Search results for "Residential steep slope landscaping" in Home Design Ideas
Klopf Architecture
Klopf Architecture and Outer space Landscape Architects designed a new warm, modern, open, indoor-outdoor home in Los Altos, California. Inspired by mid-century modern homes but looking for something completely new and custom, the owners, a couple with two children, bought an older ranch style home with the intention of replacing it.
Created on a grid, the house is designed to be at rest with differentiated spaces for activities; living, playing, cooking, dining and a piano space. The low-sloping gable roof over the great room brings a grand feeling to the space. The clerestory windows at the high sloping roof make the grand space light and airy.
Upon entering the house, an open atrium entry in the middle of the house provides light and nature to the great room. The Heath tile wall at the back of the atrium blocks direct view of the rear yard from the entry door for privacy.
The bedrooms, bathrooms, play room and the sitting room are under flat wing-like roofs that balance on either side of the low sloping gable roof of the main space. Large sliding glass panels and pocketing glass doors foster openness to the front and back yards. In the front there is a fenced-in play space connected to the play room, creating an indoor-outdoor play space that could change in use over the years. The play room can also be closed off from the great room with a large pocketing door. In the rear, everything opens up to a deck overlooking a pool where the family can come together outdoors.
Wood siding travels from exterior to interior, accentuating the indoor-outdoor nature of the house. Where the exterior siding doesn’t come inside, a palette of white oak floors, white walls, walnut cabinetry, and dark window frames ties all the spaces together to create a uniform feeling and flow throughout the house. The custom cabinetry matches the minimal joinery of the rest of the house, a trim-less, minimal appearance. Wood siding was mitered in the corners, including where siding meets the interior drywall. Wall materials were held up off the floor with a minimal reveal. This tight detailing gives a sense of cleanliness to the house.
The garage door of the house is completely flush and of the same material as the garage wall, de-emphasizing the garage door and making the street presentation of the house kinder to the neighborhood.
The house is akin to a custom, modern-day Eichler home in many ways. Inspired by mid-century modern homes with today’s materials, approaches, standards, and technologies. The goals were to create an indoor-outdoor home that was energy-efficient, light and flexible for young children to grow. This 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom new house is located in Los Altos in the heart of the Silicon Valley.
Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, and Chuang-Ming Liu
Landscape Architect: Outer space Landscape Architects
Structural Engineer: ZFA Structural Engineers
Staging: Da Lusso Design
Photography ©2018 Mariko Reed
Location: Los Altos, CA
Year completed: 2017
Berry Outdoor Living, Inc.
Homeowners with kids and active life wanting progressive style to facilitate outdoor living. We fused the traditional neighborhood and home style with a contemporary feel offering an upscale, clean, defined look and the result was awesome!
Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Values:
Any given Landscape Architect or Landscape Designer may have a different approach, but Landscape Designer and Landscape Contractor, Brett Berry of Berry Outdoor Living creates living areas that feel connected to the home. As a Landscape Designer and Landscape Contractor working with a Landscape Architect, we try to create the space so it feels relaxed. It should feel like it's been in place with the home for years and not an "add-on".
As a Landscape Contractor that merges old and new construction into the landscape design, the goal is to build a space people want to spend time, whether at the bar of the outdoor kitchen, fire pit, patio, or covered porch. When a space becomes a large part of the homeowners' daily life, a Landscape Architect or Landscape Designer, or Landscape Contractor, knows a project has been completed with excellence. I work closely with a Landscape Architect through the design process to ensure the space has the correct "feel".
A Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer must design the space to flow from the inside of the home out. The patio and outdoor living space feels like an extension of the home, or another "room" of the home and feels wrapped with fresh, low-maintenance landscaping.
