Landkamer Art / Avenida Triptych 041 • Inspired by a male Western Tanager’s intense plumage as it stared at me outside my studio window in the unfurling lime green Honey Locust leaves. This piece took on new energetic fervor and it’s my boldest variation yet for this series. I love May because the vibrant Western Tanagers make a brief surprise visit to the yard before migrating hundreds of miles north. • View more new art on Instagram: @landkamerart • Custom size prints available. Send an Email inquiry to: Mark@LandkamerArt.com • © 2019 Mark Landkamer. All rights reserved.

The migration to the city is happening everywhere. This home is all about that process. Downsizing, mixing favorites with new and adding unique character. The design is a mix of Vintage and modern with a nod to the areas industrial past. Vintage chairs this Thibaut fabric for a fresh look. 1920s magazine AD, favorite artwork, antique ceramic vase from days gone by, and new pieces bring this family back their Philadelphia roots.

Venturing between different imaginative worlds, Jimmy finds respite in a nomadic tent amongst his journeys. Like a homemade fort requires the assemblage of every sheet and towel in the house, active migration demands resourcefulness in the use of available materials. Leather, denim, canvas, and rope allow Jimmy to remain a rugged little boy as he discovers new territories, and is further encouraged to activate space via movable furniture. Roam on. Lively pops of orange and blue from the existing vintage wallpaper by Diego Giacometti for Clarence House and dispersed pillows and stuffed animals from Coral & Tusk set the adventurous mood for this little roamer’s room. Photography by Modern Kids Co

Most failed paver patios in the Charlotte area don't fail because of the pavers. They fail because of what was skipped underneath. When you see a finished patio, you're looking at the final 2 inches of a 10-inch build. Here's the work that decides how long it lasts: Excavation. 8 to 12 inches below the final surface, down to stable soil. A patio built on topsoil sinks. A patio built on compacted ground doesn't. Base layer. 4 to 6 inches of crushed stone, compacted in lifts. This is the structural backbone — the deeper and denser it is, the straighter the surface stays. Bedding sand. A 1-inch precisely screeded layer of sharp sand. Not decorative — it locks the pavers in place and allows micro-adjustments without disturbing the base. Edge restraint + polymeric sand. The perimeter restraint keeps pavers from spreading sideways. Polymeric sand swept into the joints seals against weeds, insects, and water migration. What you pay for is the 2 inches on top. What makes it last is the 10 inches underneath. That's the difference between a patio that holds up for two decades and one that sinks near the downspout in year three.

Mountain style laundry room photo in Boston

The migration to the city is happening everywhere. This home is all about that process. Downsizing, mixing favorites with new and adding unique character. The design is a mix of Vintage and modern with a nod to the areas industrial past. Vintage chairs this Thibaut fabric for a fresh look. 1920s magazine AD, favorite artwork, antique ceramic vase from days gone by, and new pieces bring this family back their Philadelphia roots.

The concept of the garden was based on, “Brazilian Hummingbirds II”, a painting the MFAH has in its collection by the artist, Martin Johnson Heade. Heade travelled to the rainforest in Brazil between 1863 and 1864 and painted a series of small paintings depicting hummingbirds in the lush foliage of the Brazilian rainforests. His painting, Brazilian Hummingbirds, II, evokes the sultry atmosphere of the Brazilian rainforest with its misty quality and subtle lighting. His interest in ornithology can be seen in his detailed depictions of the hummingbirds. The garden location is adjacent to one of Buffalo Bayou’s steep, wooded ravines. The ravine, with its native plant communities and topography, is a perfect back- drop for a garden with a rainforest theme. Because the date for the garden opening coincides with the spring migration of hummingbirds into our region, the hummingbird theme seemed appropriate for this garden competition. The garden will include a variety of tropical plants native to the rainforests such as bromeliads, orchids, heliconia, and passion fruit flowers. In addition, native plants to our region such as the Sabal Minor and Southern Wood Fern will be included to integrate plants that are found nearby in the ravine. The Heliconia flowers produce considerable amounts of nectar, a high energy food essential for hummingbirds who are known to consume three times their bodyweight in a single day. In addition to nectar producing plants, there will be hummingbird nest materials dispersed throughout the garden. A misty quality to the garden will be provided by a misting system, and tropical colored lights will be lit at night for special events. Visitors to the garden will have a unique sensory experience reminiscent to that of Heade’s travels to Brazil’s rainforests.

