This month, our columnist Joy Moyler shares her love of designing a garden room
SOME of life’s simple pleasures… a beach walk, watching a sunrise or sunset, blowing out birthday candles, holding a newborn for the first time. There are just so many to mention. How dare I forget the utter delight of freshly cut grass? One of my all-time favourite pastimes is being surrounded by nature. I am a city girl, but oh how I adore the countryside.
Whenever I need to calm my head and connect with nature, a garden is where I can be found. There’s just something magical about feeling the grass between your toes. I fondly remember one such occasion. I had only moments before landed at LAX airport, and I famously urged the taxi driver to pull over to the curb, stopping the car, only to snatch my shoes off and run barefoot across a stranger’s vast lawn. Coincidently, the water sprinkling system deployed, drenching me, wilding adding to the fun of it all. I had just arrived on the West Coast from a rather harsh New York winter and could not wait to experience lush grass between my toes. A tad dramatic yes, but these moments are what make life worth living!
I love designing spaces that gaze upon a garden or hillside. Rooms of this sort, be they large or small, create moments of relief from the world. Rooms that quiet the mind, encourage deep breathing, are what we all need. Especially in challenging times like now, when our hearts and minds are still reeling from the effects of a pandemic. Where grief is still heavy in our hearts and we deeply need a refresh of the spirit.
Personally, I suffered many losses during the pandemic. Grief is still hard. But I find whenever I gaze upon a dune, a cluster of potted plants, mature trees and stroll winding paths, my heart instantly becomes lighter. When the room is equally calming, speaking to the outdoors, it is a full win.
