Get their look: Cottage garden in the sky

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Stanley Luk (@pottedguy)

Today’s Get their look subject is a located in downtown Vancouver, so it gets the gamut of weather conditions; from long, hot summer days to hail and snow during those sub-zero Western Canadian winters.

Stanley Luk, his husband and their cat, Yoda have lived in their condo since the end of 2019.

Stanley has referred to the space as his cottage garden in the sky and Crayola box on the roof. The condo is multi-level and has both an upper and a lower balcony – about 45 square metres in total. Obviously, there’s no soil up there, so everything has to be grown in pots, troughs and raised beds.

Stanley is a professional plantsman and has designed the roof terrace to be in flower all the year round. His huge collection of stunning orchids, which are kept under cover in greenhouses, flower throughout the winter and spring. He has hellebores in February, anemones and crocuses in March, tulips and ranunculus in April, sweet peas in June & July, dahlias and pineapple lilies in August. In addition, there are masses of poppies, roses, alliums, clematis, nasturtiums and lilies – all taking their turns to shine.

It’s not just flowers – the vegetable garden contains courgettes, peas, brassicas, tomatoes and peppers. Making use of available height as well as the width, he’s cultivated a vertical wall of strawberries.

As if that wasn’t enough, he’s still found the space to fit a barbecue, 6-seater dining table & chairs, massive parasol and a couple of sun loungers!

To say I feel in awe of all he’s achieved in this challenging space would be an understatement!

Get their look

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Tulip bulb collections
Tulip bulb collections
6-seater table with parasol and chairs
6-seater table with parasol and chairs
Aluminium sun lounger
Aluminium sun lounger
Plastic walk-in greenhouse
Plastic walk-in greenhouse
Hanging planters
Hanging planters
Tulip bulb collections
Tulip bulb collections
6-seater table with parasol and chairs
6-seater table with parasol and chairs
Aluminium sun lounger
Aluminium sun lounger
Plastic walk-in greenhouse
Plastic walk-in greenhouse
Hanging planters
Hanging planters
Tulip bulb collections
Tulip bulb collections
6-seater table with parasol and chairs
6-seater table with parasol and chairs
Aluminium sun lounger
Aluminium sun lounger
Plastic walk-in greenhouse
Plastic walk-in greenhouse
Hanging planters
Hanging planters

5 reasons to get oval above-ground pools and where to buy

5 reasons to get oval above-ground pools and where to buy

We have all, at least once in our lifetimes, dreamt about getting our very own pool and not having to go anywhere in order to enjoy a nice swim, some exercise or simply a relaxing day by the water. Even though we’ve all thought about this, the simple truth is that not everyone turns these ideas into reality. Well, there are certainly a few important things you should know, including those found on this site, before getting a pool for your home, or buying a home that already has one.

If you’ve decided to turn this idea into reality, then you’re basically living the dream. Getting a pool for your home can certainly be quite beneficial and we’re sure you’ve done your research on that already. So, now you’re simply trying to decide which type to get and, given that you’re here, it’s safe to assume that you’re considering getting an oval above-ground pool.

Why don’t you buy it right away, though? It’s quite simple. You’re a responsible person who doesn’t want to spend good money before doing the necessary research and before checking if getting an oval above ground pool is a good idea in the first place. Even after you decide to get one, you won’t start shopping until you’ve looked into where to buy the best ones.

Since you want to do the responsible thing, this is what we’re going to guide you through. In plain words, we’ll give you a few reasons why getting an oval above-ground pool may be a good option for you. And, then, we’ll talk a bit about where you can actually get them. Thus, you’ll get both of your questions answered and you’ll be ready to do some shopping.

Read about the advantages and disadvantages of this type here: https://www.purplepieces.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-oval-above-ground-pools/

Reasons to get oval above ground pools

Unsurprisingly, we’re going to begin by talking about those reasons why getting these specific pools may be a good move for you. Let’s start by saying that there are quite a few great reasons to do this. So let’s check out some of those and help you make your decision on whether to buy these products or not.

  1. It fits in better with your garden

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons why people do this is because it fits better in with their actual garden. This is due to the size and the shape of typical gardens. Of course, when we say that it fits in better with the garden, we mean both aesthetic and the practical aspects. We’re sure you’d want to take both of those aspects into consideration.

  1. You get more exercise area

Here’s another great thing you should know about these specific pools. Basically, the exercise area is bigger in an oval above ground pool than in some other shapes, such as circular ones, for instance. So, if you’re planning on getting your daily exercise in the pool, you should consider getting this type.

  1. Above ground pools are easy to install

As you may know by now, above ground pools are actually extremely easy to install. That’s undeniably a huge plus. You can have everything set up in no time and you won’t have to wait for ages until the pool is ready for you to try out. Everything will be done & dusted pretty quickly.

