Even if gardening and sustainability aren’t our things, we are increasingly starting to rediscover the joys of the environment right outside our big picture windows. Some of us wish to entertain large groups of family and friends. Others just want a magic spot to read, chat, or relax. Many of us want places for both. Hey, we’ve paid a lot of money for our little parcel of paradise, and we might as well enjoy it. We see the landscape as an extension of the home, where creating outdoor rooms (no matter how rustic or refined) is one of landscape design’s primary jobs.