IntroductionSome of us are blessed with the big open canvas of an untouched yard while others get by with an awkwardly shaped sliver of urban space. The rest of us have exteriors that fall somewhere in between. Whether you’re looking to refresh your surroundings with new plantings or patio furniture, or to overhaul a long-neglected garden, we’re here to tell you that the process is not nearly as daunting or difficult as you might imagine.
In our work and our lives at home, we have been striving to master the art of exterior design for years. You might say we’re on a mission to create the most beautiful, comfortable outdoor rooms, where every element—plants, pots, hardscaping, furnishing, flooring, lighting, and decorative touches—shares a cohesive concept and aesthetic.
But we don’t simply plant a backyard. We look at every aspect of outdoor design, from constructing the deck to setting out party-ready tabletop decor. We take a holistic approach: considering the space from top to bottom, sunrise to sundown. It’s amazing to see the transformation from a basic structural vision to the finished result, complete with design flourishes big and small.
The three of us came to the landscape business with backgrounds in design, not degrees in horticulture: Mel and James are interiors experts, and Garrett trained as a graphic designer. Together, we decided to pool our talents and take our collective skill set outside. We learned to transform city lots into lush hideaways, tiny terraces into chic outdoor lounges, and suburban yards into anything-but-cookie-cutter retreats. Along the way, we realized that no matter the size, location, or budget of any outdoor location, the makeover process is pretty much the same.
Rather than be put off by the unpredictability of garden design, we fell in love with its ever-changing nature. Today we are constantly inspired by the prospect of working outside, where every project mirrors the seasons and offers the promise of transformation and progress. Nothing is stagnant outside.
Time and again, we’re faced with many of the same landscape design conundrums, but we’re always up to the challenge of solving them. With this book, we’re stoked to share our tried-and-true tricks and solutions with anyone who wants to design and build their own outdoor oasis.
Whether you are a seasoned or brand-new gardener, a semiskilled DIYer, or someone who just wants to turn things over to the pros, we’ll help unpack the process for you. Now, let’s take this outside and get started!
Copyright © 2021 by Mel Brasier, Garrett Magee, and James DeSantis. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