  1. Easy to maintain

Continuing along the same lines, an above ground oval pool is also quite easy to maintain and keep clean. Sure, you should take some time to learn how to do this properly, but the truth is you won’t have any trouble with it. You’ll be able to get everything cleaned rather quickly and maintenance will be pretty easy.

  1. Cost-effective

Since you’re probably worried about your budget, let us allay your fears; they are quite cost-effective. In fact, that might be among the top reasons why people buy these products. So, if you want to go easy with your budget yet still get an amazing pool, you should definitely consider these, as thet has everything you need and don’t cost a king’s ransom.

Where to buy

Those costs will, of course, be different at different shops which is one of the reasons why you need to be careful when deciding where to buy. The bottom line is that you should find highly reputable shops to buy your pools from, as this should guarantee quality. So, in addition to checking the prices, you should always check the quality of the products as well, because you want to buy the perfect pool for you.

[disclosure*]

Designer Desire: William Plunkett

Montage of William Plunkett furniture designs

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/may/15/william-plunkett

William Plunkett (1928 – 2013) was born in India, moving to Britain in 1946 to join the Royal Artillery. After leaving the army in 1959, he attended Kingston School of Art to study basic design, furniture design and sculpture. After a stint working for A. and R. Duckworth Ltd (Aidron Duckworth had been a tutor at college), he founded William Plunkett Ltd in 1963. By 1977, he had sold William Plunkett Ltd to Giroflex, setting up Plunkett Plan Ltd the following year.

His upmarket designs retailed in department stores such as Heal’s and Liberty. His modernist pieces furnished embassies and leisure, business and retail outlets; including IBM, Russell & Bromley, Clarks, Ravel, Peter Lord and a bar on the QE2.

He was a multiple winner of Council of Industrial Design (CoID) awards. He won twice in 1968 for his Reigate rocking chair (seen top left in the above montage) and his Coulsdon coffee table (bottom right).

Reflecting on his long career, he revealed:

My generation of designers were idealists. We really believed we could make a difference to Britain by producing well-designed products.

Vintage examples of Plunkett’s furniture designs are available on 1stDibs and Etsy. Alternatively, twentytwentyone have reissued some of his designs.

Portrait of William Plunkettcredit

Additional image credits:
Artnet | Bonhams | Bukowskis |

Price Points: Platinum Jubilee wares

Platinum Jubilee wares

What will you be doing over the extra bank holiday we’re getting this year? Will you be raising a glass of bubbly to Her Maj? Perhaps you’ll be hosting a garden party. Or maybe you’ll be attending a local neighbourhood street jamboree. Whichever of these you decide to do, you’ll be wanting to get your hands on some of these Platinum Jubilee wares!

  1. Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin: £10.00, Emma Bridgewater

    This Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medium Shallow Tin makes a lovely biscuit tin either for you or as a commemorative gift to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne.

  2. Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron: £26.00, Cath Kidston

    This adjustable apron in our Royal Bouquets, is part of our limited edition collectables to mark The Queen’s 70 years of service. It’s richly detailed and opulent featuring The Queen’s favourite flower – Lily of The Valley, which represents purity, sincerity and happiness and framed with foliage and pearls and regal jewels. The centre pocket has a hand-painted portrait of Her Majesty with a gilded grosgrain ribbon with the year of her coronation.

  3. The Jubilee commemorative gift box: £100.00, Fortnum & Mason

    The Jubilee Commemorative Gift Box is packed to please with a loose leaf caddy of our Platinum Jubilee Blend Tea, a jar of our very-berried Rose & Berries Preserve, an ever-so-treasurable Miniature Musical Biscuit Tin – as well as a keepsake Platinum Jubilee Tea Towel and Plate.
    Our limited-edition Platinum Jubilee Collection features an exclusive crown design, inspired by the passions and pursuits that have defined Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s historic 70-year reign – from racing pigeons and champion horses to the lily of the valley that graced her wedding day bouquet.

shop Platinum Jubilee wares

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

The Jubilee commemorative gift box
The Jubilee commemorative gift box
£100.00
Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron
Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron
£26.00
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin
£10.00
The Jubilee commemorative gift box
The Jubilee commemorative gift box
£100.00
Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron
Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron
£26.00
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin
£10.00
The Jubilee commemorative gift box
The Jubilee commemorative gift box
£100.00
Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron
Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron
£26.00
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin
£10.00
The Jubilee commemorative gift box
The Jubilee commemorative gift box
£100.00
Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron
Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron
£26.00
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin
£10.00
The Jubilee commemorative gift box
The Jubilee commemorative gift box
£100.00
Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron
Jubilee Royal Bouquets easy adjust apron
£26.00
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medium shallow tin
£10.00