Arts-and-Crafts Outdoor Room

Before: This secluded yard has potential but is currently overgrown and littered with leaves, toys and lots of odd furniture.

After: A stained arbor with simple lines provides a lovely sitting area with a good view of the large oak tree. Instead of colorful flowers, subtle tones are added to the garden using ornamental grasses, which are more in keeping with the arts-and-crafts style.

Before: The second patio in front of the garage is messy and used for toy storage. The white door is not in keeping with the style of the home or garden design so it will be included in the makeover.

After: New furniture that's comfortable and simple invites one or many to relax and enjoy the garden. A new coat of brown paint blends the garage door into its surroundings and three twig-framed mirrors enlarge the entire space while adding dimension to the wall.

Craftsman style stresses comfort and utility through the use of natural materials, which fits perfectly with Jules Moore's design plan. There will be a quiet place to relax, a few spots designed for entertaining and a swing for the kids. The areas will be simple and organic, yet elegant, and will suit the most prominent feature--the large existing oak tree.

Multicolored smooth stones secured in grout turn a plain swing seat into a craftsman-inspired work of art.

In keeping with the organic style, thin twigs from the garden are turned into a simple frame by hot-gluing them around a mirror that has been secured with mastic on a large piece of plywood.

Create the look of stained glass by applying various shapes of colored cellophane to the back of a clean window frame with spray adhesive. Once all the layers are in place, cover the entire back with tracing paper. Don't worry about wrinkles as the texture they create will add to the look.