Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home

by Julie Moir Messervy, Sarah Susanka, Grey Crawford (Photographer)

In this groundbreaking book, noted landscape designer and award-winning writer Julie Moir Messervy and bestselling author Sarah Susanka reveal how to bring house and garden into perfect harmony. After all, who doesn't yearn for a landscape that is as well designed as the interior of their home? In "Outside the Not So Big House," Julie and Sarah teach you everything you need to know about the design concepts essential to extending your home beyond its four walls.
Lushly photographed and illustrated with vivid drawings, "Outside the Not So Big House" explores how to build pathways and journeys in your gardens; how to make the most of your site; how to use details to bring it all together. Twenty homes from across the country aptly illustrate these easy-to-grasp design ideas. Fans of Sarah's previous Not So Big books will be pleased to discover not only Julie's clear, concise prose but also a new vision for creating home.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Architecture, Design, How To, Home Improvement, Interior Design

216 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book for home landscaping/garden design ideas and was disappointed. I had previously read Julie Moir Messervy's _The Inward Garden_ and found it much more useful. Reading Outside the Not So Big House, I felt there was a disconnect between the home design aspect and the garden design aspect, and neither aspect was discussed adequately. BUT, there are great photos and layouts of a number of greatly-varied landscapes and in the end one of the photos did validate an idea I had been tossing around for my yard.

My greatest criticism of the book is that it seems to speak primarily to people with endless finances and structural possibilities. The book speaks much about enlarging windows and angling corners full of windows to face certain aspects of the landscape. These ideas are not practical for the vast majority of people because their implementation would require substantial structural design, or changing the very foundation of a building, yet these ideas were reiterated in illustration after illustration. I was expecting to see more about using plant design and garden structures to draw the eye inward or outward.

[Marcie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this would be about gardening on an urban or suburban tract home lot but no, this had the usual custom homes on huge lots with gorgeous views and pools. It was all about maximizing the views of the lake not about minimizing the view of your neighbor's RV. The book was beautiful but not overly useful because it didn't really show many practical solutions for the small lots that go with most small homes.

[Snickerdoodle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the pictures of lovely gardens and fabulous houses - but didn't find the design features to be terribly practical for everyday home owners.

[S · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a bummer. There was nothing original and it was too much with palatial estates. I wanted much more information about plants in the landscape. Also, what is the deal with the disclaimer of "not-so big house doesn't mean it can't be a big giant house"?? Please, you are throwing your whole premise out the window.
I really liked the original Not so Big House book - it had a unique perspective. But this one was a disappointment. The content was weak, and the connection to the whole not-so-big premise was lost.

[Kathy (McDowell) Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm really tired of reading landscaping books that assume everyone is mega-wealthy and lives on the edge of a pristine lake, or on a mountaintop with a fantastic view. And beaucoup bucks to build granite walkways, moon gates, and the essential koi pond. That's not reality, and this book isn't helping people like me with ideas for naturalizing a wildlife habitat in our backyard. The only good ideas I gleaned from this book were weathered teak benches and chairs, and perhaps a pergola with trellises for privacy in my side yard. Not a recommended read.

[Christine55416 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aspirational not educational. While I love the Not So Big House and Not So Big Remodeling books, this was a disappointment. I was hoping for garden plans/ideas for actual 'not so big' lots/homes, and instead it was beautiful pictures of gardens for mansions and yards that are multiple acres. Equal number of pictures from inside a house looking out, vs actual garden photos, and most of the time they didn't even identify plants used. My main takeaway is have a beautiful fountain, pool, or palatial park view from each window view of your house.🙄

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring book for anyone thinking about their home and garden connection. I like all Sarah Susanka’s books. I have found them helpful as I have lived in the same home for 30 years, thinking we would stay “a short while” when we bought it. We have had to tweak inside and out over the decades to make the property work for our changing family. I always find a golden nugget of an idea to use as a jumping place for something that is next.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lovely gardens & pictures, but the writing was so unengaging I found myself just wanting to ignore it by the time I was halfway through. Would’ve much preferred more practical ideas for people with smaller lots, less money, & fewer grand ideas. Also very much wanted more different landscapes represented, especially a few in much drier climates.

[Calciferocious · Rating 2 out of 5]

a bizarre outlier in the Not So Big series. all the houses are opulent and expensively sited, with exquisite professionally landscaped gardens. the diagrams in the book do not make sense to me, and I'm not really sure how this book can be of use to a homeowner, with owning a home at all a fairly luxurious prospect these days... but the photos are very beautiful.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Applying notions inside and out. It's not all the landscape; it goes into how to use the windows to exploit it

[Sheila Garry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A handy book about design, color, sight lines, and much more.

