Room of the Week 3.2.2010

Posted on 02 March 2010

The Riviera comes to Little Rock in this gorgeous outdoor paradise, designed by P. Allen Smith for philanthropists Chip and Cindy Murphy.

I first saw this garden on the LR Council of Garden Clubs tour last year. It was a gray and rainy day, but this poolside haven still looked good. My daughter was touring with me, and we wanted to capture how glam this spot was, even in drizzle.

Photographer Nancy Nolan came back and captured it on a gorgeous summer morning, and her shots show the “outdoor room” concept (entry way, living space, seating, accessories in the form of plants and fountains) that P. Allen espouses and we’ve tried to capture in our outdoor living issue.

You can see the full story in our March Outdoor Living issue. The best part of this garden? Chip and Cindy throw open the garden gates as often as possible and host events for charitable causes of all sorts. A lovely garden room, enjoyed by many and benefiting multiple good causes.