The 7,900 three-story building is mixed use. The Ann Deemeulmeester boutique occupies the ground floor. Limestone steps lead upstairs to an Indian restaurant, and downstairs to another clothing boutique. The cobblestones provide an attractive contrast to the sleek facade.

The wall to the downstairs space is planted with moss. A network of tiny rubber hoses provides irrigation for the plants 24 hours a day. Although the building is not “green” in the sustainable sense of the word, the blanket of plantings has it’s own ecosystem of insects and frogs, oxygenating the air and insulating the interior to some extent.

Store interior is ex-TREME-ly minimal. Staying consistent with the branding of the Antwerp store, the floors are dark stained oak and the cabinetry and counters are white keeping the focus squarely upon the fashions. The undulating ceiling of earth colored concrete was a tricky engineering feat accomplished by setting the beams in an unusual sideways fashion.

The clothing appears to be mostly unconstructed and loosely draped, appealing to high styled urban women and men. ?”A mixture of rock, punk and military styles.”

Demeulmeester is one of the Antwerp Six, an avantgarde group of designers who are credited for establishing Antwerp as a mecca for cutting edge fashion in the 1980′s.

Photographs courtesy of Interior Design magazine April 2008

“My objective was to create an eccentric garden in a setting of fantastical Mediterranean antiquity,” says the owner. The columns, though stone in the original Italian villa, were carved out of redwood with resin capitals and fiberglass bases. The finish was aged with a mixture of plaster, lime and spray-painted moss.

The portico features informal red and white striped cotton upholstery. In the center stands a 17th century mantelpiece from Antwerp (this one’s a real antique) above which hangs an aged mirror from Studiolo, Shapiro’s own home furnishings line.

The property was wrapped in 20 foot high ficus trees and giant Japanese timber bamboo to create “complete seclusion and mystery.” The exotic undulating hedge was inspired after a visit to Chateau de Marqueyssac in the Dordogne region of France. Once again, the designer brought his ideas home to Los Angeles. He ripped up the manicured lawn, imported hundreds of mature boxwood plants, and laid out a snakey pattern of rounded hedgerows separated by gravel paths.

Clipping these bushes seems like it would take a team of gardeners, but we are told that Shapiro does most of the work himself in just a few hours every two weeks. Indeed, he never lets anyone else touch the boxwood hedge!

Behind the neo classic portico is an airy 275 square foot space that is used often. A Northern Italian table sits near the windows surrounded by 19th c. rustic chairs.Here is where morning coffee is sipped and newspapers are read. A fire is lit and more creative ideas are dreamed. The Chinese drum coffee table sits atop a Turkish kilim. The gilt wood mirror is antique. The contemporary lettered diptych is by Shapiro.The workbench is the owner’s own design with a pyramid shaped lamp from his Studiolo line. The marble capital is 19th century.

A view back to the main house featuring a pair of 17th century Florentine marble lions and a 10 foot tall Spanish oil pot.

A rusted sculpture by Anthony Caro sits in front of a bench from the Studiolo line.

Here is Mr. Shapiro. ?”I view the garden as a vast abstract canvas.” says this serious artist….with a wink and a grin.

Photos courtesy of Elle Decor May 2009

Here’s a wonderful little wood building with actual windows like you would install in your house. The optical illusion here is that the windows are made with clear glass panes. But no….actually they are mirrors! Isn’t that clever? Because this little structure is being used as a tool shed, the mirrors hide our view of lawnmowers and tools while creating an artful reflection.

A traditional “summer house” made of trellis which commands a lovely view of the garden.

Here are some helpful hints for creating your own outdoor room: Level Ground You will need a solid, level surface upon which to build your room, preferably with a damp-proof membrane underneath. Permitting Make sure you check with your city planning department before building, especially with a larger structure. Complement the House Your outdoor room does not necessarily have to be the same architectural style as the main dwelling, but it should not “fight” with it. One way to blend two different styles is to use the same colors, or carry at least one color over. Weather Proofing Since many garden rooms are not sheltered under trees, make sure that they are built of weather proofed material, or the maintenance will be high. Here is the Pacific Northwest, concrete is the best floor material and metal is a favorite roofing material. But ofcourse you must consider your climate. Wood is the most flexible material and more different effects can be achieved with wood. Make sure that your soft coverings, such as chair cushions, are mold proof. Be Creative This may be your best opportunity to use quirky shapes and whimsical decorative effects. Consider the View Most…but not all…outdoor rooms are placed to capture a view of the garden, the water or the mountains.

An artful organically designed gazebo by Thomas Heatherwick.

A circular metal structure that will patina nicely as it ages. Canvas roof lining. This provides a spot of shade in an otherwise sunny garden.

A contemporary garden structure designed by Lynne Marcus. The metal frame is painted a greenish-gray to match the house. It has a living roof comprised of a sedum mat planted on a sloping stainless steel base that allows rainwater to drain off.

Something this large would make a good outdoor office or guest house. It should be painted to match your main dwelling. Make sure to check with the local planning commission for something this big.

Two identical garden rooms can create a very lovely balance in order to frame a particular view. Making one of them a tool shed and the other a tea room would be a useful thing. These are a bit too ornate for my taste. They remind me of the nostalgic Victorian band stands found all over the US Midwest.

A little two seater shelter with a view.

This beautiful swing hangs from reinforced metal arches. The swing itself is also metal and makes a stunning garden sculpture. It serves a different purpose than an “outdoor room” but just as important.?Aesthetics. Since I approach almost everything I do as an artist, I would say that creating something because it is beautiful is all the reason you ever need.

Painted wood and very theatrical.

A living willow shelter. Look closely and you will see that those upright branches are actually growing and leafing out. The dried material (perhaps cut willow branches) are woven in to create the architecture. I am imagining that this platform will have large cushions filled with dry fast foam and covered with indoor-outdoor fabric.

A large outdoor room with two open sides and a metal roof. Situated in the far corner of the property, this is a secluded getaway with an comfy lounge for napping.

A little sleek (shatter proof) glass room with a steel frame. There’s an old adage that children should be “seen but not heard”…..maybe this is the place to stick the kids when you are going crazy! (of course you know I’m kidding).

Photos from British Homes & Gardens July 2009