Now that the inside of our home is pretty much done, we’re looking towards our outdoor space. We have two very old garages that will need some attention soon. We have a long driveway and a bit of ‘grassy’ area behind our bedroom. And our property is surrounded by a wooden fence in back that’s falling apart, and an unsightly chain-link fence in front. Something has got to give.
As we start to brainstorm about dividing our outdoor space and all the things we want from it: outdoor dining area, jacuzzi, flow between the indoors and out and transforming our garages into a studio apartment/in-law suite… I keep coming back to breeze blocks.
Breeze blocks are cement blocks that have been widely used as essential building materials for load-bearing walls since ’30s. They have cut-outs that create fun patterns. In the 50s and 60s they became somewhat ubiquitous. They make me think of mid-century Palm Springs but/and I feel like they can also add a beachy/breezy/boho je ne sais quoi as in the example up top, which I snapped in Tulum last week. Of course I love that they add pattern in a kind of wallpaper-effect kind of way, but the shadows that the breeze blocks create might be my favorite thing about them.
In the above example, design studio @dustandco uses breezeblocks in a kind of patchwork at @dakikokiko . (Photo by: @bethanynauert found via @FireclayTile) I love this idea for my new studio but/and I am also thinking of ways to leave some blocks open to make room for some plants. It could create a kind of Breeze Block/ Living Wall situation!?!!
Now my only hurdle if finding out where to buy (or make!?!) these blocks in or around L.A.! If anyone has sources please let me know!
(all photos by J. Blakeney unless otherwise noted).
from The Jungalow http://ift.tt/2uD9e90
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