305. Turn Land Into Home: Design Outdoor Spaces You Actually Want to Be In | Tessa Pinner

Sep 2, 2025

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Creating a sense of history and place on raw land takes vision and patience, and garden designer Tessa Pinner shares how to make it both practical and beautiful. We chat about designing outdoor “rooms,” why smaller spaces can sometimes be easier than wide-open acreage, and how trees, fences, and timeless materials add history and charm. Tessa offers simple, long-term strategies to beat overwhelm and cultivate outdoor spaces that truly feel like home, whether you’re on acreage or working with a small backyard.

In this episode, we cover:

Creating a sense of place on raw land through thoughtful landscape design
Why outdoor spaces deserve as much attention as interiors for function and enjoyment
Designing “garden rooms” that encourage gathering, eating, and everyday living outside
How wide open acreage can feel overwhelming and why smaller yards are sometimes easier to design
Using permaculture “zones” to plan spaces from most-used near the house to more relaxed areas farther out
The importance of making outdoor spaces safe and hospitable for children and guests
Choosing materials that feel timeless and appropriate to the style of the house
Balancing beauty, practicality, and budget when designing for features like pools, patios, and fencing
Planting trees early to establish maturity and history on a new property
The hidden benefit of casting a long-term vision and phasing projects in gradually over many years
How to avoid analysis paralysis when planning: books, drawings, and vision over Pinterest overwhelm
Hardscaping as the backbone of outdoor spaces— surfaces, boundaries, and seating areas

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

GIVEAWAY! Leave a 5-star review on my beginner sourdough recipe to be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift card ⭐️

How to Design a Garden by Pollyanna Wilkinson

Food Forward Garden by Christian Douglas

Check out Monty Don’s current publications and youtube channel, Gardening with Monty Don

Check out the Garden Gab podcast hosted by Tessa

Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course

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Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook

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