Saturday Reading.
I was recently introduced to the exterior design work of Scott Shrader as I was looking through some gorgeous outdoor dining pictures on Pinterest. His work made me stop my endless scrolling and I immediately found his website so I could view more of his projects. I was not disappointed. His work spoke to me in a way that made me instantly transformed to the gardens he was entertaining and dining in. The spaces are so inviting and curated without looking overdone or stuffy. There is a perfect element of comfort and relaxation that comes along with his work that is not easily achieved. After pouring over the projects he had on his website I went to Amazon and ordered his coffee table design book titled, The Art of Outdoor Living, Gardens for Entertaining Family and Friends.
I’ve been on a coffee table book kick lately since our new home has so many open shelves I have a need to fill and I have been searching for new inspiration. This is one book that does not disappoint. It’s filled with his gorgeous work and ideas. If you are considering any landscape or exterior design projects this summer, this book is a must have. The Amazon description says it perfectly so I’m just going to add it if you aren’t convinced yet that you need this book.
Pools made private by lush plantings, bedrooms open to the back yard, bar seating by the outdoor oven. California native and exterior architect Scott Shrader is known for creating covetable outdoor rooms for clients including Ellen DeGeneres and Patrick Dempsey. In his first book, he shares the grounds of twelve beautiful properties, all designed to be lived in and enjoyed as extensions of the homes they surround, rich with creature comforts. Shrader shows us how to connect the landscape outside with interior decor; resulting in an exterior environment that flows naturally, stylishly and serenely from this core. He also inspires us to think of the way these outdoor spaces will be used, and plan ahead for ways to keep our family and guests fed, warm, and entertained in them. Folded in between the featured gardens--which range in style from Hollywood Regency to Modern Moroccan--are meditative essays on topics including Sustainability, Lifestyle, and Pathways, as Shrader reflects on the ways that gardens change constantly in small ways, shifting mood with the light and the weather, transforming dramatically with the cycle of the seasons and the passage of years. These are modern, chic gardens and outdoor entertainment spaces specifically designed for cooking, entertaining, playing, and relaxing.
Have a gorgeous weekend and let us know, what are you reading this weekend? Leave us a comment so we can share.
