When I hear people referring to “plant material” and “hardscaping,” two words I hate, I know they won’t make gardens I love because they’re talking about materials rather than the point of it all.ĭN: I got a lot of advice from friends and was inspired by traveling and reading. The principles are the same whether you’re outdoors or indoors-you want spaces that are inspiring, calming, and comfortable-nice places to hang out, eat, rest, and chat. What is your idea of the “perfectly imperfect” garden?ĭN: It’s a garden that puts you at ease. GARDEN DESIGN asked her to describe the philosophy behind her backyard, with its delightful play of simplicity and surprise. It is organized brilliantly in the same friendly way Needleman does her indoor spaces. At a country house she owns with her husband, Jacob Weisberg, in Garrison, New York, she transformed what had been three sloping, weed-covered acres into a series of beds in a style that might best be described as Country Italian. While best known for her expertise on interiors, Needleman is also an extremely capable gardener. It’s full of tips and practical advice and, just like Domino, promotes a kind of informed rule breaking that is at the center of so much smart design. Photo by: Ngoc Minh Ngo.ĭomino closed in 2009 (Needleman has since become editor of The Wall Street Journal’s monthly magazine, WSJ.), but this fall Clarkson Potter will release her new book, The Perfectly Imperfect Home. Needleman and her children, Lily, 12, and Nathaniel, 10, enjoy an instant Moroccan-style picnic on a shady spot of grass.

Domino by Deborah Needleman