| Author |
Message |
    
Amanda
Citizen
Username: Amandalavin
Post Number: 27
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 8:08 am: | 
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I think my backyard has a lot of potential. Where can I get ideas, inspiration, etc? Are there any good magazines, websites, etc that are good resources? |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 207
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 2:09 pm: |
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If you would like, come and look at my yard. It is in it's first bloom of spring.
We could talk about your yard and its' potential. Sherri. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1607
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 2:41 pm: |
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You may want to consider investing a few dollars in Punch home design software (available at Comp USA and Best Buy). It will take some time to get the hang of it, but it can be a lot of fun and very useful. |
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 93
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 2:46 pm: |
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Just to follow up on what Case said - I picked up a copy of Punch a few months back. It has a few quirks, but a very active user community (think MOL for Punch ;) on the Punch web site (http://www.punchsoftware.com/). I've found it great for mapping out the house, and the surrounding landspace. Planning out designs for our backyard (we're planning a patio, raised beds etc), as well as modeling some color choices for interior rooms.
We bought 'Professional Home Designer - Platinum Version' from Costco - I can't remember the price, but it was definitely at a discount.
Note that Costco also sells the Better Homes & Gardens design software - based on the reviews that I read, I decided to go with the Punch software, despite it being about $20 more.
Jason
p.s. Punch also has software targeted specifically towards Landscape design. I believe this has more predefined landscaping objects than the Home Designer edition. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 72
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 11:20 pm: |
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Better Homes and Gardens has seasonal magazines devoted to landscape design (based on the season). HD and Lowes have an extensive periodical/book section you can browse through (while sampling their lawn/patio furniture!) before buying. I didn't have much luck at the library with coffee-table type garden books, but if you did an Amazon search you might be able to see if they can inter-library loan some books to you.
BHG.com has a "free" landscape design software which as others have pointed out isn't as good as other software out there. But it's fun to play around with. They also have designs you can download and print in case you find something you love.
You might also try to google the type of house you have and see if there are any books devoted specifically to your style of house. There's a book called "Outside the Bungalow" or something similar which has good photos of gardens of the arts and crafts era. There's also a new book called "outside the not so big house" which I haven't read/seen but I did like the "designing the not so big house" book so it may address items such as scale of plants, etc.
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Pat Scanlan
Citizen
Username: Squarehead
Post Number: 21
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 8:07 pm: |
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Amanda,
Are you kidding me? take a walk and look around, read a magazine. I am all for using Maplewoodonline to get advice for things. But c'mon...ideas for your backyard? have you heard of magazines? dear god...next thing, you will be asking for advice on your front yard. |
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