All my life I’ve been intrigued by charming garden gates. Perhaps it is my love of the “secret garden” type fairytales, but gates are a key part of what makes a yard feel special, like it is a private outdoor room.
The house was down the street from us when I lived in Lake Oswego, Oregon. I loved their front yard and gate (well, I loved their whole house — I think it was in a magazine, too) so of course, I take photos to keep for inspiration.
There was another darling house a few blocks down from us that had a private wood door on the side to a backyard, installed right in the middle of a super tall hedge. SO COOL! I took these photos probably ten years ago, I was pretty enthralled with that door. Believe me, I wanted to go look through that little window to see the backyard every time I walked by. But I didn’t. I am a house stalker but I try not to be too scary.
Her front yard (above) was beautifully landscaped and so well cared for I loved walking by it, but I felt like that back garden was her private sanctuary and I never got the chance to go in it (darn, in hindsight I should have just asked for a tour!). I wanted to respect her space and tried my best to restrain myself to not sneak a peek through her gate window (ha, although when the gate was open you better believe I was strolling past a few times just trying to get a glimpse of the glorious garden beyond!).
A charming garden gate really helps set the tone for the home, the style and personality of the owners and just makes coming into a yard a little more special, I think.
Because we are planning to put in two new gates in our side yard area (YAY!), we’ve definitely had gates on the mind lately. I’ve been searching online for inspiration and I can’t help but ask myself WHY can’t I have ALL THE GATES? :) I love so many of them! But for now we will install just two gates, so I’ve been working on narrowing them down to what would suit our situation and style. It wasn’t easy to pick, but I think I’ve got the side yard pretty much all designed now. I’m excited about the direction it is taking. More to come on our decisions!
But meanwhile, I thought you might enjoy a glimpse of spring today (to help pass the dark night of the soul that is January) with a few charming garden gates I ran across in my searches.
Enjoy!
Jenny Wolf / Photo by Emily Gilbert
More Inspiration:
On a day that is dreary here in Missouri with 2-4 inches of snow predicted, just seeing these gardens was so uplifting! I love the garden gates that are open. It just says, “come on in and take a stroll”! Thanks for sharing! Your blog is also like a good book … you leave the reader wanting the next chapter! Blessings.
I love garden gates too! It is all about my secret garden love!
Oh I love gates too. Our last home, the family starter home had a side gate that my husband built by hand in cedar and I loved it. I miss it all the time. I drive by the house once and awhile and look at it as well as all the other items he added over the years. Now how to add one to where we are no? Lucky you to have two~~~ the swing and the mystery. . .
On the idea of looking at someone’s back yard: I used to drive home from the train station in the afternoons and would pass by a front yard so beautiful I considered it a gift to the neighborhood. One day I stopped, rang the doorbell, and told them how much I liked their yard, that it lifted my spirit every time I drove by. They were so delighted, so charmed, that they insisted on touring me around the entire yard, front and back, giving me details of what the various plants were, how they’d accomplished their beautiful garden, and what their plans were to embellish it. A magical half hour and well worth having dinner late that night.
I pretty much love them all…and girl…we must be on the same wave length….I’ve been pinning away cute little gates….we will need one for the courtyard and two side gates! Thanks for the inspiration!
Happy Day
Now you have me thinking about where I could add a charming garden gate to my home! These are all lovely – I can’t wait to see your finished side yard – how exciting!
Love each and every one, but if I’d choose one it’s the moon gate!! Love them always have. We had cute iron gates back in our home in Michigan. I loved decorating them for Xmas..
I love garden gates too! And there are three homes nearby that I love and always try to get a good look into the side and back yards. Your post made me smile, reminding me that I better watch it so that I don’t turn into a scary house stalker! I have come close to peeking over the fence and gates, ha! “The Secret Garden” was one of my favorite books growing up and I hope to make my back and side yards something that others would love to take a peek at when walking by my house! Thanks for the great pics and inspiration!
Oh boy, you’ve really got me dreaming about SPRING now!!!
These gates are all so magical in their own way…
Anyone know where I can get a bell like the one in the last photo???
Been looking for something just like it!
xo
I’ve loved gates, fences, arbors, and have some in my garden BUT, be forewarned that white painted anything that is exposed to the PNW weather will need yearly refreshing which is a total pain in the neck!! I spent years sanding and reprinting my white deck railing until we replaced the deck. I love my white arbor but, oy, it takes a lot of maintenance! I’d do stained wood if I did it over again, just sayin’.
Ahhh….this is just what I needed after a weekend in the single digits! THANK YOU!
I live in LO and I know that exact house! I drive past it as slow as possible every time I go to the library just to drink in all the loveliness! So good all year round!
Don’t kiss by the garden gate, love is blind but the neighbour’s ain’t!
I love this post! Garden gates are soooo mysterious. We don’t have many pretty ones where I live. They’re all the plain, light brown wood. Yuck. I love these in the photos. Thanks for sharing.
Gates have always fascinated me. I’d love to have a secret garden with a wonderful gate but that won’t happen in our current house. My sweetheart doesn’t like gates that ‘advertise’ there’s a gate there. Since you love a lot of different gates – why not make a whole fence of gates? Only two would have to actually open. Just a crazy idea but you could have all the gates you like!
~Adrienne~
P.S. – I know that house in Lake Oswego. It’s not far from my home and I drool every time I go by it.