Book Review - Backyard Style by Matthew Mead

It's summertime and we like to spend more time outside in the warm weather. Matthew Meads latest book Backyard Style will give you lots of inspirational ideas to use - in your own backyard, porch, balcony or the park. 

This is the second time I have the opportunity to review one of Matthew's books. The first one was called Ultimate Recycled Style Guide and here is a link to that review.


In a quote by Matthew he says: "These pages are all about capturing the inspiration of backyards everywhere. I wanted to share all the ways to live in, savor, decorate, and create your own at-home haven."

Inviting friends and neighbours over for a drink in your garden is part of the pleasures of summer. 

"As the ice melts in the cocktails - or even a simple glass of sparkling water - the herbs and berries release their subtle flavors. Guests will appreciate the extra effort you took to make their drinks."

Gardening is also part of the pleasures of having a garden - but garden paraphernalia tend to accumulate and we all need some smart storage weather for gardening tools and terracotta pots.

"Green thumbs have a tendency to run amok gathering garden paraphernalia. To solve your storage woes, look for secondhand cabinets that can be used outdoors."

In one chapter the American interior designer Bunny Williams works her magic with flowers and creates a meadow inspired arrangement.

"Zinnias in greens and a whisper pinks (accented by a few more radiant shades tucked in) add "weight" and pop to the bouquet while repeating the meadow motif. The finished understated creation is every inch a Bunny Williams masterpiece." 

   

A whole lovely chapter is devoted to roses - growing them as well as using them in food and crafts.

"With their heavenly fragrance, romantic roses are easy to love - it's the growing of them that can seem scary. But, by choosing the right varieties and following our care tips, you'll enjoy these stellar beauties in your garden and home." 

You'll find flowers, lots of beautiful flowers.......

....and more beautiful flowers!

" Create a simple cutting garden with your favorite flowering annuals to provide you with pretty bouquets all summer long."

In the chapter Backyard Blooms Matthew has created lots of different arrangements in vintage vases and containers from flea markets and thrift shops.

"Embellish a vintage watering can with an antique paint technique and a stencil. The great thing about a galvanized can is that it can be put to use as both a vase and a utilitarian tool."

You'll also find delicious looking recipes and fun craft projects - all making your outdoor area into an enjoyable place to spend time with family and friends. 

Have a Wonderful Floral Day!

See you later in the week.

xoxo Ingrid

Matthew Mead's Ultimate Recycled Style Guide

When Matthew Mead contacted me to ask if I was interested in writing a review of his latest book I was delighted and obviously said yes. I love recycling and most of my collection of vases and containers that I use for my floral styling are from flea markets and charity stores. I have also been a big fan of Matthew since 2010 when I first discovered his blog. 

The book, just published, is called Matthew Mead's Ultimate Recycled Style Guide. It's a book full of projects showing you how to transform flea market finds into fabulous treasures.  

In the introduction Matthew talks about his and his team's broad view of recycling, he says: "Transforming one thing into another, breathing new life into tired old wares became our mission." 

There are 25 chapters with several projects in each one - varying from very easy for the beginner to a bit more challenging for somebody with a little more experience.    

I have for obvious reasons focused of the flower arrangements and any floral projects in the book and Matthew had assured me that there was plenty of flowers and I was not disappointed.

Lovely green and turquoise jugs and glass bottles - my favourite kind of vases - wonderful colours to use with flowers.  

Lots of vintage container can be used in the garden for planting and in the chapter called Miniature Gardens you'll find lots of ideas for using flea market finds. 

Match the colour of the flower with the container - like here with some bright yellow daffodils and a painted old sap can.

Changing the colour of clear glass bottles is easy with a bit of paint - just make sure you use a water tube in the neck of the bottles to hold the water and flower.

Hydrangeas in different shades of pink in a simple clear glass container becomes a colourful outdoor arrangement for a summer birthday party. 

Blue and white china is charming to use in combination with flowers - it comes in many different styles and colours and anything that can hold a bit of water can be turned into a vase for an arrangement.

With a bit of inventiveness and know-how you can create some unique arrangements like here: Stack three graduated bowls, fill each level with water and arrange the flowers around the bowls.

A vintage basket with a flat back gets a lick of pink paint - put some pink roses in a watertight container - pop in basket - hammer a nail in the wall and presto - you have a charming and colourful decoration for your wall.  

Matthew also made a sweet dedication to me in the front of the book - Thank you Matthew!

I hope you have enjoyed my little review of Matthew's book and I also hope that you'll have found something that has inspired you to recycle some old treasures.

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Thanks for your visiting and till soon!

xoxo Ingrid