The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

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There are very few things that I do well – sudoku, baseball trivia and balancing on one foot come to mind – but I think there may be one more to add to the list. Nope, gardening it ain’t – I’ll never admit to that as long as I live.

It is … painting. I mean, check out these two masterful photos below, no tape involved and all done “free hand”:         

You’re impressed aren’t you? I even know the theory of painting a “W” while applying the paint (look it up if you must). That’s how I roll. 
Why am I talking about painting other than to show off my work? 
My wife and I are in the process of finishing our guest room and she has picked out the pillow covers and shams (yes, I know what a sham really is) that will be the focal point of the room: 

I have no ability to design a room, how to furnish it or even how to determine what the focal point will be. But home boy likes color. Together, my wife and I do not take this design element lightly and that is exactly why it is a month later and we still haven’t picked out the color. Not for lack of effort however – we’ve looked at all of the color cards:  

Purchased numerous samples:

Analyzed the resulting samples once they were on the wall:

And still, we haven’t made a decision. But that’s OK. We have to get it right.

I am passionate about color and that really comes from the garden design experience. I know the power of complementary colors:

    The appeal of companion colors:

    Using contrasting textures:

    And even situations where complementary and companion colors work together:
    Which immediately got me to thinking about the differences in designing indoors vs outdoors. Is one more difficult than the other? Are they really all that fundamentally different? This could be a long and detailed discussion but for today’s purposes I’ll keep it short. Here are some thoughts I had:
    • When it comes to color, I think the same practices apply and it isn’t all that different. Complementary vs. companion vs. lighting vs. mood. It really applies the same to both design types.
    • When designing with color indoors, I find the choices to be overwhelming. Just walk into a paint store and you’re ready to give up as there are hundreds of options with just the slightest differences between color choices. When gardening, the color palette is a bit more limiting as the growing conditions will limit what colors are available. For example, it is difficult to find purple flowers that will work in shade. 
    • When designing outdoors, plants evolve week to week and year to year and that has to be taken in to account. Take a look at the Joe Pye Weed below, as the blooms mature, the color changes and that has to be taken into account when creating the design:              

    What do you think? These are just my initial thoughts without diving in too much but it is definitely a topic I can see expanding upon. I didn’t even touch on the fact that the theory of grouping like items in odd numbers  works both inside and out. That is for another day.
    Have a great weekend!
    John       

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      31 Responses

      1. Planning for colors in any space, inside or out, usually results in a very livable place to be. I just love the colors of the magnolias I have on my site today. They are the colors we are using to refinish our bedroom and adjoining sitting room. The fireplace and carpet are a dark red so the white ceiling and shades of magnolia colors on the walls and trim should be very warm and wonderful. It’s great to live in an old home.

      2. Having recently tried to paint the ceiling line, I am sooooooooooooo impressed! You really did do a terrific job! The job I did while using tape, was so bad that my husband has banned me from ever painting ceiling lines again!

        We are now trying to decide on three bedroom colors…just like you…no decision yet. Unlike you, I will not have to paint the ceiling line!!!! LOL. There are benefits to being a terrible indoor painter!

      4. Hope this doesn’t post twice had some issues on the first try..

        I am the painter here, honeyman and a paint brush, shudder. He would tell you that himself. He does other things very well though :O).

        Benjamin Moore Cloud White would be stunning with that, Its a warm white if that makes any sense. We had a townhome I painted the whole place Cloud White! The only white home we have ever had but it so worked and I only went through about 25 paint samples to find that white!… Brown would make for a very warm and inviting room, pulling the brown from the print piece. If you have enough natural light to pull it off :O). Though no one asked for my opinion. Tee hee :O)

      5. What a thoughtful post. I really enjoyed reading that. I agree with Texan in that I would probably stay away from blue walls since your focal colours are blues. Depending on your duvet, curtains, and any other furniture, I would probably go yellows or tans/ochres on the walls. I tend to stay away from matchy matchy. I love the warm colours in this palette: http://www.winklerandmoss.com/images/heritage-color.jpg

      7. I love to see a man who is not afraid to tackle an indoor decorating project. I love the blues! Have fun with it….it is just paint. Oh by the way your painting skills…awesome!

