Customer Reviews

Garden Retreats: A Build-It-Yourself Guide

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This is one I'll keep going back to -- in fact some of these projects are really do-able! My only caveat is that the type face, although pretty, is difficult for old eyes to make out even with reading glasses. Fortunately the pictures are lovely enough to be worth the price, all by themselves.

I have almost finished building the summerhouse in Garden Retreats. It overlooks a bay where swan , ducks and other birds come over every day to watch my progress. This has been one of the most gratifying projects I have ever attempted. It has been time consuming, but worth it. I have even put in electric as suggested in the book. I highly recommend this book and this project. Once I got the summerhouse enclosed, I could trim out the interior and it was plenty warm inside the space. I can't wait until summer when I can sit inside the summerhouse and watch the sun go down.

Both my husband and I really enjoyed this book. The projects are interesting and the pencil drawings are great.In one case, we used their project as a starting point and went from there.

Most of the projects are NOT simple DIY stuff, so make sure you want do do a project that is covered in the book. It is not a generalized building manual that is applicable to building in general.

To complete the projects, you will need a good table saw, radial saw, circular saw or compound mitre saw, a good jig saw or band saw, portable drill or drill press, and power sander such as a 5 or 6 inch orbital sander or belt sander, plus the usual standard hand tools.

When you make a garden, it doesn't matter what type of garden it is. You will still need structure to help tie it to the earth and sky. Whether you opt for a small arbor or a charming playhouse, this book has ideas and plans to help you fill your garden with structures. From practical plans for garden sheds to fun plans for gazebos, Garden Retreats by David and Jeanie Stiles has ideas for any gardener who enjoys working with wood.

Section one of this book covers the basics of building garden structures and fencing. This section covers topics such as planning, types of wood to use, and how to set corner markers. Section two covers garden seating. This section has clear, simple to follow directions for each piece, from a simple garden bench to a lovely pergola. Section three is called special places in the garden, and covers everything from arbors to arched gates. Finally, section four discusses garden shelters. I especially liked the garden shower, but there are also structures such as summerhouses and gazebos, as well.

This book includes directions and plans for over twenty garden structures. The plans are clear and the directions are easy to follow. I have several of these projects on my list of things to do next year.