I can suggest two. In the design classes I teach, I use "Residential Landscape Architecture" by Booth and Hiss. It is a good, basic text covering design principles as applied to landscapes, and does a fine job of introducing the topic as a multi-step process. I also like Tracy DiSabato-Aust's new book, "The Well-Designed Mixed Garden". While it is devoted more to planting design than to lines in the ground plane, Tracy's usual exhaustive attention to detail makes this book a reference that you'll return to again and again.

I looked each up and I have an herb book, several, but they give the same directions mostly accept a few, there are 5 on the list I understand in every way they couldn't have sprouted. I cold treated the hops, as was noted on the package. I really liked the smell of them too, almost like anise. I would have tried them sooner if I had known what they smelled like. The milk thistle ones say it's easy to grow them, but you describe them as picky as they seemed to be. I direct sowed them in the ground, maybe too early, but I really got nothing accept poppies, fennel, castor bean, mullein, and borage from everything I planted herb wise. The borage got top heavy and died. The poppies didn't make many seeds, and I let them drop. I was really hoping to get mint plants growing, I know spearmint sprouted in a planter, but died due to neglect of it sprouting way too late once most of everything else had been taken out of the planter, not knowing anything would still grow. I'm looking for hints like maifleur gave, that is going to help. Direct sunlight is what most of them needed because they all said the same thing on the package. I'm afraid to plant anything in fall, my garden is under leaves right now, about 67 of them I counted now, but then there were more. I still have about 30 to dump and have to clear some areas of old stalks and the privot that keeps growing wild every where. Between privot and the onslaught of walnut seedlings I'm finding, I'm getting scared. Fall planting may make the onions rot, so I'll have to start them out in flats. The lavender sounds tricky, so they sent a big package of those, I'll try again under lamp just to get some sprouted. I'll do the same for the milk thistle under lamp then put in a cool damp, but warm enough spot to get them growing. The hops and cilantro, I've read to score the seed after soaking them 24 hours, then plant, the seed is a hull of 2 seeds, so it makes sense. I'll be looking each plant and reading blogs on each until I can see proven 100 percent method. I appreciate this and I hope next year I'll be in check, have a few of each plant at least.

Identification of grasses can be very challenging. It usually requires close examination of the flowers, although some of the more common native prairie grasses can be identified pretty readily once you know what the overall appearance. A good starter book for grasses and grass-like plants is "Field Guide to the Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of the United States" by Edward Knobel. No photos, just illustrations and it doesn't distinguish between natives and non-natives. For other plants, something like Peterson's "A Field Guide to Wildflowers : Northeastern and North-Central North America" would be a convenient reference and it does mention which ones have been introduced.

I hate to ask this, but if you have no idea of what to do with the space then why are you doing the renovation? Also, when working with large, open rooms the general idea is to partition the space into smaller units using furniture. Think groups of sofas, table and chairs, etc. You will need to choose furniture which looks good from all sides (which can be difficult with case goods). And you will need to place some plugs out in the middle of the floor. Regarding books or websites, try your local library - look for books about loft interiors. Good luck! Paul