Search results for "Extremely examples" in Home Design Ideas

Farmhouse plans usually combine current house plans with country style. This farmhouse is the best option to provide for the growing family. The farmhouse's three bedrooms feature modern materials both inside as well as outside. This house is very cozy and comfortable. Depending on the homeowners' preferences, this home could be built as a traditional house. The porch welcomes visitors to the house and is an important element of this style. The home's formal living room is richly decorated, with a modern fireplace design and separate roofing. The homeowner's bathroom has a private veranda and A modern, spacious bathroom with double vanities, a separate bathtub, shower, and dressing room. The formal dining area is furnished with modern furniture. This house is a great example of country living. It also offers indoor-outdoor living. Modern kitchens offer an island, butler's pantry, dining bar, and elegant cooking space for breakfast. This floor includes a 2-car garage with a mud house, powder room, and laundry area. Upstairs, you will find two bedrooms with orbitals and a bathroom featuring a double sink and a tub. This house is harmonious in terms of lighting and ventilation. This two-story traditional farmhouse is extremely attractive, despite being modestly decorated.

This exclusive full-scale luxury home renovation by HouseHome Interior Design redefines modern living through a complete gut-and-remodel transformation, executed with precision on an exceptionally tight timeline.
Originally a 1971 green-and-brown vintage home, the property was fully reimagined into a sleek, high-tech contemporary residence for a C-level executive at Boeing, who entrusted HouseHome with the vision to create a bespoke, museum-worthy interior environment. Every square inch of the interior and exterior was redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up, delivering a dramatic architectural rebirth anchored in minimalist sophistication and industrial elegance.
The new design showcases custom walnut cabinetry, seamless quartz surfaces, stainless steel metal accents, and a fully opened, reengineered floor plan that maximizes light, flow, and modern functionality. A refined palette of black, crisp white, warm wood tones, and layered greys establishes a timeless yet forward-thinking aesthetic, while top-tier luxury brands and high-performance systems elevate the home into the realm of true modern smart-home living. The result is a high-design, high-tech sanctuary that seamlessly blends architectural minimalism with executive-level luxury.
The client was not only astonished by the speed and precision of execution, but by the extreme level of transformation and artistic vision delivered—solidifying this project as a signature example of HouseHome’s mastery in ultra-luxury modern residential design which has secured many referrals for us.

