Patina Living Hardcover by Steve Giannetti and Brooke Giannetti

Patina Living by Steve Giannetti and Brooke Giannetti
This book came out in 2019.

If you've ever dreamed of escaping the urban jungle for a life of rustic charm and verdant beauty, Patina Living is your invitation. Steve and Brooke Giannetti, the talented duo behind the Patina brand, offer a glimpse into their idyllic existence on Patina Farm in Ojai, California.

This isn't merely a coffee table book; it's a love letter to the land, a testament to the power of design, and a celebration of the simple pleasures in life. From the moment you open its pages, you're transported to a world where weathered barnwood, lush gardens, and the gentle bleating of sheep create a harmonious symphony.

If you're a longtime listener of the show, you know that I recommended Steve and Brooke's second book Patina Farm just a few weeks ago. But this is actually their third book, and it's called Patina Living, and it came out in 2019.

And as the publisher says,

The heartwarming story of how the Giannetties live and entertain in the well-designed and lushly planted gardens of their farm in Ojai, California.

So, this book is truly dedicated to the gardens on the property.

Now, I thought I'd give you a complete overview of all the Giannetti books; I think they're all fantastic.

Their first book, Patina Style, came out in 2011 and was all about their interior design.

The second book, the book that I just profiled a few weeks ago, is called Patina Farm. And that's reviewing the entire property inside and out, including the gardens.

And now, this third book, Patina Living, is all about the gardens.

And then, of course, there's one called Patina Homes after this one.

But this book, in particular, is the one that we're talking about today. It is Patina Living, but they didn't call it Patina Gardens, essentially, because the book covers so much more than just the gardens. There are outdoor rooms, kitchen gardens, and animals. There's just so much going on outdoors for the family, which is why they chose to call it Patina Living.

Now, I thought it would be fun to review this power couple of Brooke Giannetti and Steve Giannetti.

Brooke is a California-based interior designer. She's got her shop, and she's a blogger. And so everything that she's putting together is just so artfully done. She's a natural stylist.

And then you have Steve Giannetti. He's an architect, and he works on all kinds of projects. So there's the two of them together, and they work so well together.

In the introduction to Patina Living, Brooke and Steve share this incredibly heart-wrenching story about having to leave Patina Farm in 2017—five years ago—when one of the California wildfires threatened their property.

They had to load everything up quickly and were prepared to say goodbye to it. Here is this little excerpt from what Brooke wrote.

She said,

As we hurried through the now-mature grounds of Patina Farm, we were reminded of the time we had installed the new plantings that would become our outdoor rooms.

Now, five years later, the gardens looked lush and lovely, softened by the pale pink haze of the fire; but they were also quiet and lifeless. Our donkeys, Buttercup, Daisy, Blossom and Huckleberry, were not grazing the lower fields or sleeping under the pepper trees as they normally did. The protected garden and animal barn next to my office - where our miniature pygmy goats, sisters Thelma and Louise and their best friend, Dot, and our sheep, Linen, Paisley and Cashmere, normally lounged and played - were silent and deserted.

As we headed out to our packed cars, Steve asked me if there was anything else that I wanted to take with us. - looked around at the house -a house we had spent years thoughtfully designing-and realized that all I really needed to take, the soul of our house, was already securely resting in our cars.

Isn't that touching?

Later on, in the introduction, Brooke sets out her goals for this book, Patina Living. She writes,

As we've shared our journey to Patina Farm, many of our readers have shared their desire to move toward an organic, nature-centered life. Some of you just want to add more gardens to your property or figure out how to have a few chickens in your side yard, while others dream of creating your version of Patina Farm, with farmanimals and a potager to grow your own food.

We are writing this book for all of you, to share why we decided to embrace this lifestyle and whatwe have learned along the way. We will also introduce you to some of the wonderful people in our lifewho have helped us navigate the winding road of farm life. One of the important nuggets of wisdom wehave learned is that there is not just one way to live. The idea of this book is to explain what works (andhasn't worked) for us and why. By sharing our journey, we hope to demystify the homestead farmlifestyle. If we city folk can do it, SO can you!

What I love about Brooke and Steve - and what they've done here - is their authenticity and creativity because they approach everything from the Giannetti angle on design and functionality. Again, it's got to work for them because this is a working farm. This is a homestead property. And so, while they want things to look beautiful, they're also pragmatists. I love that mix.

Now, granted, up here in Minnesota, I'm never going to have the type of climate that they enjoy in Ojai, California. I'm never going to be able to grow rosemary and lavender year-round outdoors in my garden. But again, there is so much that Steve and Brooke do here that can be translated into new solutions no matter where you live. So, if you're looking for best practices, I think you cannot go wrong with any book by Steve and Brooke Gianetti.

The Giannettis' approach to design is both elegant and approachable. They seamlessly blend rustic elements with modern touches, creating inviting and inspiring spaces. Whether it's the sprawling farmhouse, the charming outbuildings, or the meticulously landscaped gardens, each corner of Patina Farm is a testament to their impeccable taste.

But Patina Living is more than just a showcase of beautiful spaces. It's a story of a family who has found their true calling in the land. The Giannettis share their passion for gardening, their love for their animals, and their commitment to sustainable living. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and their insights into the joys of country life are sure to resonate with any woman who dreams of a simpler, more fulfilling existence.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of nature, Patina Living is a must-read. It will inspire you to create your own little haven, embrace the simple pleasures of life, and find joy in the beauty that surrounds you.

This book is 208 pages of gardens, gardens, gardens, outdoor living, all kinds of outbuildings, spaces for animals—and a gorgeous potager to boot—on a high-end homestead.

You can get a copy of Patina Living by Steve Giannetti and Brooke Giannetti and support the show using the Amazon link in today's show notes for around $8.