Home & Garden

Hand-carved housewares not only add function and beauty to a home; they also represent the time, skill, and dedication of the people who crafted them. If you have ever wanted to try making your own, Heirloom Wood is a terrific place to start. This beautiful guide is filled with step-by-step instructions for making simple projects like spoons, spatulas, bowls, and cutting boards from sustainable and reclaimed wood. The contemporary designs in this book don’t even require many tools, but the gorgeous wares can be used and passed down for generations to come. - S.B.

Lloyd Kahn’s previous work (including Tiny Homes) will be familiar to many in here in Santa Cruz. His popular books often focus on simple, small dwellings, and his latest—featuring 65 homes in the 400- to 1200-square-foot range—is a welcome addition. From straightforward designs to ornate constructions, each house showcases something special. - Ian

Whether you’re looking for ideas for your home (or your traveling surf van) or you just need a little ocean inspiration, this gorgeous design book, focused on the nature-drenched aesthetic, has it all. Surf Shack profiles 20 different manifestations of a surfer’s paradise, from bungalows to boat houses, from all around the world. It’s a pleasure to escape into the photos, architectural designs, and essays about the laid-back lifestyle, and even better, to bring its influences into your own living space. - Melinda

Within minutes of opening Succulents, I was already writing down names of plants I want to pick up for my garden. (Luckily for us, author Robin Stockwell has his own nursery in Castroville, so I know where to stock up!) Stockwell believes that “if you present succulents well, you will show off their unique beauty to the fullest,” so it’s no wonder that his book is an ideal mix of information and inspiration. The first part of Succulents is devoted to garden design, and it’s packed with plant pairings for all sizes of spaces, from large ranches to small crevices. Chapters on projects (such as tabletop displays), favorite plants, and getting started follow. If you’re not already a fan of these beautiful, easy-care plants, you will be after reading Succulents. - S.B.

This beautiful book vastly expanded my repertoire of what I can do with plants from my garden. From Salt-Preserved Herbs to Calendula-Infused Essential Oil, from Lemon Bee Balm Tea to Gardener’s Salve, there are projects for mind, body, and soul. “Harvest tempts me with all the goodness that I can create from even the most common plants. The projects are fresh and unfussy [and] each is infused with love.” —Johanna Silver, Garden Editor of Sunset magazine - S.B.

I could spend hours looking at these uniquely imagined workshops, studios, guest homes, and hangouts. The in-depth profiles of each tiny place are an endless source of inspiration for emptying your own shed and transforming it into an art studio or an eco-oasis house. A coffee table treasure, Anatomy of Sheds is an excellent tome on tiny spaces. - Megan

Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden is quite possibly the most beautiful book on flowers I’ve ever seen. From bulbs to branches, blooms to foliage, author Erin Benzakein (who runs a small organic family farm in Washington) shares her flower growing, harvesting, and arranging tips in page after page of gorgeous photographs. Opening this book is like falling into a pile of blossoms. Wildly inspirational. - S.B.

Indoor plants are trending, and for good reason. They add a sense of the outdoors, tropical living, and effortless style to any home-- all while filtering toxins out of the air. This beautifully designed guide features plenty of ideas and inspirations for styling and caring for indoor plants. - ND

I opened this book with apprehension and low expectations. I then proceeded to read the entire thing in one night and began de-cluttering the next day. Some of Kondo’s practices were a bit extreme for me, but I found her overall method simple to follow and easy to maintain. I recommend giving this book a shot; even if you don't think you need to. - Jade

Inspiration for beautiful outdoor spaces—from untamed to highly manicured gardens—abounds in this gorgeous book. Dozens of gardens are profiled, and each includes a “Steal This Look” feature that contains tips (and sometimes resources) to help readers emulate the design. I loved reading about how travel, history, or well-known landscapes (like the High Line in New York) influenced many of the featured gardeners. I can imagine that Gardenista will be a similar source of inspiration. —S.B.