The homes in Heritage Hills in Chapel Hill, NC are representative of the popularity and explosive growth of American Home Ownership that occurred during the economic expansion that followed the end of WW II. They were designed and built to foster the benefits and sense of “community”, where families could come together and share theirs and their children’s lives. They are typically in very desirable locations within their larger communities, and remodeling them with modern amenities, increasing the performance and efficiency of them, and having them Green Certified (independent third-party verified) makes them extremely attractive to buyers, and helps to raise other property values within the neighborhood.
Green Certified Remodeled Homes offer significant value and advantage in the marketplace over similar homes in their area, which is especially important as a new, younger era of home buyers enter the market. Current trends suggest that younger (as well as many “seasoned”) homeowners are interested in smaller, more efficient (and thus affordable) homes situated closer to shopping, their work, entertainment opportunities, and access to the economic and environmental benefits of mass transit.
These older homes also offer an additional value that is continuing to gain visibility and appreciation in the market place. They were built from lumber from slower-growth trees (denser and harder wood), and as such offer superior structural support compared to the same home built using lumber from today’s faster-growing (softer and less-dense wood) trees.
Robin and Kent had lived in their 2-story Gambrel Roof home in Heritage Hills since 1994. The house was structurally sound, due in large part to the old-growth (and denser) yellow pine that was used in its framing. They loved the quiet neighborhood, its sense of community and amenities, and their home. It suited their life-style and needs; and they had decided that they would remain in the home. It was showing its age, and was in need of general repairs and maintenance, and its energy, water, and indoor air quality performance was continuing to increase their ongoing cost of ownership.
Robin loved the screen porch that looked out on their private and nicely landscaped back yard, but she wanted to be able to use it in the colder months of the year. She was unsatisfied with the kitchen and the mud room / laundry room, and the darkness of other living spaces. A previous water leak in the laundry room had resulted in a large patch of mold that had compromised flooring, wall board, and insulation and contributed to the homes reduced indoor air quality.
The home lacked insulation in the crawl, and inadequate insulation in the attic. The single HVAC unit had been replaced a few years earlier with a more efficient unit, but with a single programmable thermostat control on the first floor and aging and un-insulated ducting, the second floor was often over-heated in the summer months.
The original wood windows had begun to deteriorate and were drafty and inefficient, and the original wood-burning fireplace was an open conduit for escaping conditioned air as well as an inlet for wood-smoke smelling air being pulled into the home. The siding had been replaced a few years earlier with a cement-fiber product, but the exterior wood trim was compromised and beginning to look unsightly. Its original architecture had been altered over the years in ways that presented ongoing maintenance and durability issues, as well as disrupting the elegance of the original design.
Kent has worked for over 30 years in the Environmental Sciences field, and is considered to be a national expert in understanding the sources of, and human exposure to pollutants in indoor environments. He had always been very conscious and cautious about the effects on indoor air quality that the construction, furnishings, and products used in home had on him and his family.
Project Goals
Increase the performance of their home by improving energy efficiency by at least 40% and lowering their natural gas and electric utility costs.
Increase the performance of their home by reducing water usage by at least 40% and lowering the water utility costs.
Increase the comfort of their home that was being compromised by an inadequate HVAC design, inadequate insulation, inefficient and compromised wood windows, and copious air intrusions and drafts.
Improve the healthiness of the homes indoor air quality that was being compromised by an open wood-burning fireplace, and prior water intrusion that had allowed colonies of mold to thrive.
Create a new Kitchen, Family Room, Home Office, Mudroom, and Laundry Room that featured some of the latest designs and trends and harmonized with the rest of the homes charm.
Increase the usefulness and aesthetics of the screened porch by creating a warm and inviting semi-conditioned 3-Season Room that extended the times during the year that it was comfortable.
Introduce day-lighting into areas of the home that were dark and uninviting.
Brighten and harmonize all of the interior finishes.
Protect and restore the exterior of the home with superior-performing products and finishes.
Achieve Gold Level Green Home Certification in conformance with the ICC 700-2012 National Green Building Standards (NGBS).
Find the right local pro for your project

I had the extreme pleasure of taking on my first gender neutral nursery. First time parents often focus on the items sold at baby stores to fill the room, but these great clients allowed me to pull vintage pieces from around their home and turn them into something perfect. The changing table and lamp are examples of those items. Repurposing is a creative way to add function and style to any room. Using a fun print, neutral colors, and pops of reds and greens, I created a beautiful room that was soon filled with the love of a sweet baby girl. Heather Bateman

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Free consultation for landscape design!
Peabody Landscape Group
Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

Extreme kitchen makeover for this classic brick ranch home in Bear Valley. Formerly cramped and outdated, the new space is fresh and sparkling with white shaker cabinets, a lower-profile island and bookshelves that showcase the homeowner's joy of cooking. This is a great example of "out with the old, in with the new"!
David Bradley Cabinetry, Denali door style in Frost White paint and Mocha stain.
Design by Jennie Showers, BKC Kitchen and Bath

This exclusive full-scale luxury home renovation by HouseHome Interior Design redefines modern living through a complete gut-and-remodel transformation, executed with precision on an exceptionally tight timeline.
Originally a 1971 green-and-brown vintage home, the property was fully reimagined into a sleek, high-tech contemporary residence for a C-level executive at Boeing, who entrusted HouseHome with the vision to create a bespoke, museum-worthy interior environment. Every square inch of the interior and exterior was redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up, delivering a dramatic architectural rebirth anchored in minimalist sophistication and industrial elegance.
The new design showcases custom walnut cabinetry, seamless quartz surfaces, stainless steel metal accents, and a fully opened, reengineered floor plan that maximizes light, flow, and modern functionality. A refined palette of black, crisp white, warm wood tones, and layered greys establishes a timeless yet forward-thinking aesthetic, while top-tier luxury brands and high-performance systems elevate the home into the realm of true modern smart-home living. The result is a high-design, high-tech sanctuary that seamlessly blends architectural minimalism with executive-level luxury.
The client was not only astonished by the speed and precision of execution, but by the extreme level of transformation and artistic vision delivered—solidifying this project as a signature example of HouseHome’s mastery in ultra-luxury modern residential design which has secured many referrals for us.

