Outside the Not So Big House, by Julie Moir Messervy and Sarah Susanka

I bet I’m not alone in thinking: hmm…now that the snow has melted, what on earth should I do with the yard? Thank goodness for the library. There are tons of books on gardening and landscaping available, including the new Outside the Not So Big House, written by the creators of the Not So Big House books.

A useful tool for dreaming big but building small, Outside the Not So Big House offers insight into architectural and landscape design. The book is lovely to look at, with many beautiful pictures of showcase homes and gardens. Using these showcase homes as examples, authors Susanka and Messervy give the reader an architectural vocabulary to use when talking about what he or she most wants in a potential home landscape. Whether creating a sheltered space from which to enjoy a view or a well-laid path to guide guests through the garden, the reader learns what elements of landscape design most appeal to the human eye.

Practically speaking, though, Outside has some drawbacks. The book focuses primarily on landscaping new homes or doing complete renovations of older homes. Folks interested in making minor changes to their existing house and yard may find the book does not address their particular concerns. Also, most of the landscapes ideas featured in the book are extremely expensive. In short, this book is fun to look at for ideas, but offers less in the way of practical advice for the average homeowner.