Day 147: Outdoor Folly!

Day 147 of 365 Days of a Happy Home!

Spring is finally here in New England and everyone wants to be outdoors.  Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate!  So, when dreaming of being outdoors, I am reminded of some great projects we have been involved with and the follies for inspirations.  Do you have a folly in your yard to make you happy?  Here are some pictures for your own inspiration...

Functional and Beautiful! This pergola was designed using the geographic location in order to provide the proper amount of shade most of the year. Thanks Ramsay Gourd Architects for your keen understanding of how this all went together!

To the right of the pergola we placed a pool house. As you will see in the next picture, it is a great place to get changed or take a nap!

Great for napping by the pool (there is even a trundle bed under the day bed). And cold drinks are stored in the fridge in the right side cabinet.

This image is courtesy of Ramsay Gourd Architects. This pond house cantilevers over the pond for a great jumping off point. It doubles as a ice skating pavilion in the winter time. You can sit on the edge, put on your skates and off you go!

This adorable doll house is available through Jamaica Cottage Shops. We love the double doors on the end. They make storing larger items so much easier.

Another beauty from Jamaica Cottage Shops is this greenhouse. Super cute!

Dream big for your Happy Home!!! Take inspiration from the Pagoda Tea House at the Marble House in Newport, RI.

Outdoor follies can provide their own space for inspiration. Here is one of my favorites located on Garden Island in Lake Champlain off the coast of Charlotte, VT. It is built into the cliffs of the island and impossible to get a photo of unless you are out on the lake in a boat. This will have to do for my inpiration! I'll take it!