This exclusive full-scale luxury home renovation by HouseHome Interior Design redefines modern living through a complete gut-and-remodel transformation, executed with precision on an exceptionally tight timeline.
Originally a 1971 green-and-brown vintage home, the property was fully reimagined into a sleek, high-tech contemporary residence for a C-level executive at Boeing, who entrusted HouseHome with the vision to create a bespoke, museum-worthy interior environment. Every square inch of the interior and exterior was redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up, delivering a dramatic architectural rebirth anchored in minimalist sophistication and industrial elegance.
The new design showcases custom walnut cabinetry, seamless quartz surfaces, stainless steel metal accents, and a fully opened, reengineered floor plan that maximizes light, flow, and modern functionality. A refined palette of black, crisp white, warm wood tones, and layered greys establishes a timeless yet forward-thinking aesthetic, while top-tier luxury brands and high-performance systems elevate the home into the realm of true modern smart-home living. The result is a high-design, high-tech sanctuary that seamlessly blends architectural minimalism with executive-level luxury.
The client was not only astonished by the speed and precision of execution, but by the extreme level of transformation and artistic vision delivered—solidifying this project as a signature example of HouseHome’s mastery in ultra-luxury modern residential design which has secured many referrals for us.

Project Overview
Ocean Remodel completed a full interior home renovation and outdoor deck construction in Richmond, California, transforming an outdated house into a modern, luxury-designed home built for comfort, functionality, and long-term value.
The original layout did not properly serve the homeowners’ needs, so our team fully reimagined the space — improving flow, usability, and everyday living while delivering premium finishes throughout the entire property.
This project is a great example of how thoughtful design and expert craftsmanship can completely redefine a home.
? Full Home Remodeling Scope
Interior Layout Reconfiguration
Complete interior demolition
Structural and layout redesign
Converted former office into a new full bathroom
Existing bathroom transformed into a dedicated laundry room
Previous laundry area converted into a new nursery room
Improved circulation and functional living spaces
Luxury Kitchen Remodel
Brand-new modern kitchen installation
Custom cabinetry and premium finishes
Updated plumbing, electrical & lighting systems
Clean modern layout designed for everyday use and entertaining
Bathroom Renovations
New luxury bathrooms with modern fixtures
Custom tile installation
High-end finish details and precision installation
Level 5 Interior Finish Throughout
Smooth Level 5 drywall finish across entire home
Professional painting and trim work
Detailed finish carpentry
Perfect wall alignment and seamless transitions
Every surface was completed with extreme attention to detail for homeowners who expect nothing less than perfection.
? New Deck Construction & Outdoor Living
New custom-built backyard deck
Structural framing and reinforcement
Modern outdoor living layout
Designed for entertaining and family use
Durable, low-maintenance materials suitable for California weather
The new deck extends the living space outdoors and creates a seamless indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
✨ Result
The home was completely transformed into a modern luxury residence, combining smart space planning, flawless finishes, and functional outdoor living.
✅ Better layout
✅ Increased home value
✅ Modern family functionality
✅ Indoor-outdoor living upgrade
✅ High-end craftsmanship throughout
This is how your home can look with the right remodeling team.