In Kansas City patio, and landscaping design, there is a clear trend toward a cleaner, more defined look influenced by a more modern era viewpoint that values a non-cluttered look and feel. So, as a Landscape Contractor, in our circle of clients, we've seen a definite shift toward cleaner, artisan-crafted backyards and fewer "boxy", shrub-heavy yards. A Landscape Architect with a keen sense designs this effect.
landscape modern landscape Kansas city berry landscape photos, Houzz landscape design ideas pictures remodel décor, Houzz landscape design photos, Houzz outdoor photos, outdoor landscape design photos, Houzz outdoor photos, Houzz landscape design ideas pictures remodel décor outdoor photos, landscape design outdoor photos, Houzz pictures landscape, landscape back yard, landscape residential, landscape contractor, landscape design, landscape designer, landscaper, landscaping, landscape architect, landscape contractor, landscape photos, modern landscape photos, Staker landscape photos, Kansas City landscape photos, landscape photos back yard, landscape photos residential, landscape design ideas pictures, landscape pictures, landscape design ideas residential, landscape design ideas Staker residence, Houzz landscape photos, Houzz landscape pictures, Houzz landscape, Houzz landscape design ideas pictures, Houzz landscape design ideas pictures Staker residence
Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association
Stoney Bank Nurseries, Inc. http://www.stoneybanknurseries.com/
Project Entry: Restoration of Rose Valley Farm
2013 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner
Category: Residential $60,000 & Over
Award Level: Gold
Project Description:
Rose Valley Farm is an irreplaceable part of local identity and pride as much as it is a testament to the development of distinctive American design and craftsmanship. Our challenge was to restore this historic landscape to former glory while seamlessly blending desired amenities. This landscape architecture restoration project has preserved the work of our predecessors by creating a living document and preserving arguably the finest example of the arts and crafts movement in America.
In 1901 Quaker architect William Lightfoot Price founded the Rose Valley Association to save and encourage the continuation of craftsmanship in response to the Industrial Revolution. In support of Price's experiment, Mr. and Mrs. Charles T Schoen purchased the estate and commissioned Price to transform the existing cottage into an elegant villa. After Schoen's death, Maurice and Adele Saul purchased the property. The property and villa was retained in a family trust after Saul's death in 1974.
In 2005, a developer purchased the estate and the twenty-six acres of land that remained attached to the estate with the intent of creating a housing community. The Borough of Rose Valley rarely allows housing developments within its boundaries. The borough agreed to allow the developer to construct a higher density townhouse community with the condition that half of the property remained as open space and notable trees and buildings would be protected and preserved.
Our company was brought in by the new estate owners with the intent to repurpose the historical artifacts found throughout the site and to restore the gardens to their previous state of glory. The developer gave the estate owner permission to remove any salvageable stone and plantings that would be lost in during construction. In addition to the many salvaged shrubs and trees, over 20 mature trees from our nursery were hand selected and transplanted onto the estate. The result is a landscape that responds to the age of the house while providing critical screening from the surrounding development.
Trees shading the formal gardens and untamed undergrowth swarming garden bed remnants were proof that the gardens had not received any maintenance for at least ten years_ Garden beds were purged and then reinstated by adding new boxwood varieties that are more resistant to the diseases that were crippling existing boxwoods. Transplanted peonies and irises now burst into bloom around the repaired central garden fountain in springtime followed by an array of lilies and lavender in the summer.
A spectrum of over 120 different plant species was selected for the estate in order to provide year round interest. Amsonia's lavender blue flowers steal the show early in the spring and its leaves celebrate autumn by turning a brilliant yellow. Different daylily species were chosen with staggered bloom times to enlighten the gardens with their colorful manner. Japanese Stewartia was selected to enhance the diversity and compliment other mature trees as it decorates the landscape throughout the season with flowers, foliage, and intricate bark patterns.
The remnant stone foundations of the original pump house were not feasible to restore but held the old grindstone from the mill on the property. The mill grindstone was relocated by crane and incorporated into a new water feature in the formal gardens. The foundations of the pump house were transformed into a ruin garden with multiple water features and lush plantings. Large Haste leaves create a backdrop for the finely detailed leaves of ferns growing from cracks in the stone walls.
