Private Gardens of Santa Barbara


Book Description

An exclusive look at the exquisite residential gardens of the American Riviera. Private Gardens of Santa Barbara is an invitation into eighteen distinctive private, and beautiful gardens; large estates, modest homes, and surf retreats run the gamut from sublime and naturalistic to bold and urban. What they have in common, however, is what makes them truly inspiring. Showcased through 190 stunning images in more than 250 pages in this elegant coffee table book format, each beautiful landscape represents a widely varied garden style developed in response to the unique character of each site, the architecture, and the larger environment; and adapted to the lifestyle, personality, and practical needs of the individuals and families who live there. In a career that spans over 30 years, Margie Grace, principal of Grace Design Associates, has established herself as an expert in sustainable landscape design and advocate for environmentally sensitive gardens. These gardens offer endless inspiration for sustainable home garden design, created with water-smart, maintenance-smart, and fire-smart priorities in mind, with high habitat value and plants well adapted to the Southern California climate of Santa Barbara.




Veranda


Book Description

VERANDA knows what makes a home exquisite--and following the successful Houses of Veranda, the magazine has produced a lavish new book with a wealth of ideas for exceptional outdoor spaces. Take a private tour of magnificent homes with lush gardens, inviting courtyards, and pools set amid breathtaking landscapes. Created by the worlds best designers, these environments are among the most spectacular ever featured in Veranda.




The Backyard Book


Book Description

For relaxing, for gardening, and for entertaining, backyards enhance our lives as well as our homes. In this book more than 300 gorgeous photographs show the diversity of American yards. Features an extensive directory of mail-order sources and covers suppliers of everything from birdhouses to furniture to gazebos. Full color throughout.




Perfect Porches


Book Description

Savannah College of Art and Design president Wallace presents a stunning and varied collection of porches--some becolumned old beauties, others modern marvels--all reflecting their owners' unique desires and sensibilities.




Courtyards


Book Description

Striking full-color photography complements a study of the use of theourtyard in indoor and outdoor design, capturing a diverse array of exampleshat range from ancient Rome and medieval Europe to modern-day San Diego,racing the history of the design style, and explaining how a courtyard canet the mood and tone of any structure.




Al Fresco


Book Description

An Ode to Living and Gathering in Nature A picnic on the beach. Cocktails and a snack at sunset. Sharing a potluck meal around the fire, and letting the night drift lazily along in the pleasures of roasting marshmallows and swapping stories. Getting together in nature, with food and drink, is among the most restorative rituals we can experience, fostering a kind of intimacy and ease that’s rare in any other setting. Al Fresco, with its fresh, delicious recipes and unexpected ideas, its tips for exploring new ways to get outdoors, its interviews with dozens of kindred spirits, is an inspiring and beautiful playbook for anyone who wants to spend more time outside with friends and family. The credo is simple: Nature opens us up to ourselves, and the food we share opens us up to each other.




Landscaping for Privacy


Book Description

The area around your home is your haven, your sanctuary, your refuge from the noise and irritation of traffic, eyesores, and nosy neighbors. Or at least it could be if there was some sort of barrier between your front yard and the sidewalk, or if you didn't have to stare at the back of the neighbors' garage when you want to relax on your patio. Landscaping for Privacy brims with creative ideas for minimizing or even eliminating the nuisances that intrude on your personal outdoor space. Scores of real-world examples show you how to keep the outside world at bay by strategically placing buffers (such as berms or groups of small trees), barriers (such as fences), and screens (arbors or hedges, for example) around your property. And the helpful plant lists tell you precisely which varieties to choose in order to enhance your sense of seclusion. If you've ever felt frustrated by the lack of privacy whenever you step outside your home, this inspiring book will steer you toward an achievable solution.




Take It Outside


Book Description

From the hosts of Bravo's Backyard Envy comes a beautifully photographed guide to converting your outdoor space into an enviable oasis, whether you have a backyard, brownstone patio, or three-season porch. Dubbed the "plantfluencers" by the New York Times, Mel Brasier, Garrett Magee, and James DeSantis, owners of the Manscapers landscaping company, do more than plant, mulch, and manicure a garden; they look at the space just as interior designers do a room, considering the aesthetics and the way people live in it. Now they show you how to apply familiar interior design principles to your outdoors, including: Deciding on a concept to help direct the mood of your space "Zoning" your space into functional areas, such as for lounging, cooking, or entertaining Defining the areas with furniture and hardscaping like fencing, decking, pools, planters, pergolas, and pathways Bringing in the green, including plants that are both functional (privacy shrubs and shade trees) and decorative (pretty perennials, climbers, and textural grasses) Adding the finishing touches: the pillows, throws, hurricane lanterns, and other details that will make you want to linger long after sunset Plus, you'll have information on hiring a contractor and landscaper and the specific materials and plants the Manscapers love to use in their designs. No matter how big or small your exterior space, this ultimate guide to landscape design will help you bring the comfort of the indoors outside.




Private Gardens


Book Description

* Nearly forty phenomenal gardens and outdoor living spaces from around the world are profiled in detail, each beautifully photographed replete with stunning diagrams, sketches, and plans to showcase the optimal design strategies and concepts* Readers are guided by advice from well-established designers, who share tips on how they've constructed hardscapes that work with the surrounding architecture and outdoor living spaces with smart design features, such as audio-visual integration, LED lighting design techniques, innovative decking and pergola ideas, plus firepits, water features, pools and ponds, and so much moreThis beautifully illustrated volume takes a wander through nearly forty private gardens from around the world, each as diverse and varied as is the natural environment. Ranging across traditional to contemporary gardens styles from Europe, America and Southeast Asia, among many others, in these pages the homeowners and many professional landscape designers with years of experience in horticultural design explain how they've employed the optimal landscape proportions and design for the site, how they've dealt with the practicalities as well as challenges and difficult site characteristics, used the best planting schemes, used harmony with the right trees and plants, and overall built an environment that suits the architecture of the home and the needs of its inhabitants, which together encourage the homeowners to be able to relax and enjoy their space. Replete with luscious photography, landscaping plans, sketches, and plant details, this is essential reading for anyone who loves and admires gardens and is looking for inspiration to create a gorgeous private garden landscape around their home.




Design for Story


Book Description

You've probably heard the sales truism that, to persuade clients, you need to tell a (better) story. But how to tell a compelling, effective story that resonates with clients can seem more art than science, whether you're an experienced designer or just starting out in the industry.