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Beverly II Carolina showcase home highlights the very best of custom home building in Columbia, South Carolina. The main residence features a thoughtfully designed 2,428-square-foot floor plan offering 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. As a larger, expanded version of our extremely popular Beverly design, this version provides more than enough room to comfortably accommodate life's everyday needs, making it a highly sought-after layout for modern families looking to build on their lot in the Columbia area.
The heart and central hub of the home is the deluxe, open-concept eat-in kitchen. Equipped with a large kitchen island, this open layout flows seamlessly into the main great room and dining room, making it the absolute perfect space for cooking, entertaining family and friends, or managing weeknight homework. The home also features a bright morning room that beautifully captures the day’s first natural light, ensuring that relaxing and unwinding are always right at your doorstep. For ultimate flexibility, a dedicated main-floor flex room is open to your interpretation, serving perfectly as a quiet home office or formal den.
The private quarters of the home are designed with true luxury in mind, led by a massive owner's retreat that offers a peaceful escape from the daily grind. The master bedroom features an elegant vaulted tray ceiling, adding a striking architectural detail that creates an elevated sense of volume and luxury. The attached primary bathroom includes the ever-popular dual vanities and dual walk-in closets for maximum storage efficiency. On the second level, a versatile bonus room provides the perfect spot for a children's playroom, a private home workout room, or an active game room. Blending timeless Carolina charm with modern functionality, this Beverly II design is an exceptional example of premium quality craftsmanship.

Farmhouse plans usually combine current house plans with country style. This farmhouse is the best option to provide for the growing family. The farmhouse's three bedrooms feature modern materials both inside as well as outside. This house is very cozy and comfortable. Depending on the homeowners' preferences, this home could be built as a traditional house. The porch welcomes visitors to the house and is an important element of this style. The home's formal living room is richly decorated, with a modern fireplace design and separate roofing. The homeowner's bathroom has a private veranda and A modern, spacious bathroom with double vanities, a separate bathtub, shower, and dressing room. The formal dining area is furnished with modern furniture. This house is a great example of country living. It also offers indoor-outdoor living. Modern kitchens offer an island, butler's pantry, dining bar, and elegant cooking space for breakfast. This floor includes a 2-car garage with a mud house, powder room, and laundry area. Upstairs, you will find two bedrooms with orbitals and a bathroom featuring a double sink and a tub. This house is harmonious in terms of lighting and ventilation. This two-story traditional farmhouse is extremely attractive, despite being modestly decorated.

This exclusive full-scale luxury home renovation by HouseHome Interior Design redefines modern living through a complete gut-and-remodel transformation, executed with precision on an exceptionally tight timeline.
Originally a 1971 green-and-brown vintage home, the property was fully reimagined into a sleek, high-tech contemporary residence for a C-level executive at Boeing, who entrusted HouseHome with the vision to create a bespoke, museum-worthy interior environment. Every square inch of the interior and exterior was redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up, delivering a dramatic architectural rebirth anchored in minimalist sophistication and industrial elegance.
The new design showcases custom walnut cabinetry, seamless quartz surfaces, stainless steel metal accents, and a fully opened, reengineered floor plan that maximizes light, flow, and modern functionality. A refined palette of black, crisp white, warm wood tones, and layered greys establishes a timeless yet forward-thinking aesthetic, while top-tier luxury brands and high-performance systems elevate the home into the realm of true modern smart-home living. The result is a high-design, high-tech sanctuary that seamlessly blends architectural minimalism with executive-level luxury.
The client was not only astonished by the speed and precision of execution, but by the extreme level of transformation and artistic vision delivered—solidifying this project as a signature example of HouseHome’s mastery in ultra-luxury modern residential design which has secured many referrals for us.

Farmhouse plans usually combine current house plans with country style. This farmhouse is the best option to provide for the growing family. The farmhouse's three bedrooms feature modern materials both inside as well as outside. This house is very cozy and comfortable. Depending on the homeowners' preferences, this home could be built as a traditional house. The porch welcomes visitors to the house and is an important element of this style. The home's formal living room is richly decorated, with a modern fireplace design and separate roofing. The homeowner's bathroom has a private veranda and A modern, spacious bathroom with double vanities, a separate bathtub, shower, and dressing room. The formal dining area is furnished with modern furniture. This house is a great example of country living. It also offers indoor-outdoor living. Modern kitchens offer an island, butler's pantry, dining bar, and elegant cooking space for breakfast. This floor includes a 2-car garage with a mud house, powder room, and laundry area. Upstairs, you will find two bedrooms with orbitals and a bathroom featuring a double sink and a tub. This house is harmonious in terms of lighting and ventilation. This two-story traditional farmhouse is extremely attractive, despite being modestly decorated.

