Outdoor & Recreational Areas in The Books Store

The key to enjoying outdoor living to its fullest is customizing a space to meet with personal needs. In Outdoor Living & Gardens, readers are taken on a tour of homes in locations as diverse as the American heartland and the French countryside, the Florida coast and the Connecticut hills. More than 250 photographs depict imaginative and stylish design strategies that homeowners have used to create outdoor rooms that serve a variety of needs, from entertaining to gardening.

Each chapter of Outdoor Living & Gardens, addresses a unique design challenge of a property. Included is advice on landscaping and selecting plantings that harmonize with different styles of homes, ways to add special touches that extend a welcome to visitors and ideas for swimming pools, gazebos and old-fashioned wrap-around porches.

Key's approach is practical, as well as quite thorough, focusing on how readers can work within physical and financial limitations, while at the same time creating spaces that reflect their own personal style and individuality. Beginning with a chapter on "Designing for Outdoor Living," Key walks the reader through figuring out what elements they want in their gardens--from features and furniture to storage space for toys and gardening supplies--and how to fit it all into the space they have. He covers the nitty-gritty of designing a garden, including how to maximize space in a small garden, find a qualified garden designer, avoid common hazards, and much more. In subsequent chapters on "Relaxation," "Entertaining," and "Play," he offers advice for designing a quiet space for escape, an outdoor extension of the living-room ideal for entertaining guests, and areas where children can run about and play freely. From urban rooftop terraces to quaint suburban patios and sprawling country retreats, Key offers readers ideas and inspiration for designing gardens to fit any lifestyle, living situation, budget, and sense of style.