Eroding slopes near the studio guest house threatened its longevity and needed to be stabilized. More than 400 tons of large boulders were brought in to stabilize the steep bank near the studio building. A crane was used to lift the boulders as each stone was individually placed into the bank. Gro-low Fragrant Sumac and Cutleaf Stephanandra were especially useful in retaining soil on the steep bank while providing wonderful interest throughout the seasons.
Any visiting guest will feel at home with their own private gather spaces connected to the studio. Views of the landscape are enjoyed off the back grilling patio of the studio guest house. Native Switchgrass and Northern Sea Oats are planted in the nearby embankment. They rustle in the wind all summer long and come fall highlight the landscape with seed heads. Pink Muhly Grass contrasts against the yellow leaves of Yucca filamentosa 'Golden Sword' as they mark the staircase that descends the hill to the observation terrace.
The seamless blend of old and new features on the site was possible through the dedication of the new owners, designers, arid laborers working to preserve, restore, and enhance the works of outstanding craftsmen created a century ago. The result is a residence in which the sole purpose of its existence is to display and preserve one of the finest arts and crafts estates in the country. This landscape architecture historical restoration project has actualized the grace of a mature landscape in a modern era.
Photo Credit: Stoney Bank Nurseries, Inc.
Find the right local pro for your project
K & D Landscaping, Inc.
Residential home in Santa Cruz, CA
This stunning front and backyard project was so much fun! The plethora of K&D's scope of work included: smooth finished concrete walls, multiple styles of horizontal redwood fencing, smooth finished concrete stepping stones, bands, steps & pathways, paver patio & driveway, artificial turf, TimberTech stairs & decks, TimberTech custom bench with storage, shower wall with bike washing station, custom concrete fountain, poured-in-place fire pit, pour-in-place half circle bench with sloped back rest, metal pergola, low voltage lighting, planting and irrigation! (*Adorable cat not included)
Berry Outdoor Living, Inc.
You can't see the size of this water feature with the life-sized bear sculpture catching a fish! See in a very natural 17 acre estate, we had to work hard to blend the husband's affinity with nature and the wife's love of little spots to sit and visit with friends or sip coffee in the morning. What emerged was a functional, small flagstone patio (see the seat in the back); some colorful pots placed around the garden. The space tended to be more functional, with large patios and walks closer to the home and more natural with the landscaping becoming more lush the further away from the home. This is the spot where the two meet.
Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Values:
Any given Landscape Architect or Landscape Designer may have a different approach, but Landscape Designer and Landscape Contractor, Brett Berry of Berry Outdoor Living creates living areas that feel connected to the home. As a Landscape Designer and Landscape Contractor working with a Landscape Architect, we try to create the space so it feels relaxed. It should feel like it's been in place with the home for years and not an "add-on".
As a Landscape Contractor that merges old and new construction into the landscape design, the goal is to build a space people want to spend time, whether at the bar of the outdoor kitchen, fire pit, patio, or covered porch. When a space becomes a large part of the homeowners' daily life, a Landscape Architect or Landscape Designer, or Landscape Contractor, knows a project has been completed with excellence. I work closely with a Landscape Architect through the design process to ensure the space has the correct "feel".
A Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer must design the space to flow from the inside of the home out. The patio and outdoor living space feels like an extension of the home, or another "room" of the home and feels wrapped with fresh, low-maintenance landscaping.
In Kansas City patio, and landscaping design, there is a clear trend toward a cleaner, more defined look influenced by a more modern era viewpoint that values a non-cluttered look and feel. So, as a Landscape Contractor, in our circle of clients, we've seen a definite shift toward cleaner, artisan-crafted backyards and fewer "boxy", shrub-heavy yards. A Landscape Architect with a keen sense designs this effect.
Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Design, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Plan, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer style, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer feel, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Kansas City, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Overland Park, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Mission Hills, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Lee's Summit, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Lenexa, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Shawnee, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Olathe, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Riss Lake, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Tiffany, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Loch Lloyd, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Lionsgate, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Deer Creek, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Ward Parkway, Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer Cedar Creek
http://www.berryolc.com/kansas_city_landscaping.html
Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design
outdoor living space, pergolas, trellis, arbors, outdoor seating, flagstone hardscaping, stone walkway
Traditional garden in Portland with with rock feature and river rock.
Traditional garden in Portland with with rock feature and river rock.
Southern Landscape
A small front yard designed and constructed by Southern Landscape. Prior to construction, this short, steep slope up from the street was both an erosion and safety issue. The only access was down the steep driveway. Southern Landscape designed and installed a series of retaining walls to minimize erosion and a custom staircase to provide access to the street and mailbox.
SURROUNDS Landscape Architecture + Construction
The project was a complete rear renovation involving a new swimming pool, patio areas, fireplace, outdoor kitchen, deck renovation, and surrounding landscape, and lighting.
The site was very challenging due to very steep slopes and a limited amount of land area to accomplish the overall goals of the project. Those were lawn areas for the kids to play as well as patio space for entertainment and a swimming pool. Due to county requirements, multiple infiltration trenches were needed to accommodate the Chesapeake Bay ordinances.
Photography: Morgan Howarth. Landscape Architect: Chad Talton, Surrounds Inc.
Klopf Architecture
Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects, and Flegels Construction updated a classic Eichler open, indoor-outdoor home. Expanding on the original walls of glass and connection to nature that is common in mid-century modern homes. The completely openable walls allow the homeowners to truly open up the living space of the house, transforming it into an open air pavilion, extending the living area outdoors to the private side yards, and taking maximum advantage of indoor-outdoor living opportunities. Taking the concept of borrowed landscape from traditional Japanese architecture, the fountain, concrete bench wall, and natural landscaping bound the indoor-outdoor space. The Truly Open Eichler is a remodeled single-family house in Palo Alto. This 1,712 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom is located in the heart of the Silicon Valley.
Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Geoff Campen, and Angela Todorova
Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects
Structural Engineer: Brian Dotson Consulting Engineers
Contractor: Flegels Construction
Photography ©2014 Mariko Reed
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Year completed: 2014
Randy & Ray's LLC
Add interest to a sloping landscape with natural stacked stone retaining wall and flagstone steps.
Photo: Randy & Ray's LLC
Design ideas for an expansive traditional sloped full sun formal garden for summer in Jacksonville with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.
Design ideas for an expansive traditional sloped full sun formal garden for summer in Jacksonville with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.
Wagner Hodgson
North Cove Residence
Shelburne, Vermont
We worked very closely with the architect to create a multi-generational home for grandparents, their daughter and 2 grandchildren providing both common and private outdoor space for both families. The 12.3 acre site sits facing north on the shore of Lake Champlain and has over 40 feet of grade change from the point of entry down to the lakeshore and contains many beautiful mature trees of hickory, maple, ash and butternut. The site offered opportunities to nestle the two houses into the slope, creating the ability for the architecture to step, providing a logical division of space for the two families to share. The landscape creates private areas for each family while also becoming the common fabric that knits the 2 households together. The natural terrain, sloping east to west, and the views to Lake Champlain became the basis for arranging volumes on the site. Working together the landscape architect and architect chose to locate the houses and outdoor spaces along an arc, emulating the shape of the adjacent bay. The eastern / uphill portion of the site contains a common entry point, pergola, auto court, garage and a one story residence for the grandparents. Given the northern climate this southwest facing alcove provided an ideal setting for pool, utilizing the west house and retaining wall to shield the lake breezes and extending the swimming season well into the fall.
Approximately one quarter of the site is classified as wetland and an even larger portion of the site is subject to seasonal flooding. The site program included a swimming pool, large outdoor terrace for entertaining, year-round access to the lakefront and an auto court large enough for guest parking and to serve as a place for grandchildren to ride bikes. In order to provide year-round access to the lake and not disrupt the natural movement of water, an elevated boardwalk was constructed of galvanized steel and cedar. The boardwalk extends the geometry of the lakeside terrace walls out to the lake, creating a sculptural division between natural wetland and lawn area.