Reference: ST607-US
Model: DALAOS
Shape: Rectangular
Color: trendy gray
Finish: honed inside and outside
US Dimensions: 72"x36"x2-1/3"
EU Dimensions: 183x91x6cm
US Drain size: 3-1/2" - 90mm
Drain location: length or width
Material: Trendy gray granite grade A
Weight: 390 lbs - 177 Kgs
DALAOS is a French style rectangular Genuine Natural stone Shower Base - 72"x36"x2-1/3" - made in genuine interior decoration little flower trendy gray granite. The "Exceptional" cut in the block without any comparison with plastic and other chemical resin market often unaffordable. You will definitely not let anyone feel indifferent with this 100% natural stone piece of heaven, unique in the US and exclusively available on Living'ROC.net.
Are you dreaming of a spacious shower? Do you replace your bathtub?
This large piece of stone cut from a block of Granite is preformed to create an effective water slope to the drain giving it a groovy, modern look. This unique creation from LivingRoc add style, beauty and sophistication to your bathroom and its honed finish gives a satin-feel, smooth and velvety to the touch. Made from Granite DALAOS is extremely resistant to shocks, scratches and daily use. The shower base is build to last a very long time. We are also taking good care of your comfort and security ensuring reliable, non slip products.
If you wish to standardize your project, you can choose among a wide range of trendy gray vessel sink in granite carved from the same material as for example models Dune, Bali, Torrence...
Our creation DALAOS is delivered without a drain (not included) and without a granite cover which is only compatible with the European Market especially in France - every US drains models you can find on the market will fit perfectly on Living'ROC shower bases

Reference: TB202BM-US
Model: KALOO BLACK
Color: Absolute Black (available in gray)
Photos: Portfolio
Shape: Rectangular + Faucet
Finish: Honed inside and outside
US Dimensions: 15-3/4" x 9"
US Drain size: standard hole size (1.5")
Material: Mongolia black Basalt grade A
Weight: 44 lbs - 20 Kgs
KALOO BLACK 15-3/4" x 9" is the smallest Natural stone wash hands basin made in a genuine interior decoration trendy absolute Mongolia black with a simple and useful style, carved from a block of Lava Stone. Its shape, matte finish, without forgetting its very convenient slope give KALOO BLACK harmony and serenity. Doubly waterproofed by our care this model is ready to use.
You will definitely not let anyone feel indifferent with this 100% natural stone unique in the US and exclusively available on Living'ROC.net.
if you wish to standardize your project, you can choose among a wide range of black shower bases in black granite or black mongolia basalt (very similar color) carved from the same material (similar tones and finishes) as for example black granite models Spacium Shadow, Palaos shadow, Quasar shadow or Dalaos shadow and mongolia black models Serena Black, Corail Black
KALOO BLACK is delivered without an overflow drain (not included) - every US drains models you can find on the market will fit perfectly on Living'ROC vessel sink. This model is ready to use over the countertop.
The photos you see online have been taken with extreme care, because without them we would not be one of the natural stone business key player of the online European continent. Once you have encountered the product in your home you will always have pure happiness for the love of the materials. It will be beyond your expectations because what you see online at livingroc.net is what you will receive.This is why we always guarantee a degree of quality (Grade A) and impeccable finish as can attest with the reviews filed by our customers. However, we draw your attention to the fact that many sellers online do not hesitate to name their product black shanxi for black granite with common G684 black basalt photos - it is like if you were to compare a Ferrari with a regular car.
How to make your bathroom unique! Discover the well-being and the restful feeling our creation can give you.

