Media:
Style at Home
June 2008

HER FAVES

Lisa Aiken, owner of Toronto's Terra Firma Home & Terrace Design, picks two books for creating great outdoor spaces.

OUTDOOR ROOMS II by Anne Dickhoff, $33, Quarry, 2006, softcover,160 pages. This visual delight includes photos of porches, terraces, decks, gazebos, courtyards and outdoor kitch- ens in an assortment of styles. The projects focus on the simplicity of designs that work with the landscape, like a yard that's been accented by pea gravel flooring and a fence made from painted reclaimed doors for a relaxed, rustic feel.

Ideas range from creating outdoor ceilings with fabric to incorporating a reflecting pool with a meditative statue. Not only will this book help you visualize a look, but it will also show you how easily it can be created.

GREAT POOLS, SPAS & OUTDOOR LIVING, $25, Meredith, 2007, softcover, 288 pages. It's easy to be inspired by the gorgeous designs featured in any one of the 375 photos in this upscale book. These grand projects feature pools, multiple levels for outdoor living, built-in waterfalls, full outdoor kitchens, and outdoor living rooms with fireplaces. The book also looks at many types of materials, including stone, wood and metal, with advice on what's best to use where. If you want an uttrasleek modern look, for example, choose a smooth stone instead of flagstone. For homeowners who don't know what they and those who do but find it difficult to explain to tradespeople. the photos could be a great help.