Shakkei ~ Borrowed Scenery As an exterior house paint color specialist a knowledge of landscape design and an understanding of the affect of landscaping on a home’s curb appeal is a bonus. When studying Landscape Design at the New York Botanical Garden, one very important concept taught was the Japanese idea of Shakkei or borrowed scenery. This meant that as you were designing the garden and considering its elements, you needed to take into account the existing landscape which was part of your immediate view shed. If, as you stood and looked at your plot, a distant mountain, a nearby pond or a stand of tall grasses in the your neighbors yard were visible then they, in effect, became part of the garden you were designing.… Continue reading...