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Free consultation for landscape design!
Peabody Landscape Group
Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

This exclusive full-scale luxury home renovation by HouseHome Interior Design redefines modern living through a complete gut-and-remodel transformation, executed with precision on an exceptionally tight timeline.
Originally a 1971 green-and-brown vintage home, the property was fully reimagined into a sleek, high-tech contemporary residence for a C-level executive at Boeing, who entrusted HouseHome with the vision to create a bespoke, museum-worthy interior environment. Every square inch of the interior and exterior was redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up, delivering a dramatic architectural rebirth anchored in minimalist sophistication and industrial elegance.
The new design showcases custom walnut cabinetry, seamless quartz surfaces, stainless steel metal accents, and a fully opened, reengineered floor plan that maximizes light, flow, and modern functionality. A refined palette of black, crisp white, warm wood tones, and layered greys establishes a timeless yet forward-thinking aesthetic, while top-tier luxury brands and high-performance systems elevate the home into the realm of true modern smart-home living. The result is a high-design, high-tech sanctuary that seamlessly blends architectural minimalism with executive-level luxury.
The client was not only astonished by the speed and precision of execution, but by the extreme level of transformation and artistic vision delivered—solidifying this project as a signature example of HouseHome’s mastery in ultra-luxury modern residential design which has secured many referrals for us.

Here are some practical tips for creating a beautiful, comfortable and thoughtful living room design.
The living room in the house is the place where, as the name suggests, receives guests. However, the owners themselves relax here, spending time in front of the TV or a book, with drinks, pleasant conversation and other activities. Therefore, the living room should be the most comfortable place in your home.
The place of the sofa in the design of the living room
The sofa does not need to be placed in a draft. This means that it should not be on an imaginary line from window to door - if you drew a floor plan, it will just be easy to trace.
1. The sofa in front of the TV, diagonally from the door, is a great location. As if inviting you to sit down :)
2. Sofa near the door. A good solution if you often have overnight guests.
3. Corner sofa in the living room. Best placed in the farthest corner from the door. This will make the room look more spacious.
Correct opening of the door in the living room. Inward or outward?
Open inward or outward? There is no clear rule here, because everything depends on the layout and on the furniture placed. The main thing is that the door leaf opens freely and does not interfere with entering and exiting the room. Also, the door should not interfere with free access to the closet or dressing room.
TV in living room size and location. Location.
The TV is placed on the wall opposite to the sofa - this is the most logical and reasonable place for it in the living room. Moreover, the distance to it does not really matter: modern TV models can be placed close to the sofa.
Cabinet or bracket? To your taste. The main thing is that the television zone looks neat and presentable. Provide in advance a cable channel in which all the wires and numerous sockets for the receiver, modem, set-top box, sound bar will hide. Nothing spoils a design like sticking wires!
Height from the floor. It is optimal to place the TV 1 m from the floor to the middle of the screen - this is exactly the level of the eyes of a seated person.
Diagonal size. If there is a financial opportunity, consider options from 50 inches - smaller screens look lonely and lonely on an empty wall.
Living room furniture.
Armchair. Often the chair becomes an accent item in the interior, then its shade, and sometimes its shape, differ from the rest of the furniture. When choosing a chair, be guided also by your habits: for example, it will be more convenient to climb up with your feet and read a book in an armchair with dimensions of 90x90 cm, and you can “just sit comfortably” in a fireplace chair with a high back, comfortable armrests and with a seat 80x80 cm.
TV stand. Large TV stands are no longer as relevant as they used to be, when it was necessary to store a player, cassettes and discs there. For now, a console table or a narrow elegant pedestal is enough.
Coffee table. Nice piece of furniture that creates a cozy atmosphere. Some models, if necessary, can be transformed into a more spacious table for receiving guests - however, finding comfortable and beautiful specimens is not easy, plus they usually cost a lot.
Rack. An extremely useful type of furniture. :) Firstly, a large number of decor items can be beautifully placed on the rack. And secondly, it can also play the role of a light through partition, which divides the room into zones and does not select light at the same time. This is a very big plus for small apartments.
Fireplace. Here we are talking about electric fireplaces. Some of them come with a humidifier and heated, so 3-in-1 models can be very helpful. Fireplace portals have different styles: classic, antique, modern. Inconsistency with the general style of the living room can greatly spoil the impression of the room, so be careful with creativity. Sizing is an important issue. A large wall with a high ceiling also needs a proportionate fireplace; in horror, a small portal will look lonely and ridiculous.
What do you think about our new living room project?
https://www.ferriss.co
#ferriss #We_bring_objects_to_life #3drendering #architecture #San_Francisco

