Actually, the subtitle is backwards. It should be called, bringing the indoors outside.... If you have acreage enough to have a big lawn and plenty of flower beds, you can add a cottage or gussied up shed, put a daybed and worktable and patio-dining set in it, and then decorate it with all your paraphernalia.

Besides envy, though, I had another problem with this book. Seldom did we actually see enough of what we were looking at to actually be able to grasp what we were seeing. A snippet through a window, a close-up of a vase or statue, an antique botanical print, a portrait of the gardener... but few actual gardens or rooms.

As best as I can tell, even if I had plenty of acreage, money, and time, I would not use this for ideas, either. Few of the rooms or gardens gave me fresh insights.

I was looking for pretty & inspiring pictures of how three-season porches and sunrooms have been decorated to be a transition space between nature and home. ( )