Desert Style

Book excerpt: Desert Style is cool living in hot climates. Based on the idea that a homehould exist in harmony with its landscape, author Mary Whitesides shows howaterials and textures reflect the land, and how desert hues and coolingones can be used in beautiful and efficient ways. She discusses how to uselowing and open interiors, patios, and thoughtfully placed windows to extendiving spaces outside, enhancing the relationship to the natural world.esert Style is abundantly illustrated, and offers advice on every aspect ofesert living, including building materials, space issues, heating andooling systems, furniture, paint - even how to choose art that willomplement a particular style like Old World Anasazi or High Desert Adobe.esert Style also includes a section on landscaping and choosing plants for aesert environment, plus information on how to incorporate fountains andeflecting pools into landscaping to create a private oasis for any desertome. With 140 gorgeous full-colour photographs of desert homes throughouthe high Rocky Mountain deserts and the Southwest, plus a comprehensive