Stylish Sanctuary
2017 Gold Award for Excellence in Residential Landscape Design and Construction - Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association
Our client, a former architect in Poland, had set a high bar for the landscape around her new home. After she made many design decisions that impacted both the interior and exterior of the home, she wanted to work with someone who spoke the same design language. When she found out the owner of our firm had a degree in architecture, she hired us. Her only design guidance for us was to have the landscape reflect her contemporary tastes, not the more traditional flavor of her neighborhood.
We chose concrete as the front walk material for its clean, modern look. The inner and outer panels are centered on the front door, while the three middle panels are offset. Beach pebble runnels separate the panels in the walk. Bold, continuously blooming color is provided by the many perennials, while the grasses and shrubs add structure to the front planting beds.
Long-blooming perennials and flowering shrubs flank both sides of the house, connecting front yard to back yard. Entertaining space was important for our client, including dining, lounging and fire pit areas. A cast concrete gas fire bowl was chosen to fit the contemporary feel our client so wanted, while the paving around the fire bowl is concrete with beach pebble base to mimic the front walk. The simply detailed pergola overhead adds a vertical element to the patio, and further defines the outdoor dining room. Low voltage, LED lighting highlights the landscaping throughout.