Hively Landscapes Project Entry: A Patio with a View 2013 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Residential Hardscaping $30,000 - $60,000 Project Description: A situation I run into often, is a home owner that gets tired of their old decaying wooden deck and are looking for something more permanent. I wanted to change the entire dynamics of this outdoor living space. Taking out the deck and installing a level patio will get their view below the two large out trees that are located directly off the patio. Dropping the patio to level with grade allowed me to design a large comfortable landing to come out of the kitchen doors with a food platter or drinks. Luckily the home owner wanted natural stone which fits this property perfectly. All the wood in the home and no siding along with the view of the pond and woods all around really gives this property a rustic feel which craves natural stone. The colors in the pattern cut flagstone really bring life to the space will keeping some formality as opposed to using an irregular flagstone. The balance of the PA fieldstone walls dry staked and double sided adds character and functionality in many ways. The wall by the sunken hot tub provides great seating at eye level with the participants inside the tub. This also works well as an entrance point. The parts of the walls that parallel the house were designed without any landscaping against them to allow the home owners and guests to be able to sit on the wall facing the amazing view of the pond. All the hard lines in the patio and walls are broken up with a soft arch and curved edge between the house and landscape bed. The Crape Myrtle in that bed creates a great buffer between the architecture in the home and the stonework in the patio. As the Crape Myrtle grows, the lower limbs will be removed to maintain the open view of the pond and patio area from the inside. Large thermal rock faced bluestone caps and step treads put the icing on the cake. This creates a great tie with the flagstone as well as allows for comfortable seating and steps in to the home. The area that was once an old rotting deck is now a natural paradise to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Photo Credit: Hively Landscapes

Landscape architecture project by Miami based landscape architect Orlando Comas, member of American Society of Landscape Architects, licensed by State of Florida.

View from under the house.
Large classic porch idea in Atlanta

SEALIGHT STUDIOS KAUAI
Inspiration for a tropical backyard landscaping in Hawaii.

Design ideas for a traditional courtyard landscaping in Little Rock.

An elegantly landscaped estate was designed to frame views, offer tranquility, and provide numerous spaces with a variety of experiences. Long, meandering bluestone paths interconnect formal garden spaces with natural woodlands. World-famous bronze sculpture provides personality to an otherwise pastoral place. Groundcovers of Pachysandra, Hosta, and Heuchera are planted en masse to firmly shape garden spaces. A stone wall retains the generous main bluestone terrace. Though it resides a half-mile from the water, the home is positioned perfectly to provide a captivating view of Lake Minnetonka. Over many years the evolution of this home and landscape has earned Windsor Companies numerous design awards from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association and the American Society of Landscape Architects. Photos by Paul Crosby

Alex Amend © 2012 Houzz
Inspiration for a rustic shed remodel in San Francisco

photography by Rob Karosis
This is an example of a coastal porch design in Portland Maine with decking and a roof extension.

Landscape Architect: Howard Cohen
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional side yard brick garden path in DC Metro.

Photo by Grey Crawford
Small tuscan ceramic tile and brown floor hallway photo in Los Angeles with white walls

This is an example of a traditional backyard stone landscaping in New Orleans.

Photo Credit: Scott Amundson
Example of a trendy exterior home design in Minneapolis

Example of a mountain style two-story wood exterior home design in Minneapolis

Photography by Delphine Chanet
Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in Atlanta.

Patrick & Topaze McCaffery - Taproot Garden Design "A summer mix of native grasses surround one of two beautifully, ornamentally pruned Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn' Manzanita. A Rosemary hedge to the right offers privacy for the homeowner and food for the bees."

This property came with a house which proved ill-matched to our clients’ needs but which nestled neatly amid beautiful live oaks. In choosing to commission a new home, they asked that it also tuck under the limbs of the oaks and maintain a subdued presence to the street. Extraordinary efforts such as cantilevered floors and even bridging over critical root zones allow the design to be truly fitted to the site and to co-exist with the trees, the grandest of which is the focal point of the entry courtyard. Of equal importance to the trees and view was to provide, conversely, for walls to display 35 paintings and numerous books. From form to smallest detail, the house is quiet and subtle.

Location: Cohasset, MA, United States This elegant property has gorgeous views of the harbor, with sweeping stone walls that create a terraced effect. Since the house was a warm beige, I felt a bold red would really bring it to life, mixed with burgundy foliage and big, dramatic grasses. The graceful limbs of the birch are sheer poetry against the sweeping lines of stone walls and boxwood. The whole scene is loosened up with hydrangeas, roses, and this stunning little variegated dogwood in the lower left corner.

This estate is surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a big city but you would never know it when enjoying this backyard oasis. The aquatic environment was designed and carefully constructed to architecturally blend with the existing natural beauty, mature trees and rolling topography. The dramatic pool sits between multiple trees, nestled into the rolling terrain, and embraces the organic limb structures of Live Oaks. These limbs were carefully considered while designing this environment and fluidly divide spaces and accentuate views. The pools include an upper diving pool with grotto, large waterfalls, resort size water lounge, infinity edge spa, steps up to an underground slide and a 32 linear foot disappearing water fall. This waterfall pulls guest to the equally stunning lower pool that is connected by a natural staircase that elegantly wraps around the pool and stream. The lower pool is a shallow play pool where the slide exits, has ample seating, includes another massive water lounge and is designed for volleyball and just having a great time. This awesome aquatic family entertaining environment also includes a fire pit, outdoor kitchen, bar, pizza oven, multiple televisions, kamado style gill, many elevations, dry creek beds, artisan crafted hand railing, custom slide, elegant lighting, surround sound audio design, and much more!! Photography: Daniel Driensky

This estate is surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a big city but you would never know it when enjoying this backyard oasis. The aquatic environment was designed and carefully constructed to architecturally blend with the existing natural beauty, mature trees and rolling topography. The dramatic pool sits between multiple trees, nestled into the rolling terrain, and embraces the organic limb structures of Live Oaks. These limbs were carefully considered while designing this environment and fluidly divide spaces and accentuate views. The pools include an upper diving pool with grotto, large waterfalls, resort size water lounge, infinity edge spa, steps up to an underground slide and a 32 linear foot disappearing water fall. This waterfall pulls guest to the equally stunning lower pool that is connected by a natural staircase that elegantly wraps around the pool and stream. The lower pool is a shallow play pool where the slide exits, has ample seating, includes another massive water lounge and is designed for volleyball and just having a great time. This awesome aquatic family entertaining environment also includes a fire pit, outdoor kitchen, bar, pizza oven, multiple televisions, kamado style gill, many elevations, dry creek beds, artisan crafted hand railing, custom slide, elegant lighting, surround sound audio design, and much more!! Photography: Daniel Driensky