West Conshohocken...In the midst of mid April's heat wave, many homeowners have begun to turn a critical eye on their outdoor living space to determine if these areas can stylishly host a summer of outdoor living and entertaining. The question is also weighing on the mind of Elizabeth Schumacher, owner of the West Conshohocken-based Garden Accents, a provider of fine garden ornaments, statuary, accessories and furniture.

GARDEN ACCENTS WORKS ITS MAGIC AT VASSAR SHOW HOUSE
By Elizabeth Schumacher, Garden Accents

Schumacher and her staff of designers, in conjunction with Texada Landscape Design, developed and implemented the plan that transformed the patio at Pennview this year's Vassar Show House into a stylish outdoor retreat in which to enjoy the natural world. Schumacher reached into her bag of tricks and designed and coordinated entertainment vignettes that highlight pieces from her extensive collection of architectural elements and garden accessories.

Designing for the Outdoors
Pennview, located in Devon, is constructed in the English Tudor style of architecture. When Schumacher, her staff and Jamie Texada, Texada Landscape Design, first viewed the show house, they were impressed with the architectural style of the house, but felt the outdoor space would be enhanced by a patio. Schumacher commented, "The grounds are lovely, the house is beautiful, and a patio would tie all the features together." Texada designed and constructed the patio of bluestone, which is accented by a red brick border and extends across the back of the house. Schumacher's goal was to accessorize this beautiful, but unadorned space. She envisioned the patio as an extension of the home, a place where visitors could be stylishly entertained or a comfortable retreat where guests could bask in the beauty of the surroundings. Schumacher's clever sense of design and eye for the unusual resulted in a vibrant terrace that complements the home and its property.

Setting the Stage
The drama begins as you enter the patio from two major access points. Schumacher choose to pique the visitor's curiosity immediately. At one entry point a gate demarcates the entrance, at another, an arbor. The arbor, designed by John Parker, is constructed of iron with peaks that replicate the peaks of the house. "I wanted to beckon the guest onto the patio. There's a little bit of Alice in Wonderland in all of us- when we see something interesting, we want to investigate."

To anchor the patio, Schumacher selected a limited edition bronze fountain piece, Boy with Fish, inspired by Florence's Boboli Gardens and created by Arch McKown. The water feature can be viewed from various seating areas that have been created on the patio. According to Schumacher, "The Boy with Fish was selected as the focal point because of its beauty and the tranquility that the sound of moving water inspires in people.

The seating areas serve two distinct purposes. The dining area is furnished with a Richard Schultz Topiary table base, dining chairs and stack chairs. The ornamental shape and texture of the furniture complements plants, shrubs and trees found throughout the garden. A glass table top allows the visitor to enjoy the artistry of the table base design.

Located in another section of the patio is the "living area." Here Schumacher has used a ceramic, hand painted Italian cocktail table with base, flanked by two teak Indonesian plantation benches. In selecting the furniture, Schumacher's decision was influenced by both aesthetics and practicality. "All the pieces used at Pennview have a strong "Wow" factor,
yet they are durable enough to withstand the demands placed upon them by even the toughest elements."

Awash in Color
According to Schumacher, "color is often overlooked when decorating outdoors, however, the color palette can make a dramatic impact on visitors, change a mood or add a touch of fun." Blue, yellow, pink and green complement surrounding plants, flowers and dogwood trees. The colors are reflected in the many French and Italian glazed pots and planters used to
inject excitement into the space.

Life is Full of Surprises
While a beautiful outdoor space can take your breath away, the unexpected touches are what make a space special. Schumacher accomplishes this through the placement of one-of-a-kind pieces and objects d'art throughout the patio. In a planted area off the patio is a wrought iron bench in the shape of a butterfly - whimsical yet elegant. Standing near the patio and providing a quirky retreat for resident bluejays is a copper and slate bird feeder designed by Rouen and Timothy. Not only is the bird feeder beautiful, but will also provide hours of entertainment to bird-watching enthusiasts. A six foot wrought iron dragonfly sculpture by artist Philip Kaufman is by far the patios "biggest" surprise. In contrast, smaller frog planters take a rest on the patio's tabletops. Schumacher has a knack for placing these objects at random intervals to maximize the element of surprise.

At this year's Vassar Show House, which runs from April 27  May 19 , Garden Accents demonstrates that with a vision, unusual and attractive decorative pieces and the artistic placement of accessories, you can turn a patio into a well appointed outdoor space that can become the heart of your summer entertaining. Garden Accents offers statues, fountains, benches, urns, planters, sundials, lighting and birdbaths that are varied enough in style and price to satisfy a range of interests. In addition, Schumacher provides personal services for her clients. Whether it is searching for a particular accessory, contracting with an artist to create an original piece of art, or visiting a client's home to determine a fitting architectural element, Schumacher is enthusiastic about helping her clients create a unique, personal outdoor sanctuary.

Garden Accents is located at 4 Union Hill Road, West Conshohocken, PA. For additional information, call 610.825.5525.