Water front landscape, plants in nature. All photographs of this project are copyright Robin Lee Reed.
Inspiration for a modern landscaping in Milwaukee.

He wanted a lake house, she wanted a pool. Tucked away on a small cul-de-sac in North Reading is a backyard oasis like no other. “During our initial meeting with the homeowners, it became apparent that they wanted a unique pool, so we suggested a free-form gunite pool surrounded by an indigenous Goshen Stone patio, custom cut to create ultra-tight joints. The stone arrived in huge slabs — most over 5’ x 5’ in size — and varied significantly in thickness. Countless hours were spent cutting, chiseling, and even sandblasting this life-sized jigsaw puzzle. The final look was exactly what we were shooting for.” Russell The pool itself has a dark, pebble finish with a long, custom bench and a simple, spillway stone creating a perfect respite with a calming sound. Surrounding the pool and patio is a lush lawn with large swatches of summertime perennials. The homeowner is an active gardener, so providing him with areas to hone his skills was paramount to our success as a design firm. Large, architectural boulders were carefully arranged throughout the rear yard as both design elements and as functional furniture. A custom-built, wood, wire, and split granite fence meets pool-enclosure requirements and adds that farmhouse-feel to the overall look. Carefully arranged Goshen step stone set flush in the lawn orchestrates movement throughout the garden while connecting the house and pool in a thoughtful, artistic way. No need to travel north to the lake when you’ve got this to enjoy daily — right in your own backyard!

"A gathering place and information center on the town's central waterfront both for arriving cruise ship passengers (nearly 1 million a year from May-September) and for community functions year-round. A key node on the phased development of the waterfront promenade, a continuous pedestrian walkway along the waters' edge through the town's center from the most northerly cruise ship berth to a small boat harbor and fishing jetty about a mile to the south. The simple, linear, permeable plan invites entry from all sides, waterfront and townfront. The space is sheltered by a single gable roof structure of exposed Alaska yellow cedar and decking. Vestibules and entries are accented by lower open timber gable roof forms.The pavilion extends north and south embracing exterior spaces with sculpture, planting, and sitting and eating terraces of recycled wood pier decking that was replaced with concrete and steel dock structure. Visitor services, information, tours, and town history and information with graphic, electronic media, and personal interaction are housed in the structure. Indigenous materials, historic scale and form reflect the context of the town and waterfront maintaining and enhancing view sheds with public art and amenities."

This is an example of a landscaping in Chicago.

PROGRAM: RESIDENTIAL LOCATION: DUNKIRK ESTATE, SALT ROCK, SOUTH AFRICA SIZE: 350m² Located within Dunkirk Estate, this design maximises the potential of the small site. It minimises impact on the surrounding environment by reducing cut and fill. The building opens up to the north and south to maximise natural light and reduce solar heat gain. All windows on the upper ground floor slide away to promote cross ventilation and promote indoor/outdoor living. The large expanse of Low-E glass captures views into the forest from both levels, whilst maintaining a good thermal performance The rainwater collected from the 15000 litre harvesting system will be used to flush toilets and irrigate the landscaping. The indigenous green roof not only reduces heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter, it also serves to visually integrate the built environment with the natural surrounding vegetation. The interiors were designed by Moos Interior Architects.

Vienna Addition Skill Construction & Design, LLC, Design/Build a two-story addition to include remodeling the kitchen and connecting to the adjoining rooms, creating a great room for this family of four. After removing the side office and back patio, it was replaced with a great room connected to the newly renovated kitchen with an eating area that doubles as a homework area for the children. There was plenty of space left over for a walk-in pantry, powder room, and office/craft room. The second story design was for an Adult’s Only oasis; this was designed for the parents to have a permitted Staycation. This space includes a Grand Master bedroom with three walk-in closets, and a sitting area, with plenty of room for a king size bed. This room was not been completed until we brought the outdoors in; this was created with the three big picture windows allowing the parents to look out at their Zen Patio. The Master Bathroom includes a double size jet tub, his & her walk-in shower, and his & her double vanity with plenty of storage and two hideaway hampers. The exterior was created to bring a modern craftsman style feel, these rich architectural details are displayed around the windows with simple geometric lines and symmetry throughout. Craftsman style is an extension of its natural surroundings. This addition is a reflection of indigenous wood and stone sturdy, defined structure with clean yet prominent lines and exterior details, while utilizing low-maintenance, high-performance materials. We love the artisan style of intricate details and the use of natural materials of this Vienna, VA addition. We especially loved working with the family to Design & Build a space that meets their family’s needs as they grow.

