Grace Design Associates founder publishes photo collection book

SANTA BARBARA, Cali. – Grace Design Associates, a landscape design/build studio, has announced the debut of the firm’s first book, "Private Gardens of Santa Barbara."

Set to release on March 3 this year, both in stores and online, the coffee table book will feature 18 residential gardens from throughout the Santa Barbara region, known as the American Riviera.

Ideal for garden enthusiasts, lifestyle devotees, designers, photographers and landscape professionals, "Private Gardens of Santa Barbara" showcases 190 images of gardens from a wide array of homes. With imagery by landscape photographer Holly Lepere of Lepere Studio, the book displays garden styles including large estates, modest homes and family surf retreats, ranging from serene and natural to bold, urban environments.

“Each garden is a response to the unique character and architecture of the site, adapted to the personality and lifestyle needs of the people who live there,” said Margie Grace, founding principal of Grace Design Associates.

Prior to designing over 350 gardens around the world, Grace earned her degree in life and earth sciences from UCSC, supplemented by coursework at UCLA in landscape architecture. She was twice named International Landscape Designer of the Year by The International Association of Professional Landscape Designers.

In conjunction with the book’s release, Grace will be embarking on a nationwide book tour, with appearances confirmed at conferences including The Great Big Home + Garden Show in Cleveland on February 7, The Southern Spring Home + Garden Show in Charlotte on March 6 and the Providence Hospital Foundation’s Festival of Flowers in Mobile, Alabama on March 26. Grace will also be speaking at the upcoming APLD International Design Conference in Chicago this July.

Following the upcoming book launch in March 2020, "Private Gardens of Santa Barbara" will sell retail for $50 on Amazon, and prices may vary based on bookseller. The book is currently available for pre-sale online.