Great ideas for outdoor rooms

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21 ideas for outdoor dining rooms

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Tuscan table
Thomas J. Story

Tuscan dining: The courtyard

Designer Paul Hendershot calls his Ojai, Calif. garden "a Mediterranean courtyard without walls."

The centerpiece is a concrete-topped table (more on that next slide).

Inspired by the casual elegance of Mediterranean-style gardens, Hendershot carpeted his patio with pea gravel. "It feels good to walk on when barefoot," he says. 

A pepper tree provides light shade on hot days. To complement the tree ― and the garden's overall look ― Hendershot also planted boxwood, 'Provence' lavender, Myrtus communis 'Compacta' (which he likes for its scent), and upright rosemary.


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