Andrew VanHarken

Indian Mallow(Abutilon palmeri) blooms 10 months out of the year. It's velvety, evergreen silvery foliage and buttery yellow blooms can fade into the background of a native garden in spring, only to steal the show in fall while other natives rest. Lesly Hall Photography

This very social couple were tying the knot and looking to create a space to host their friends and community, while also adding much needed living space to their 900 square foot cottage. The couple had a strong emphasis on growing edible and medicinal plants. With many friends from a community garden project they were involved in and years of learning about permaculture, they wanted to incorporate many of the elements that the permaculture movement advocates for. We came up with a California native and edible garden that incorporates three composting systems, a gray water system, rain water harvesting, a cob pizza oven, and outdoor kitchen. A majority of the materials incorporated into the hardscape were found on site or salvaged within 20-mile of the property. The garden also had amenities like an outhouse and shower for guests they would put up in the converted garage. Coming into this project there was and An old clawfoot bathtub on site was used as a worm composting bin, and for no other reason than the cuteness factor, the bath tub composter had to stay. Added to that was a compost tumbler, and last but not least we erected an outhouse with a composting toilet system (The Nature's Head Composting Toilet). We developed a gray water system incorporating the water that came out of the washing machine and from the outdoor shower to help water bananas, gingers, and canailles. All the down spouts coming off the roof were sent into depressions in the front yard. The depressions were planted with carex grass, which can withstand, and even thrive on, submersion in water that rain events bring to the swaled-out area. Aesthetically, carex reads as a lawn space in keeping with the cottage feeling of the home. As with any full-fledged permaculture garden, an element of natural building needed to be incorporated. So, the heart and hearth of the garden is a cob pizza oven going into an outdoor kitchen with a built-in bench. Cob is a natural building technique that involves sculpting a mixture of sand, soil, and straw around an internal structure. In this case, the internal structure is comprised of an old built-in brick incinerator, and rubble collected on site. Besides using the collected rubble as a base for the cob structure, other salvaged elements comprise major features of the project: the front fence was reconstructed from the preexisting fence; a majority of the stone edging was created by stones found while clearing the landscape in preparation for construction; the arbor was constructed from old wash line poles found on site; broken bricks pulled from another project were mixed with concrete and cast into vegetable beds, creating durable insulated planters while reducing the amount of concrete used ( and they also just have a unique effect); pathways and patio areas were laid using concrete broken out of the driveway and previous pathways. (When a little more broken concrete was needed, we busted out an old pad at another project a few blocks away.) Far from a perfectly polished garden, this landscape now serves as a lush and inviting space for my clients, their friends and family to gather and enjoy each other’s company. Days after construction was finished the couple hosted their wedding reception in the garden—everyone danced, drank and celebrated, christening the garden and the union!

This is an example of a farmhouse landscaping in San Francisco.

Gardenia

Photo by Pete Cadieux
This is an example of a small traditional partial sun front yard landscaping in Boston for spring.

Photo of a mediterranean landscaping in Austin.

In this project the home owner was a furniture importer, so she had an amazing array of decorative elements to add to the design. After spending years traveling through Indonesia and India on buying trips, she wanted a taste of the tropics in her own back yard. We worked together to incorporate her beautiful objects into an undeniably tropical-feeling space. By carefully selecting plants and their placement, we were able to achieve the lush green feel of Bali or Hawaii in the Southern California climate without using a lot of water. After installation, this oasis is alive with birds and dragonflies. Lush green plantings create microclimates around the house that help cool the property on hot days. Integrating edible trees provides the homeowner with pomegranates, several types of guavas, lemons, limes, and bananas. Today, the homeowner rents out her home and garden for photo shoots and weddings.

A butterfly enjoying the annual display. Westhauser Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional backyard landscaping in Milwaukee.

Stain glass mosaic vanity top. Backlit with rope lighting.
Example of a mid-sized eclectic master multicolored tile and mosaic tile bathroom design in Portland with furniture-like cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, a drop-in sink and glass countertops

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional full sun backyard landscaping in Los Angeles.

Inspiration for a tropical nursery remodel in New York

Pittsburgh artist for custom designed hand painted wall murals. Each of these flowers were 7 feet tall by 5 feet wide. Custom mixed paint colors to match the bedding. A beautiful addition to this one of a kind romantic bedroom.

Design ideas for a large contemporary partial sun front yard landscaping in Boston.

Nestled under a canopy of native umbrella pines and capturing panoramic views of the mediterranean and the coast of Eze to the east, this house of stucco, local limestone, wrought iron, and red clay tiles offers a fresh interpretation of the timeless villa tradition of the Côte d’Azure.