Fences and Gates 14 Ideabooks

Chalkboard walls, bubbled acrylic and perforated copper may not be the first fencing materials homeowners consider, but these bold choices add distinct curb appeal and style to this outdoor necessity. If updating your fence is on your summer to-do list,... more »

A house's character is determined by its exterior form, materials and color, but that character also extends to other features, including fencing. What is appropriate for a modern or contemporary residence is not as easy to determine as what is suitable... more »

With summer in full swing, it's natural to want to spend more time outdoors. If you live on sprawling acreage without another person in sight, then worrying about maintaining your privacy probably isn't high on your priority list. For the rest of us,... more »

A fresh coat of paint is an easy and affordable way to breathe new life into your front- or backyard fence this summer. Choose a shade that blends with your house or garden, or go bold with an unexpected hue. Whatever you choose, the right color could... more »

Do you need to keep little critters out of your garden? Or nosy neighbors? Or maybe you just need privacy in your backyard. No matter what your problem is, odds are that a great gate is the answer. It's easy to find gates made of iron, wood,... more »

On a recent trip to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, I was taken with the beautiful metal gates created by Andrew T.... more »

Even if you adore your neighbors, there are times when you just want to enjoy your deck, patio or porch with a little privacy. But how can you create a "cone of silence" around you and still experience all that the great outdoors has to offer — trees,... more »

There are gardens with full-frontal exposure, and then there are gardens that look like fortresses. And neither extreme is satisfying for those who live, work and play there. In her book Landscaping... more »

We all have them, and we can't escape them: plastic trash and recycling bins that create a less-than-welcome blot on our home's landscape. Even if they come in a color that actually appears in nature, there's just no getting around it — you can't make... more »

Gardening is my love, second to kitchen design, so when we bought our dilapidated old farmhouse in Michigan, the first item on our agenda was to install a fence. Our one-acre lot was nothing but dead grass, a gravel parking 'pad' right off the road, and... more »

After writing about garden gates last week, I thought it would be fun to follow up with fences. An ideabook on everyday fences seemed too simple, so I'm going with an icon many of us grew up with: picket fences. Dating back to America's earliest colonial... more »

The sun is scorching hot, and you feel like you're on display. A pergola isn't in the budget, and a traditional privacy fence isn't really what you're after. Also, you need a solution rather quickly. Have you considered a fix as simple as bamboo? Because... more »

Though their original purpose was to keep out unwelcome guests, gates have grown to become beautiful architectural structures, adding feelings of enchantment and curiosity to the landscape and reflecting the homeowners' personality and style. Highlighted... more »