The Owners of a home that had been consumed by the moving dunes of Lake Michigan wanted a home that would not only stand the test of aesthetic time, but survive the vicissitudes of the environment. With the assistance of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as well as the consulting civil engineer and the City of Grand Haven Zoning Department, a soil stabilization site plan was developed based on raising the new home’s main floor elevation by almost three feet, implementing erosion studies, screen walls and planting indigenous, drought tolerant xeriscaping. The screen walls, as well as the low profile of the home and the use of sand trapping marrum beachgrass all help to create a wind shadow buffer around the home and reduce blowing sand erosion and accretion. The Owners wanted to minimize the stylistic baggage which consumes most “cottage” residences, and with the Architect created a home with simple lines focused on the view and the natural environment. Sustainable energy requirements on a budget directed the design decisions regarding the SIPs panel insulation, energy systems, roof shading, other insulation systems, lighting and detailing. Easily constructed and linear, the home harkens back to mid century modern pavilions with present day environmental sensitivities and harmony with the site. James Yochum

Outdoor living room featuring hand-crafted furniture made with sustainable hardwood sourced on the property and pillows created with Mola art created by the indigenous Kuna of Panama.

Reference: BB504EW-US Model: BALI WHITE Color: White Shape: rectangular Finish: polished US Dimensions: 23-2/3" x 16-3/4 "x 4-1/3" EU Dimensions: 60 x 40 x 11cm Weight: 51 lbs US Drain size: 1-1/2" Faucet hole size: 1.38" - 35mm Material: Guangxi White marble grade A You will definitely not let anyone feel indifferent with this 100% natural stone unique in the US and exclusively available on Living'ROC.net. This master piece is one of the most fashionable in our bathrooms range and is not only beautiful to look at it is also functional. Living'ROC creations unique bathware products redefine the traditional bathroom space with its sleek, classy design and flowing forms. BALI WHITE natural stone vessel sink - 23"x16" - genuine interior decoration trendy white marble is a beautiful basin made from a superb block of Guangxi White with sleek lines. The sculptured edges and polished finish provides classy and elegant originality. This basin will delight lovers of beautiful work, looking for rare products. Add value to your home by transforming your bathroom into an oasis of elegance, calm, and tranquillity. Discover the well-being and the restful feeling our creation can offer you. All our vessel sinks are the creations of a combined group of talented masons dedicated to the idea of creating bathware made from natural material, which is environmentally friendly. Sealed (Waterproofed) BALI WHITE is ready to use, sitting on a vanity counter top. BALI WHITE is delivered without an overflow drain and faucet (not included) - every US drains and faucets 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 by our Founder CEO - Florent LEPVREAU to give our visitors an idea on how it might looks like. However product may vary from block to block as only mother nature decides what you may receive because each sink is unique. Therefore, we invite you to browse on our product portfolio to see the differences in each piece. We also draw your attention to the fact that veining, crystallization, that may appear to be cracks, but are actually indigenous to the stone, and other variations of colors up to 30% and more sometime (often on marble and onyx) and various stone features make all the charm of the stone and distinguish it from non-natural materials! Torrence White , Bali White, Toji White, Pegasus white, tahiti White, Rondo White are all made and carved from the same Guangxi White Marble and it can't be considered as a pure white as you can see. Our Quality Control photos shown on our portfolio are not available to choose by numbers.

James Golden's Federal Twist garden. Photo by Jay Sifford.

