The Garden Magician

Your vegetable garden should be an extension of your home, says writer and principal designer at Damour Drake, Maryline Damour. Here's how to make it an outdoor dining area, larder, or living space.

- Maryline Damour

Damour in the gardens of this year's Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach, Florida, which were created by Bell Design, Inc.

I NEVER OWNED A PLANT until I moved to the Hudson Valley. However, one of the first things I did when I purchased a weekend house was build a vegetable garden, because isn't that what one does in the country?

When I moved here permanently years later, I remembered that first garden. After it was built, I found the teeniest corner that fit one bistro chair, where I could sit peacefully, listening to nothing and watching the plants grow. It was bliss. Last year, my vegetable garden doubled in size when I became less than enthusiastic about shopping in supermarkets. The change not only amped up my cooking, but it also made me think about how we approach gardens. Growing food is a practical way to create your own resources, but that doesn't mean it can't be high design. In fact, when designing vegetable gardens, I apply the same principles I do when considering interiors.

In creating livable spaces outdoors, think about the location and how you want it to be used. I first design a flow, and then layer in furniture, lighting, and accessories, keeping in mind the natural color palette. Throughout the seasons, the garden evolves, creating a constantly changing and beautiful backdrop for everything from a dinner party to a solo morning coffee.