Shabby Chic & Feminine Garden Room Haven

An under-utilised corner of the garden was transformed into a romantic apiary, or bee-yard, featuring brightly painted hives and vintage furniture. The pebbles are a practical surface for working on the hives and retain water for the plants. Plants selected are a mix of bee-friendly perennials, herbs and vegetables, including dahlia, salvia leucanthe, anenome japonica and dianthus, buckwheat, blue kale, rhubarb, and silver lemon thyme. Woolly thyme, festuca coxii and purple alyssum soften the pebbles. Photos by Dee McQuillan

Bee Garden / Apiary

Ivy & Bloom

Massif et mur en brique

Jardin d'échoppe - Bordeaux - France

PisaOne Block wall

Island Aquatics

Moses Fire Daylily

Dearborn Designs & Associates

Lexi Dearborn CLD

Home Garden

Fairley Trees & Landscapes

Sown wildflowers flourishing in year 2

Fence Design

Susan K Bryant Images

Susan Klavohn Bryant

Shabby Chic & Feminine Garden Room Haven

The Unbusy Home

Invernadero adosado a casa de invitados

AB estudio

F. Scheffel

Small space transformation

New Roots Landscaping

Cottage renovation Dublin 1

IBIS Construction

Front Entrance Renovation

Specialty Gardens

Paul Kiefer, Specialty Gardens LLC

Front Entrance Renovation

Specialty Gardens

Paul Kiefer, Specialty Gardens LLC

Edible and Cut Flower Sculpture Garden

Wild Craft Permaculture

Mark Wolfe Photogrpahy

Edible and Cut Flower Sculpture Garden

Wild Craft Permaculture

Moon Garden. Mark Wolfe Photogrpahy

Relaxing city refuge

City Garden Company

A Down-Sized Dream Garden

Landscape Projects, Inc.

Created for a couple moving to a smaller house and lot in order to “down¬-size” after their children had left home, this garden’s design presented many challenges. The wife, an ardent gardener, had a long wish list: a water feature; specific plants (including a river birch, a gingko tree, oakleaf hydrangeas, plants to attract butterflies, and trilliums), fragrance, a small patio, and a potting shed. She also wanted to eliminate grass from any part of the property, and to have space to plant annuals (in containers and other areas). In short, she wanted a small “dream garden” created from a site that even she characterized as “disastrous-looking” at the outset. The wife wanted pathways that would allow her to visit all parts of the garden. The patio space did not need to be sizable because of the high deck off the back of the house, but the views from the deck were important. We accomplished all of the clients' goals, and designed a series of small "garden rooms" in the backyard to create the illusion of a larger space. We also designed a "faux potting shed" front to screen the area under the deck and incorporated a raised planting bed for annuals and herbs, which was featured in an article in Fine Gardening the following year as an inventive way to disguise an eyesore in the landscape. This garden received an Award of Distinction in 2009 from the DC/MD/VA Landscape Contractors Association. A view from the deck into the corner of the back yard, with a crape myrtle to provide seasonal interest.© Melissa Clark Photography

Edible and Cut Flower Sculpture Garden

Wild Craft Permaculture

Mark Wolfe Photogrpahy

Edible and Cut Flower Sculpture Garden

Wild Craft Permaculture

Mark Wolfe Photogrpahy

Shabby-Chic Style Garden Design Ideas for Summer

Get Inspired by Shabby-Chic Style Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own shabby-chic style garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Shabby-Chic Style Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a shabby-chic style garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a shabby-chic style garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your shabby-chic style garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.