Architect: Truex Cullins & Partners Architects
Image Credit: Westphalen Photography
The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association
Residential Installation, Merit Award by Oakland Design, Columbus, OH. The clients in this landscape wished to transform their neglected walled area into an elegant and formal parterre garden. Strong lines and symmetry are the cornerstones of the design, with vertical and horizontal elements emphasized throughout. Structured boxwood complement the vertical lines of flowering magnolia and Frans Fountaine Hornbeam trees, while various perennials provide multi-seasonal appeal. From the client’s residence, the bluestone path leads you into the center of the bisecting stone walkway and highlights the existing trees. To the left, the reconstructed arbor mirrors the elements of the archway. The bench beneath the arch, tucked against the exterior wall, provides a clear view of the balanced plant selections and a quiet, meditative space for the client.
River Valley Landscapes
This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties.
Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door.
Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens.
On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining.
The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to.
The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.
The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals
This august negative edge pool was built between a rock and a hard place. We built the pool on a steep topographical slope. I decided to build a radius footing under the radius weir wall prior to building the pool. We installed vertical rebar precisely where we would build the radius weir wall so that we could secure the weir wall to the footing. We used all indigenous stone on the veneers. The excavation required a fair amount of rock hammering. Every bit of rock was used on site. If you note the rim, it is composed of a field stone that was chiseled on site to produce a smooth, level and even spill. From downhill, the pool is equally spectacular in that all the walls are finished with indigenous field stone. This project was designed in house. Because of the topographical slope, the landscape begged for a negative edge. The home owner wanted a naturalistic setting. The indigenous veneer stone was used on all walls and rim coping. The patio is composed of Norwegian Buff stone, which is a natural cleft green, gold, brown hard stone but soft in color. The coping was bull nosed in order to soften the long lines. This pool is harmonious with the whole mature landscape. The vista from the pool was focused on the landscape afar and the reservoir. The home owner said to me that the project was dead if we had to cut down trees. I was forced to work around run of the mill evergreens. We were facing a wetland setback to one side, a rear yard setback to another side and a customer who insisted that we not cut down trees. I personally appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals to argue the case that we needed relief because of constraints some real and imposed. I positioned and designed the pool on a steep slope because there were no trees. Once I committed the design to the steep slope, I incorporated all of the natural landscape settings into the poolscape.The pool is detached from the home. We build numerous natural steps to transition from house elevation to pool elevation. From the house the steps are less formal. As the walkway meanders through the wooded tree setting, the pathway was designed to be casual and inviting in order to create a garden space that was independent of the poolscape below but tangent. As you approach the pool, we built a structured all natural stone and Norwegian Buff grand stair with piers and lights that opens up to the poolscape. We incorporated a simple cabana and outdoor kitchen. We built wing walls on the far side to accentuate the rim of the negative edge and to provide a safety barrier between the patio and the elevation below. In the wing walls, there are fountains that are cascading opposite to the negative edge. The catch pool is 5 above grade and finished in indigenous stone. We specifically designed the catch pool walls to satisfy the barrier requirement into the catch pool.
Decorative Landscaping
This Lawn had a large slope from the home to the property line- but the homeowner wanted a flat play area for their children. We excavated out the dirt and created this split level with Granite boulders and a stone slab staircase.
Rock Paper Clippers
I love the way everything is balanced.
Large contemporary backyard garden in San Francisco.
Large contemporary backyard garden in San Francisco.
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design
Years ago, Exterior Worlds was contacted by a couple by the names of Rick and Susan Ashcroft. They asked if we could do something about the lagoon-style swimming pool that had been built behind their house in the late1940s. This style had been very popular at that time, and it is still a favored by some of the world’s more lavish resorts. However, ever since the day they had purchased their home, the Ashcroft’s had always been agitated by the ostentatiousness of the whole thing, and had finally decided to have it redesigned as a natural swimming pool. They wanted their back yard to retain the feeling of a tropical locale, but lose the touristic element in favor of that of a cozier, more private corner of paradise.
