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Pro Spotlight: Get a Yard With a Just-for-You Feel
Use indoor design principles to personalize your property, one Chicago landscaper recommends
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Who: John Algozzini of K&D Landscape Management
Where: Chicago
In his own words: “Your garden is for you to use and enjoy. It should come alive and reflect your individual home and personality.”
Like any of the rooms in your home, the success of a backyard or a patio isn’t measured only in the way it looks — it should be functional too. John Algozzini, lead designer at K&D Landscape Management in Chicago, firmly believes that each outdoor space should be personalized to the people who will use it. “There are things you know about your own lifestyle that will lead to the best design for looks and functionality,” he says.
Where: Chicago
In his own words: “Your garden is for you to use and enjoy. It should come alive and reflect your individual home and personality.”
Like any of the rooms in your home, the success of a backyard or a patio isn’t measured only in the way it looks — it should be functional too. John Algozzini, lead designer at K&D Landscape Management in Chicago, firmly believes that each outdoor space should be personalized to the people who will use it. “There are things you know about your own lifestyle that will lead to the best design for looks and functionality,” he says.
Loving landscaping. “It sounds corny, but this is what I was meant to do,” Algozzini says. “I cannot imagine doing anything else. I love hearing what clients tell me and translating it to a design solution. Communicating scale and figuring out space requirements — it’s all paramount to successful design.”
Assessing your lifestyle. The most important part of Algozzini’s job, he says, is understanding how his clients intend to use their outdoor spaces. “That’s why clients rely on a professional,” he says. “Even something as simple as how much you entertain will navigate the design. Do you only host immediate family, or do you have parties 33 times a year? The higher the usage, the grander the project.”
Below, Algozzini explains how your lifestyle — and the inside of your home — can help determine the look of your backyard.
Below, Algozzini explains how your lifestyle — and the inside of your home — can help determine the look of your backyard.
1. Prioritize Function
Before dwelling on the details of your backyard project, nail down the bigger picture. How would you like to utilize the space? “In the beginning, you shouldn’t agonize over the small things,” Algozzini says. “Focus on the concept, then the materials and, finally, the details.” This means you should make your pottery, plant or furniture selections at the end of the remodel.
Before he started this Lincoln Park backyard renovation, Algozzini’s clients briefed him on their top priority: “Believe it or not, the space needed to be open enough for in-line skating. Entertaining was secondary to the 8-year-old having some space to skate around. That guided my vision for the space.”
See more of this project
Before dwelling on the details of your backyard project, nail down the bigger picture. How would you like to utilize the space? “In the beginning, you shouldn’t agonize over the small things,” Algozzini says. “Focus on the concept, then the materials and, finally, the details.” This means you should make your pottery, plant or furniture selections at the end of the remodel.
Before he started this Lincoln Park backyard renovation, Algozzini’s clients briefed him on their top priority: “Believe it or not, the space needed to be open enough for in-line skating. Entertaining was secondary to the 8-year-old having some space to skate around. That guided my vision for the space.”
See more of this project
2. Keep It Rectangular
However enticing it feels, Algozzini says, ignore the instinct to make your patio curvilinear. “Whenever clients tell me they want a free-form patio space, I always ask them how many rooms in their house are curved,” he says. “Almost none! In general, outdoor spaces should be rectilinear because they’re an extension of the interior of the home. Gratuitous curves create wasted space.”
Though the outdoor patio Algozzini built at this home in Lemont is rectangular, that doesn’t mean the area is rigid or that it doesn’t flow organically. “I created three separate gathering spaces: a sitting area, a dining area and a social area,” he says. “I accentuated the flow by creating a hierarchy of space based on usage. The fire pit is the least-used space, so it naturally is the farthest from the door.”
See more of this project
However enticing it feels, Algozzini says, ignore the instinct to make your patio curvilinear. “Whenever clients tell me they want a free-form patio space, I always ask them how many rooms in their house are curved,” he says. “Almost none! In general, outdoor spaces should be rectilinear because they’re an extension of the interior of the home. Gratuitous curves create wasted space.”
Though the outdoor patio Algozzini built at this home in Lemont is rectangular, that doesn’t mean the area is rigid or that it doesn’t flow organically. “I created three separate gathering spaces: a sitting area, a dining area and a social area,” he says. “I accentuated the flow by creating a hierarchy of space based on usage. The fire pit is the least-used space, so it naturally is the farthest from the door.”
See more of this project
3. Mirror Your Home’s Design
Take cues from the features found in your home to guide your landscape renovation. “Many of the homes we work on were built decades ago and have since been worked on many times,” Algozzini says. “You want to create a cohesive space by jumping off features that already exist. You don’t want anything to appear as an afterthought.”
The fence that Algozzini built around this Peterson Park garden was meant to mimic the home’s windowpanes. “Plus, the bench and a couple pieces of the pottery outside are meant to mirror the maroon in the window trim,” he says.
See more of this project
More: For more information on John Algozzini and examples of his work, visit K&D Landscape Management’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Take cues from the features found in your home to guide your landscape renovation. “Many of the homes we work on were built decades ago and have since been worked on many times,” Algozzini says. “You want to create a cohesive space by jumping off features that already exist. You don’t want anything to appear as an afterthought.”
The fence that Algozzini built around this Peterson Park garden was meant to mimic the home’s windowpanes. “Plus, the bench and a couple pieces of the pottery outside are meant to mirror the maroon in the window trim,” he says.
See more of this project
More: For more information on John Algozzini and examples of his work, visit K&D Landscape Management’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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Review by S C:
KD was not the first landscape company we’ve worked with and we spent a fair amount of researching companies before selecting them for a phased residential project. We love to be outside and do a lot ...More
K&D is my favorite local landscape company on Houzz - lots of inspiration! Nice feature - thanks!
Wow, thank you Jules. What a wonderful thing to say about us. I had not previously seen your comment or would have thanked you before!