Modern Duplex in the heart of Chelsea hosts a family with a love for art. Corridor dressed with an indigenous art and vintage style bench. Photo Credit: Francis Augustine

Pool - cottage backyard stone and rectangular pool idea in Austin

Perched high above the desert floor, this exclusive community of homes was designed specifically to take full advantage of close indoor/outdoor relationships, to showcase panoramic views and directional breezes. Adjacent mountains sweep across the site, and varied massing combined with rustic stone and wood beams recall historic European hill-towns. Each of the three plans incorporates multiple courtyards and porticos with a centralized, formal entry experience. The interplay of interior volumes articulates natural light and dramatic textures. Public and private spaces have been carefully zoned, to provide pockets of seclusion, balanced with generous entertainment areas. Inclusion of multiple water features combined with indigenous landscape seamlessly blend with the architecture to create a stunning sense of place among the rugged desert terrain. Eldorado Stone featured: Veneto Fieldledge Eldorado Brick featured: Brolio RomaBrick Architect: Steve Sennikoff Architecture Firm: Mark Scheurer Architect Mason: Dan Stringer Masonry

The Owners of a home that had been consumed by the moving dunes of Lake Michigan wanted a home that would not only stand the test of aesthetic time, but survive the vicissitudes of the environment. With the assistance of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as well as the consulting civil engineer and the City of Grand Haven Zoning Department, a soil stabilization site plan was developed based on raising the new home’s main floor elevation by almost three feet, implementing erosion studies, screen walls and planting indigenous, drought tolerant xeriscaping. The screen walls, as well as the low profile of the home and the use of sand trapping marrum beachgrass all help to create a wind shadow buffer around the home and reduce blowing sand erosion and accretion. The Owners wanted to minimize the stylistic baggage which consumes most “cottage” residences, and with the Architect created a home with simple lines focused on the view and the natural environment. Sustainable energy requirements on a budget directed the design decisions regarding the SIPs panel insulation, energy systems, roof shading, other insulation systems, lighting and detailing. Easily constructed and linear, the home harkens back to mid century modern pavilions with present day environmental sensitivities and harmony with the site. Photos by John Allegretti

These customers were from California and had an affinity for the Caribbean…they wanted a pool area that reminded them of their home state, reminded them of the Bahamas, and harmonized with the native Lowcountry natural environment. (Let’s see if an A.I. robot could design that!) It wasn’t a typical customer request, but the couple was happy with the results…and I was happy I was able to pull it off. The spartina salt marsh backdrop is obviously quintessentially “Lowcountry”; I designed the pool area to represent the rocky California coast using colors that represented the various shades of white sand commonly found on the South Carolina coast. What’s more, I added palmetto trees (icons of the SC coast) and two shrubs that are commonly found on both the SC and CA coasts: a sago palm and a yaupon holly. (I wouldn’t have manicured the holly like they did, but to each their own.) I made the pool as clear-blue as possible to represent the seawater of the Bahamas, and I tied everything together using some of the same indigenous coastal grasses that can be seen in the first photo on this page (the one which exemplifies what I think makes the Lowcountry special).

A Mexico vacation home featuring an open floor plan and indigenous materials blurs the distinction between indoors and out to fully maximize its stunning setting. Photos by Rigoberto Moreno

Golden hour here at this 1940’s colonial that has been beautifully reimagined by its clever homeowners. Our design team sought to immerse this bold assertive structure in a native grasses heavy design featuring many coastal plain plants indigenous to this region. Animating, texturing and foregrounding with color and movement, this reactivated landscape looks like no other on this traditionally manicured, lawn-heavy street. Seedheads and silhouettes will continue to offer structure and interest through winter while rewarding non-migratory birds and wildlife with essential shelter and sustenance.

Bedroom seating area, featuring a vintage Soriana lounge hair with wool boucle, a Turkish rug, vintage Arthur Court side table, vintage Maison Jansen floor lamp and Iksel Decorative Arts D-Dream wallpaper

Beautiful dining room and kitchen with custom dining table, indigenous artwork, cement look quartz, floating Quartersawn Oak shelves with built-in lighting, wave tile backsplash, blue custom cabinets