We agreed with their sentiments wholeheartedly. Just a cursory glance at the property confirmed that a natural swimming pool design was a much better fit for the grade of the landscape and the surrounding opportunities for vegetation and lighting. The Ashcroft residence was located on the side of a hill that sloped down toward a ravine, and the house itself house was built 40 feet back from the road. The steep grade of the land posed construction challenges to any type of water feature, but there was a way to build a natural swimming pool here that would achieve the aesthetic the Ashcroft’s were seeking and create a lasting element that required only limited and very intermittent periods of maintenance.
We began by stripping the pool down to its shell and building a retaining wall that offset the grade of the land. We shaped the surrounding earth around it into a much deeper basin that would allow water to collect naturally like it does at the base of a cliff. A series of interlocking pavers was laid around the perimeter to create a flat surface that extended from the back of the home to the retaining wall. This is a standard aesthetic used in most natural swimming pools, but it also served a special, practical purpose in this instance. Since this area was subject to heavy land erosion from runoff rainwater, pavers provided a very efficient way of reconstructing key elements of the structure every 5-10 years.
The natural swimming pool now appeared as an inviting portal into a remote hill country getaway, just a stone’s throw away from the back of the house. We made it easier to reach by building two series of stone steps that led down to either side of the water’s edge. We were careful to avoid making them look too much like stairs. Instead, we designed them to closely mimic the layers of rock that often jut from the sides of mountains and dormant volcanoes on islands all over the Pacific. To further develop this theme, we placed a large flat stone to serve as a diving area, and we created a waterfall on either side of it by laying down stones in a manner that created varying speeds of water.
Our construction methods here were very unique in comparison to those of our competitors. We took almost a month to consciously and deliberately lay each stone by hand. While this may seem painstakingly detailed to some, the rewards were astonishing, because our natural swimming pool mimicked Nature in such a way that it lacked almost all evidence of human engineering, and looked virtually identical to something you would stumble upon in the jungle of a tropical paradise.
If you are interested in any high-quality landscape services, Exterior Worlds has been providing the high-end residential landscape services and garden design services discussed above for the Houston and the surrounding areas including memorial villages (Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hunter Creek Village), Tanglewood, River Oaks, West University and the greater Houston (Hou), area since 1987. Contact us at 713-827-2255 For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.
Residential Steep Slope Landscaping - Photos & Ideas | Houzz
Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association
Stoney Bank Nurseries, Inc. http://www.stoneybanknurseries.com/
Project Entry: Restoration of Rose Valley Farm
2013 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner
Category: Residential $60,000 & Over
Award Level: Gold
Project Description:
Rose Valley Farm is an irreplaceable part of local identity and pride as much as it is a testament to the development of distinctive American design and craftsmanship. Our challenge was to restore this historic landscape to former glory while seamlessly blending desired amenities. This landscape architecture restoration project has preserved the work of our predecessors by creating a living document and preserving arguably the finest example of the arts and crafts movement in America.
In 1901 Quaker architect William Lightfoot Price founded the Rose Valley Association to save and encourage the continuation of craftsmanship in response to the Industrial Revolution. In support of Price's experiment, Mr. and Mrs. Charles T Schoen purchased the estate and commissioned Price to transform the existing cottage into an elegant villa. After Schoen's death, Maurice and Adele Saul purchased the property. The property and villa was retained in a family trust after Saul's death in 1974.
In 2005, a developer purchased the estate and the twenty-six acres of land that remained attached to the estate with the intent of creating a housing community. The Borough of Rose Valley rarely allows housing developments within its boundaries. The borough agreed to allow the developer to construct a higher density townhouse community with the condition that half of the property remained as open space and notable trees and buildings would be protected and preserved.