Terren Landscapes http://www.terrenlandscapes.com
2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner
Category: Residential $60,000-$120,000
Award Level: Silver
Project Description:
We were contracted by the family to create a master plan for the property. They
were experiencing extreme drainage and erosion problems due to the surrounding properties’
drastic grade changes. Erosion had caused the rear lawn to sink in various areas and the existing
rear patio spaces were failing. The client wanted to rebuild their patios and walkways, repave
their driveway and give their home more visual appeal. Most importantly, they wanted an
environmentally friendly solution.
Our design solution was to create a rain garden that would slow storm water runoff, allow
for percolation, and promote infiltration, while permitting excess clean water to enter the storm
drain at the street with slower velocity. The rain garden acts as a temporary holding space that
allows the earth to slowly absorb water, rather than overwhelm the nearby storm drain. Our first
objective was to conduct a percolation test to determine the amount of clay soil that needed to be
removed before reaching the sandy loam layer. A percolation test and storm water calculations
were generated to accommodate a 1” rain event. Based on our calculations and the small size of
the property, we determined a depth of 18” was necessary for optimal holding capacity. We
removed 18” of clay soil until a layer of sandy loam was encountered. Next, the soil was amended
with compost and sand to create a highly porous planting media for the basin of the garden. We
piped the three existing rear downspouts to the rain garden area to capture for infiltration and
alleviate runoff throughout the rear lawn and patio space. We installed an 18” wide over-flow
standpipe at a 24” depth into the ground that outlets to a stone swale that carries the water to the
property edge. As an added means of holding the maximum amount of water, we designed the
standpipe to sit 14” above grade. The height of this standpipe allows this rain garden to capture
14” of water before reaching the overflow capacity. We placed geotextile fabric to help reduce
migration of the stones into the soil and aid in the prevention of weeds and erosion. We heavily
planted the rain garden to further aid in absorption and to attract local wildlife. A native plant
palette of butterfly weed, Panicum, Joe-Pye weed, and asters form a colorful backdrop while the
basin was filled with obligate wetland plants such as royal ferns, irises and cardinal flowers. The
upper edges in the foreground are planted with Echinacea, Rudbeckia and Monarda, satisfying
the local bird community and adding bright seasonal colors. This garden effectively collects and
cleanses rainwater while creating a habitat for birds, frogs, and butterflies.
Our next challenge was to redesign the existing patios and walkways without increasing
impervious surfaces. According to township regulations this property was currently at its
maximum capacity, therefore we designed the front and rear patios with a slightly smaller
footprint to decrease their existing impervious surfaces.
New planting beds were designed throughout the entire property. Plants were chosen that
were tolerant of specific site conditions. For the rear yard, we choose a backdrop of witch hazel
and hollies to provide an evergreen screen as well as early spring color. We placed hydrangea
throughout to add summer color. We planted ostrich fern under the existing spruce tree to create
a lush floor. This area became an additional backdrop for the rain garden as well as a screen for
the neighboring property. We choose a combination of ‘Blue Star’ juniper and creeping jenny to
soften the existing rear wall with creepers. Around the rear patio areas we choose a combination
of Liatris, Rudbeckia and ‘Lo and Behold’ butterfly bush. This combination of plants works in
harmony with the rain garden and attracts additional butterflies.
For the front of the property we worked with an existing Japanese maple that provided
dense shade. We choose a shade-tolerant combination of Heuchera, Astilbe, ferns and hostas for
this area. We added more hydrangeas to the front foundation of the house to provide lush
layering of plant material and visual interest with additional summer blooms.
Overall, we were able to exceed the client’s needs and expectations in transforming their
property into a colorful paradise that attracts wildlife from season to season. The plant palette
provides seasonal interest and the rain garden has successfully decreased storm water runoff.
The new hardscape surfaces were designed and built with a slightly smaller footprint to decrease
impervious surfaces. This project is a positive example of how all properties, regardless of size,
can make an ecological difference by decreasing impervious surfaces and maintaining proper
storm water management.
Photo Credit:
Terren Landscapes
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