Inspired garden accents make all the difference in successful outdoor design. Here, Robert Couturier reflects on a collection of garden urns at his Litchfield County home: “I use urns because they remind me of my grandfather’s house, which had a lawn that sloped down to a big lake. At the end of the terrace, where the lawn started, he had large marble urns that would frame the views. His white peacocks liked to perch and show off their beauty to whoever was around. To me, the image was of such perfect beauty, peace and timelessness that when the time came to punctuate my gardens with ornaments, urns were a natural choice. I do not use them in an orderly fashion. They are a personal decision based on my sensibilities and what I feel my gardens need. My inspiration throughout was French gardens. In France, our gardens are peppered with garden ornaments—they help civilize nature, and they tell stories about us.”
