C.Z. Guest's Grecian garden channels the picturesque elegance of 1950s Palm Beach – and predicts summer 2025's turn to Mediterranean style

History repeats itself, and so does design. Sometimes, the best way to understand 'what's next,' is to look at what has been. As summer approaches and we're sourcing garden and landscaping inspiration, we turn to an icon of the past: socialite and gardening maven C.Z. Guest's Palm Beach estate, Villa Artemis.

The gardening writer's Mediterranean garden idea was captured in 1955, in a series of photographs by the illustrious Slim Aarons. The images paint a glamorous portrait of postwar opulence, embodied by figures like C.Z., Lee Radziwill, and Truman Capote.

The garden design of the era reflected this flair for excess. C.Z.'s backyard centers on a sparkling blue pool surrounded by a bright white pool area. In the background, Grecian temple-style columns and an intricate wall break up the ocean view. Green grass and palm trees sway in the breeze in the distance.

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Though the photographs were taken decades ago, the Grecian garden look of this Palm Beach home is reemerging as a 2025 garden trend. Google data shows a 250% increase in searches for 'Greek Garden ideas' over the past few months, which is only expected to continue into the summer.

Charlotte Ford, interior design expert at Ruggable, explains the European-Summer-inspired trend stating: 'Holiday destinations have always been an influential factor when it comes to summer interior trends. I believe this is down to the feelings these design elements evoke, creating a wellness-inducing interior that transports us to warmer climates and helps us reminisce about carefree days on holiday with our loved ones. Last year, we brought touches of the Amalfi Coast into our living spaces with the Amalficore trend and, this year, it appears the Greek Islands are influencing our outdoor spaces, with Grecian Gardens set to be the trend of summer 2025.'

To recreate the Green decor trend in your garden, a blue and white color palette is the perfect beginning.

Charlotte advises: 'To create an authentic Grecian garden, you need to ensure you start with the right color palette to set the tone. Seeking inspiration from the art of Greece is a great place to start for your color theme. For instance, cool blues and clean whites are synonymous with the architectural colors renowned with the luxury island of Santorini, as well as giving nod to the porcelain ornaments renowned with the work of Greek artisans.'

She continues: 'To work this color palette into your garden, opt for a crisp white shade as your main base color and layer with bright blue tones, as well as lighter shades to create a balanced, yet authentic Grecian look. You can accent the blue tones in your garden through furnishings and patterns like striped rugs and porcelain plant pots to add an airy and breezy feel to capture the essence of the coastline of Greece.'

Incorporating natural materials helps to bring it all together.

Charlotte recommends: 'For the finishing touches to your Grecian garden, you should look to furnish it with natural materials that are found within the landscape of Greece. For example, stone, marble, and wood are common materials used within Greek architecture and design.'

'Whether you incorporate these materials into your garden through seating, tables, ornaments or storage solutions, it’ll help to create a cohesive finish through your space whilst keeping on trend with the Grecian style,' she says.

Looking to the past is one of the best ways to understand the gardens of the future. C.Z Guest's backyard will inspire generations to come.