Blakeney has a certain knack for bringing the outside world into the home. She is, after all, the author of three home design books celebrating a distinctly bohemian aesthetic. She’s also the creator behind the Jungalow home decor line — recognizable for its exuberant use of color, pattern, and plants. So, it should come as no surprise that as she set out to update her own home, she found all sorts of ways to make connections with nature, including through “mirroring” colors and materials found outside. “We picked olive green as a celebration of the olive tree in our courtyard — it felt like kismet!” she said. The hue coats the exterior of all her new E-Series windows and doors, creating a kinship with the leafy landscape that surrounds her home. In contrast, she chose an understated, stained pine for the interior of her windows and doors. The natural material and narrow sight lines allow these features to recede into the background so other aspects of her home’s interior design can take center stage.
Leaning into the natural elements — earth, wind, air, and fire — is another way Blakeney brings the outside in. For example, she chose casement windows not just for the “unobstructed views, but also the ability to open up and invite fresh air into the house,” she said. Her casements align with the home’s more mid-century vibes since they feature a clean design with narrow sight lines and expansive use of glass. By letting in fresh air, they help “bring in the magic of the natural world,” as she put it, and then there are the functional benefits, too.
When Blakeney and her family first moved in, they weren’t so much living with nature as living in nature. Their patio doors would blow open in the wind, windows were painted shut, and none of the openings were equipped to keep the elements out, making their home hot in summer and cold in winter. They also worried about keeping their cats inside. “Since we live in the foothills, there is quite a bit of wildlife up here — including bears!” she said. “Having doors that didn’t close properly was giving me anxiety!” Now that their openings function again, they have control over how they let in the elements — key to maintaining comfort, of course, but also to simply living their best lives.
One of their favorite ways to use their new doors is to facilitate entertaining. “We just open [the gliding patio door] and the courtyard becomes an outdoor living room,” she said.
Adding new windows and doors, of course, improved the family’s ability to access the outdoors. But they also feel the benefits of this access on a deeper level as they go about their everyday lives. “Research consistently demonstrates the profound benefits of living amidst and near nature on both mental and physical well-being,” Blakeney said. “But you don’t need to delve into scientific studies to grasp this truth intuitively.” She grasps it when the sunlight streams into her home or when she looks out at the trees, squirrels, and birds. “When I wake up in the morning and look out the window, it honestly looks like a beautiful painting,” she said.
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