpaper - which is only on that one wall. I used leftover paint to freshen the remaining closet walls, you can see the left-side dowels to hang clothes. On the right side are shelves. It looks like a whole other room! The wallpaper somehow makes the closet appear larger, and the angled area rug contributes to an illusion of depth.