Outdoor Living 387 Ideabooks

Our 21st-century lifestyle has left many of us with smaller gardens, where every inch of outdoor space is precious. Through the use of climbers and wall shrubs, we can expand our planting opportunity, giving us a wealth of form, color and texture right... more »

The trees that line our streets and shade our outdoor living spaces serve as a subtle but defining feature of our communities. As arborists and tree lovers everywhere celebrate the significant contributions of trees on this last Friday in April,... more »

This time of year, al fresco living feels like sheer luxury: satiny blue skies, lush trees and gardens wild with colorful blooms. But what if you're short on outdoor space to enjoy spring at its peak? No matter — you can turn even the smallest of patios... more »

Once you've planted your vegetable garden and made sure your fruit trees are... more »

Space, a critical element of design, is ever present in the outdoor world, thanks to the vast sky overhead, the seemingly endless horizon of the ocean or a distant view of treetops. We can take advantage of the greater environment in our landscapes,... more »

Tucked in the back of a private garden, this one-room shed serves as an office for a London couple. With 150 square feet and $16,000 to work with, designer and architect Gurmeet... more »

Permeable hardscapes greatly improve the overall sustainability of a property. They replenish the groundwater table with filtered water, reduce runoff and its impact on city infrastructure, and mitigate heat island effect. Permeable patios... more »

I love summer here on the temperate East Coast, but I confess: Even when the mercury soars in Massachusetts, I still sometimes wish it were just a little more tropical. Fortunately, plants with bold, bawdy foliage aren't exclusive to warmer climes. Here... more »

Many of the traits that define modern architecture — large expanses of glass, minimal surface articulation, exposed structure (often steel), flat roofs — keep people from considering a residence in such a style. The glass makes many people feel exposed,... more »

Have you noticed outdoor shades with dynamic, futuristic, architectural forms lately? Shade sails are growing in popularity as they become more available on the market. What's so great about them? "Sail shades lend a strong, artful, sculptural look that... more »

If you can garden, you can be a backyard beekeeper, says Bee Thinking proprietor Matt Reed. Based on his experience with customers in Portland, Oregon, he's found that chickens have become the gateway animals... more »

A modern or contemporary landscape is defined by its emphasis on strong structural and graphic elements, clean lines and unusual materials. It's bold, often stark, with strong visual lines running throughout and with the hardscape playing a much more... more »

With spring blooms come the birds, bees and butterflies. Wherever you are, your local butterflies will crave the nectar from your native flora. Here are a few of the plants I like to use in California to entice a visit from my fluttering friends. more »

This week my husband and I are presenting our ribbon driveway plans to our township zoning board. This classic driveway design features green grass running between two parallel strips of pavement. Dating back to the 1920s, the design was born before the... more »

Ornamental grasses are some of the easiest plants to design with on the coast because almost every ornamental grass tolerates the salt spray and harsh winds off the ocean. They look great massed, which is also a wonderful feature for the coast... more »