Our company was brought in by the new estate owners with the intent to repurpose the historical artifacts found throughout the site and to restore the gardens to their previous state of glory. The developer gave the estate owner permission to remove any salvageable stone and plantings that would be lost in during construction. In addition to the many salvaged shrubs and trees, over 20 mature trees from our nursery were hand selected and transplanted onto the estate. The result is a landscape that responds to the age of the house while providing critical screening from the surrounding development.
Trees shading the formal gardens and untamed undergrowth swarming garden bed remnants were proof that the gardens had not received any maintenance for at least ten years_ Garden beds were purged and then reinstated by adding new boxwood varieties that are more resistant to the diseases that were crippling existing boxwoods. Transplanted peonies and irises now burst into bloom around the repaired central garden fountain in springtime followed by an array of lilies and lavender in the summer.
A spectrum of over 120 different plant species was selected for the estate in order to provide year round interest. Amsonia's lavender blue flowers steal the show early in the spring and its leaves celebrate autumn by turning a brilliant yellow. Different daylily species were chosen with staggered bloom times to enlighten the gardens with their colorful manner. Japanese Stewartia was selected to enhance the diversity and compliment other mature trees as it decorates the landscape throughout the season with flowers, foliage, and intricate bark patterns.
The remnant stone foundations of the original pump house were not feasible to restore but held the old grindstone from the mill on the property. The mill grindstone was relocated by crane and incorporated into a new water feature in the formal gardens. The foundations of the pump house were transformed into a ruin garden with multiple water features and lush plantings. Large Haste leaves create a backdrop for the finely detailed leaves of ferns growing from cracks in the stone walls.
Eroding slopes near the studio guest house threatened its longevity and needed to be stabilized. More than 400 tons of large boulders were brought in to stabilize the steep bank near the studio building. A crane was used to lift the boulders as each stone was individually placed into the bank. Gro-low Fragrant Sumac and Cutleaf Stephanandra were especially useful in retaining soil on the steep bank while providing wonderful interest throughout the seasons.
Any visiting guest will feel at home with their own private gather spaces connected to the studio. Views of the landscape are enjoyed off the back grilling patio of the studio guest house. Native Switchgrass and Northern Sea Oats are planted in the nearby embankment. They rustle in the wind all summer long and come fall highlight the landscape with seed heads. Pink Muhly Grass contrasts against the yellow leaves of Yucca filamentosa 'Golden Sword' as they mark the staircase that descends the hill to the observation terrace.
The seamless blend of old and new features on the site was possible through the dedication of the new owners, designers, arid laborers working to preserve, restore, and enhance the works of outstanding craftsmen created a century ago. The result is a residence in which the sole purpose of its existence is to display and preserve one of the finest arts and crafts estates in the country. This landscape architecture historical restoration project has actualized the grace of a mature landscape in a modern era.
Photo Credit: Stoney Bank Nurseries, Inc.
User
Photos by ©ThompsonPhotographic.com 2019
A passion for the Southwest inspires one couple to turn their garden into a vibrant showcase for Sonoran Desert flora.
By Nancy Erdmann | Photography by Steve Thompson
For someone who loves to garden and has done so in many areas of the U.S., taking on the challenge of a rocky, boulder-strewn hillside lot in the Sonoran Desert is something that Carey Bertsch relishes. “I was born in Scotland but grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. My husband, Robin, is from Indiana. We have always loved everything about the Southwest. The sunny, arid climate; the lifestyle; the flora; the fauna—they all resonate with us,” she remarks.
As such, the couple, who are based in Colorado, decided to purchase a part-time residence in Arizona. They found a Santa Fe Territorial-style home that’s tucked into the base of a steep slope in North Scottsdale’s Estancia community. Populated with natural boulder outcroppings, the property’s landscape was rudimentary at best. “But we saw the potential and knew it could be so much more,” recalls Carey. She and her husband lived in the house for several years before making any major changes; they recently completed a total exterior remodel.
8