Oak Branch Cottage: Sugar Kettles, Essex Green, and Fresh Plantings

There is nothing quite like the feeling of watching a vision come to life in the garden, and yesterday was a huge milestone. After loads of rich, fresh soil were hauled in to prep the beds, the crew at JC Landscaping officially started getting plants into the ground. Watching the bare dirt turn into structured green spaces feels like instant magic.

One detail I hadn't mentioned yet—but am so glad we decided on—was painting the base of the house in Essex Green. The goal was to let the foundation visually melt into the surrounding foliage, and seeing it now against the fresh soil proves it was definitely the right call. The rich, dark backdrop grounds the entire house and lets the coming greenery shine without any harsh contrast at the foundation line.

As the beds were being planted, Jorge worked his magic with layout and placed a couple of our sugar kettles in key spots throughout the gardens. They add such a fantastic, classic focal point among the new plantings, giving the space an instant sense of history and scale.

To top off the day's excitement, I finally brought out my newest address plaque, Oak Branch Cottage. Seeing that personal touch in place makes the whole project feel uniquely ours.

The momentum isn't slowing down either—today is the big day for landscape lighting and a fresh layer of mulch to tie everything together. The difference lighting makes in a garden is always astounding, so I am counting down the hours until I can head back out there and witness today's progress.

Stay tuned for the next update—hopefully under the warm glow of the new garden lights!

Landscape Installation, y'all!

Oak Branch Cottage: The Landscape Takes Shape!

Yesterday was all about major progress outside at Oak Branch Cottage! While things were quiet on the inside, the exterior was a hive of activity as Jorge from JC Landscaping spent the day preparing our garden beds for an exciting new transformation.

We’ve curated a gorgeous botanical mix for the property, blending structured classics with lush southern favorites:

• Lush Layers: Hollies, camellias, agapanthus, hydrangeas, dramatic "tractor seat" plants (Farfugium), and creeping fig.

• The Framework: Over 400 crisp boxwoods arriving to frame and line the entire design.

• A Personal Touch: Jorge even set our prized fiberglass sugar kettle into place—a cherished piece brought over from our previous landscape at Acorn Cottage.

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The heavy planting begins today! Tomorrow, the team will wrap things up by installing landscape lighting and spreading a fresh layer of mulch to tie everything together.

To round out the new look, I’m popping over to Perino’s Nursery this afternoon to pick up a few fall favorites to mix into the beds.

The outdoor vision is finally coming to life—stay tuned for the next update!

Progress in Landscape, y'all!

Oak Branch Cottage: It's All in the Details

The big transformations are complete, but the real magic is happening in the details as Oak Branch Cottage comes together piece by piece.

Here is a quick look at what’s currently underway inside and out:

Bold Color Accents The living room shelving update is officially a favorite. The back paneling is painted in Sherwin Williams’ Rain, and the muted, serene blue grounds the built-ins while giving displayed pieces a soft, high-contrast backdrop.

Kitchen Vent Hood Over in the kitchen, a custom hood has been added to the venting system above the stove. Up next for this feature: a coat of high-gloss black paint to create a dramatic, grounding anchor for the cooking zone.

Lighting Adjustments Fixtures are going up throughout the house. The hallway is now sporting a Visual Comfort chandelier—though fine-tuning the scale is key. Removing about five chain links will bring it to the perfect hanging height and keep sightlines clear.

Front Yard Landscaping Out front, Jorge and the team at JC Landscaping are making steady progress. To give the plant beds a clean, permanent border, metal edging painted in Essex Green is being installed. It keeps the soil and mulch neatly contained while adding a classic, tailored line to the garden.

Progress, y'all!