      8. Painting inside is a breeze compared to planting the right colors outside. Either way, it involves a gamble of sorts, yet there is always a chance to change it up. And…I’d rather be outside.

        XO,
        Jane

      9. If you want to learn how to design a room quickly and become very decisive about your choices, then move 17 times in 34 years. Most any color beats Packing Box Brown. However, I am seriously impressed with yo mad paintbrush skillz. You’re right about the basic theories applying to both interior and exterior locations. However, I have so many different zones in my garden, my final decisions are usually based on what will thrive as opposed to what clashes. Some colors should be like life: a bit surprising.

      10. Actually I am HUGELY impressed! You did a fantastic job of cutting in. My son in law just finished painting our entire interior and he would be impressed as well. Someone who can paint walls that well is to be commended…and also have a garden THAT lovely…well…there are just NO words! 🙂
        Mona

      14. I tend to agree as basic principles of design can be applied to most anything. I think the biggest danger is over-thinking design, in which case it can seem overly planned, even contrived…it’s sometimes harder to know when step back…just like using negative space…edit, edit, edit 😉

      15. OK—I am truly impressed. Very impressed. I’m good at baseball trivia, too—but you got me beat in the painting department!

      16. Wow you are a fantastic painter!! Love how thoughtful your post is about color, contrast etc…I think that is what makes a garden exceptional..I’ve had to rip things out and move them around on more than one occassion! I think that’s what I love about gardening the same “room” looks different at all times of the year and can be changed with a shovel and some elbow grease. This is my first visit to your blog and I definitely enjoyed your post..I am impressed that you know what a sham is!!!! Happy Gardening!

        Miss Bloomers

      17. We’re slowly renovating an old house and like you constantly talking about design both inside and out. I find the garden so much more difficult because you’re taking into account not just what the colour looks like at a given moment but you’re thinking about seasons and years, the size of plants as they change. I find my head expanding into all different directions.

      18. Colors must be consistent for me. I love contrasts, but I also like the natural colors. On the relationship that counts. Experimentation and design is fun. Have a nice weekend.
        Greetings Sabine

      19. I LOVE this post! What a great pair you and your wife make with colors and supporting one another with decisions. I can totally relate to how I choose colors for my house. I change my mind all of the time, choose one, then go to the first one I liked prior. It is a process…
        I love the colors that you are thinking of doing. Any guest in your home would feel at home, and at peace.
        YOUR GARDEN: Blows me away. I adore the whole thing going on out there. You have an eye. I will definitely be back to see what is happening there.

      21. i’m so impressed that you painted those walls without using tape. I think similar principles are applied when designing interiors and exteriors. I love those blues. Pretty!

      22. I agree with SeaBlush…I would also go with a yellow or ochre (depending upon other color usage in the room). I once had a professional painter compliment my free hand cutting in at the ceiling/wall juncture. Since I’ve been painting rooms since I was a kid I didn’t know it was such a big deal…and I’m way to lazy to tape everything. Great photos…love the bird in the Joe Pye Weed!

      24. A very nice post! Looking to nature is the way to go…imagine your room a garden. Just apply your principles of design you do in the garden to your room. Pretend the pillow cases and bedspread are the main body of flowers. Anyone who can paint that well and have such a lovely garden will excel at decorating!

      25. Hi,

        Thanks for coming by,and for following me. Great paint job! I agree it’s difficult to choose a paint color. It’s nice that you and your wife decorate together. I am a fellow jerseyite. I live in Middlesex county. I am following you back, and look forward to more of your posts.

        Debbie

      26. I’m seriously impressed with your steady hand along the ceiling! And I agree with a lot of your thinking when it comes to design..whether inside or out…many of the rules apply to both!

      28. Wow free hand I am impressed. I still can’t even pick a colour for my kitchen there seems to be a million colours to choose from.
        Love your Joe Pye weed shot. Your wife and you work well together. Love the colours. Now back to my paint samples. B

      29. You have a most interesting blog! 🙂 I don’t know much, other than I simply plant what I like, when and where I like it, and it goes about the same for indoors for me.

      30. Designing a room is much easier than designing a landscape due to the fact that you have to keep the plants alive and make sure you plant something appropriate for the space. Not sure which I like doing more, though. I LOVE digging in the dirt and moving plants around! 🙂
        BTW…very impressed also, with your painting!

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