Julianne Moore's Garden

Here is one of my favourite actress Julianne Moore at home in her own garden in Greenwich Village, NYC. This garden was  designed by Brian Sawyer, an architectural and interior designer, who also designs gardens. When Julianne, was in a pictorial in one of the townhouses in New York, she liked the garden so much which was also designed by Brian Sawyer. So Julianne tapped Brian to design her garden according to her design inspiration from Belgian Garden designer Jacques Wirtz. But there was a challenge in designing gardens for New York townhouses: 'Townhouse gardens are a total nightmare,' says Sawyer, joining his client to reminisce about the two-month project. 'There are always drainage problems as well as huge planting limitations because of the lack of light.'

Luckily, Brian spent a rainy vacation in Northern Ireland where he discovered some plants that are able to grow with minimal sunlight and in highly moisturized environment. So Brian incorporated those plants in Julianne's garden which resulted in this beautiful, orderly and green oasis right in New York City.

'Sawyer added a carefully edited selection of low-maintenance plants and trees in lush layers around the stonework. 'Green, green, green,' he says. 'It’s about ivy—Boston ivy and English ivy—and staghorn ferns and moss. And boxwood.'   Plus a basketball court for her children to play on.

Lush and green plants all over with beautifully landscaped bluestone floor.

The rear of the 1905 New York Townhouse that Julianne Moore calls home with her husband, two children and a Labrador.

A very private nook in the garden for having drinks and great conversations surrounded by the nature.

The article in Architectural Digest described this as  'Another rough-hewn trough from Original Stone Troughs was adapted as a fountain, which now gurgles within earshot of Moore’s home office.'

As we can see from Julianne Moore's garden, adding some elements like a fountain with free flowing water and stones add some character to the garden. Julianne's garden is beautiful, lush and so green right in New York City. It is definitely low-maintenance but at the same time respecting nature. It is a private oasis for her to enjoy and relax on with her family and their Labrador dog.





Photo credits and References: Architectural Digest, April 2012.

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Brooke Shields House in NYC

Brooke Shields with her two daughters in their kitchen.

We have all somehow grew up together with Brooke Shields as she has started modelling at the age of 9 yrs old then started her movie career as an actress since 14 yrs old. I knew about her and admired her since I saw her in Grade school as a cover girl in Vogue Magazine. We have seen her get married to her first husband,tennis pro, Andre Agassi, divorced and then now finally remarried to Writer and Producer Chris Henchy. They now have two beautiful daughters aged five and eight years old. Brooke Shields grew up with her mom Teri in New York City, Upper East Side. When their townhouse was sold, she was devastated but was determined to give her two daughters the same Urban city life that she experienced growing up in New York City. So after some search, they found this discreetly luxurious Greenwich Village townhouse built in 1910 and with four floors. The whole townhouse was gutted and renovated by design/built firm MADE who has experience in renovating historic houses. Then the couple chose British  David Flint Wood to do the interior design of the house.

Brooke Shields shared in the Architectural Digest article: 'I was heartbroken,' she says, “and I promised myself I would give my girls the kind of richly textured urban childhood that comes with sinking roots into a real New York neighborhood. I wanted to create for them, and us, an experience of home with a layered and resonant personal history.'

Living Room with portrait of her two beautiful daughters  by Will Cotton. The heart shaped painting was a gift from the Artist, Keith Haring.

Living room with bare windows bringing in the sunlight into the room.

“We loved the way they integrated tradition with modernism and warmth of character in an interior with discipline of form,” Shields says of the partners from MADE who renovated the house.

Dining room. I love the red leather dining chairs matched with the black chandelier and the black and white wallpaper.

Spacious kitchen with orange leather upholstery in the chairs and it has a fireplace! I also love the two pendant chandeliers above the kitchen table.  So cosy! Love it!

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