When I sat down for the initial consultation with this client, it immediately felt different than most intakes. They had an appreciation for their older, established neighborhood, understood the architecture at hand and wanted to make sure that I had a grasp on how to meld the outdoor environment to the home. We talked a lot about space, utility and desired components but never once discussed a single detail. Heaven!!

Over the course of four meetings we moved from spit-balling, to a general concept, a more polished concept and then final drawings ready for construction. Bluestone, limestone and cedar comprise most of the hardscape while period plants, with a couple notable exceptions, dominate the softscape.

Hope you enjoy the Before/After, which I sequenced as best I could.

Site design by John Algozzini and Rosa Gonzalez.

After Photography by Mike Crews Photography.

Project Location: LaGrange IL

And finally, the frog. When we were at a design center shopping for place settings, containers and other paraphernalia for the photo shoot we walked by "Aldo" a couple of times. And while my approach is rarely whimsical, I couldn't resist temptation. The client loved it and Aldo the frog is now a permanent conversation piece in the landscape.

Project Materials:

• Pennsylvania bluestone, full-range, natural cleft on a permeable base.
• Wisconsin limestone veneer on the grill island and fire pit.
• Bluestone coping on the gas fire pit.
• Western red cedar on the trellises and arbor.
• Brazilian hardwood on new landing outside of library to match existing deck off kitchen.

Plant Palette:

• Full Moon Maple
• Redbud
• Weeping Redbud
• Canadian Hemlock
• Annabelle Hydrangea
• Invincebelle Spirit II Hydrangea
• Oak leaf Hydrangea
• Common Lilac
• Black Aronia
• Four Astilbe cultivars
• Four Hosta cultivars
• Goatsbeard
• Lady's Mantle
• Pachysandra
• Blackberry Lily
• Peonies