[Deborah Makarios · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Not So Big doesn't necessarily mean small. It's more about the sensibility toward space both inside and out." p.150

[Sandy Swartzentruber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should have been called “Outside the VERY Expensive House on an Unattainable Lot with an Unlimited Landscaping Budget”

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book for home landscaping/garden design ideas and was disappointed. I had previously read Julie Moir Messervy's _The Inward Garden_ and found it much more useful. Reading Outside the Not So Big House, I felt there was a disconnect between the home design aspect and the garden design aspect, and neither aspect was discussed adequately. BUT, there are great photos and layouts of a number of greatly-varied landscapes and in the end one of the photos did validate an idea I had been tossing around for my yard.

My greatest criticism of the book is that it seems to speak primarily to people with endless finances and structural possibilities. The book speaks much about enlarging windows and angling corners full of windows to face certain aspects of the landscape. These ideas are not practical for the vast majority of people because their implementation would require substantial structural design, or changing the very foundation of a building, yet these ideas were reiterated in illustration after illustration. I was expecting to see more about using plant design and garden structures to draw the eye inward or outward.

[Erika RS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Outside the Not So Big House is, perhaps somewhat obviously, part of Sarah Susanka's "Not So Big" series; Susanka is listed a co-author although her content seems to be limited to side bars.

In general, when it comes to books like these, I prefer books that are focused on principles rather than case studies. Outside The Not So Big House is a book of case studies. The principles are there but buried. Mostly, the reader is presented with descriptions of home after home.

I suspect that I would have liked this book more if I had read it after a more principle-centric book (such as Messervy's Home Outside ).

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have fallen in love with all the books in the "not so big house" series. They are so reassuringly sensible and reasonable in our greedy, profligate, ridiculous times. Everybody wants more, more, more- but only for themselves and they don't want to share with others (yes, I am talking to you - 1%). This series is all about what we really need to make ourselves comfortable homes and the answer is not 10,000 square feet of house. This volume is on landscaping.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm totally ready for Spring! Went to the Home and Garden Show at the IX Center...saw many gardens with grand ideas. This book is great for getting ideas too. Real life people with real life yards...even if they are in Boston, Colarado Rockies, San Francisco and Santa Fe and can afford architects and landscape designers! I always like to learn from the experts.

[Marjanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some beautiful homes and properties in this book. Some good ideas and it got me thinking about how best to utilize my own piece of land. However, I was disappointed that so many of the homes and yards were quite large. Not exactly "not so big". This is good for ideas and inspiration, but not so great for advice, etc.

[Fran Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, like the Not So Big House books, is very interesting. Susanka and her landscape friend tie the inside to the beautifully developed outside by creating, like so many wonderful gardens, a series of rooms, each special and private and lovely. Many great ideas for making the personal landscape striking and pleasant.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be good if you were building a home or doing a large-scale remodel. Helps with the concepts of linking the inside to the out. Not as helpful for established homes/yards. Still, a beautiful book.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good pictures.
I didn't think the text matched up very well with the pictures of the gardens. Also, the diagrams were confusing, lots of arrows and large pictures divided up into panes.
I wouldn't buy this book, but it was worth reading from the library.

[Nershwin G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has helped me conceptualize outdoor spaces in a new way that is more coherent than before. I love gardening but sometimes have difficulty planning for the big picture. Very good inspiration.

[Del · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thankfully, I received this book as a gift. Pretty watered down. Great pictures and good ideas, but a disappointment after the Not So Big House and Creating the Not So Big House.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geared more toward the landscape designer but definitely great ideas and lush pictures. Review just as the updated companion text to Not So Big House.

[Emily Mellow · Rating 5 out of 5]

great for pictures and dreaming

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the ideas for designing indoor-outdoor spaces
that respond to modern lifestyles.
I'd wish I can combine some day architecture and nature
in the home and in the garden.
It is a goal

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one has great pix and insights. love it.

[Roxane]

Another excellent book by Sarah Susanka. Good for learning some garden/landscape design principles

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-Fiction; Home Improvement
3 stars

[Oona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as helpful. Kind of seems like it's written for people with millions of dollars. It would be more helpful to talk about attainable designs and solving simple problems.