Western Outdoor Design & Build has teams of outdoor living experts, specializing in helping Southern California homeowners expand their living place. Many Southern California homeowners want to add a little wow factor to their backyard paradise and they aren’t sure how to do it. An outdoor fireplace can be the perfect backyard addition that guests will naturally migrate to at night. http://westernoutdoordesigns.com/gallery-outdoor-fireplaces-san-diego-orange-county.html

Referred by our client across the street, this project was one for the books! It started out just as a laundry room, that then included the back garage entry, that migrated to the owner's suite, that then logically had to include the remaining powder that was located between the spaces. For the laundry we removed the second powder bath on the main level, as well as a closet and rearranged the layout so that the once tiny room was double in size with storage and a refrigerator. For the mudroom we removed the classic bifold closet and made it a built-in locker unit.​ We tied the two spaces together with a tiled floor and pocket door. For the powder we just did cosmetic updates, including a bold navy vanity and fun wallpaper.

The migration to the city is happening everywhere. This home is all about that process. Downsizing, mixing favorites with new and adding unique character. The design is a mix of vintage and modern with a nod to the locations industrial past. Vintage chairs feature Thibaut fabric for a fresh look. A framed 1920s magazine AD, favorite artwork, antique ceramic vase from days gone by, and new pieces bring this family back their Philadelphia roots. This space is a great example of a successful transition to a new phase. The homeowners lover their city place!

Blending contemporary forms and lush plantings, this Garden maximizes the sensory experience of the materials and planting from inside and outside the home. The garden occupies an interior courtyard framed by four interior walls. The home, designed by Architect Cliff May was built in 1948 and the following year was featured in House Beautiful Magazine. The clients list of needs and desires was brief. They wanted a space that would complement the mid century modern home and provide visual interest from inside the home. Some form of water was also requested. They had a budget of $30,000. In order to stay within their budget the clients performed the demolition of the old garden. The designer’s intent was to create a garden that would possess a clear sculptural quality and would be as visually striking from inside the home as it would be from inside the courtyard. The strategy behind the design was to use hardscape materials characterized by simple geometric forms and a planting palette that would emphasize form over color, and then to arrange the materials to achieve an interpretation of modern aesthetic. The views from inside the homes three main living rooms present the garden as a graphic composition of space, hardscape materials and planting. Inside the courtyard the edges are defined by stone and planting. The floor is composed of rectangular slabs of Teakwood flagstone with a counterpoint of Mexican beach pebbles set within the joints and around the edges. Concrete along the edges of the Teakwood pads reduces migration of the modified stone and sand base. The contrast of the Mexican beach pebbles accentuates the pattern of the flagstone. The outside perimeter of the pebbles is contained with low profile edging. An existing catch drain was utilized for storm water runoff. A concrete block pier set on a concrete footing is covered with black stucco and provides a perch for a custom made copper bowl that circulates water into the L shaped water feature. The water features subterranean basin is constructed of pressure treated wood with a custom box liner insert. Since the Teakwood flagstone was unavailable as coping for the water feature, the designer chose Shawnee Buff stone to complement the Teakwood flagstone. The subtle sound of water spilling from the copper bowl and the reflective qualities of the water help to create an atmosphere of relaxation. The planting is composed of shades of green with white flowers in order to accentuate the graphic design. ‘Justin Brouwer’ Boxwood, ‘Sum and Substance’ Hosta, white Anemones, black bamboo and ornamental grasses contrast dramatically with the clean lines of the hardscape elements. The black bamboo is set in 30” diameter concrete containers to control the vigorous plant from spreading. The construction of the interior courtyard space challenged the building team. They set up baffles between the front door and the door to the courtyard as well as temporary protection over the floor to allow the process to move forward without too much disturbance to the client’s lives. All of the materials were shuffled through the temporary portal. The clients love the space and recently said that “the design is so well thought out and simple that they would never get tired of it.” The designs sculptural quality compliments the modern feel of the home and creates a sublime yet dramatic view from within the house or within the courtyard. The clients plan to purchase two black Bertoia Diamond chairs with red cushions which should perfectly integrate with the space.

The owners first description of what they desired was a "porch with a house attached." They now have a long front porch that provides shade from the southern light, a northern deck that captures the meadow, pond and mountains, and the two western facing screened porches that encompass the 180 degree views from south to north. Both the upper porch at the master suite, and the first floor porch at the great room, gives them views of the sunset as it migrates throughout the season.

Western Outdoor Design & Build has teams of outdoor living experts, specializing in helping Southern California homeowners expand their living place. Many Southern California homeowners want to add a little wow factor to their backyard paradise and they aren’t sure how to do it. An outdoor fireplace can be the perfect backyard addition that guests will naturally migrate to at night. http://westernoutdoordesigns.com/gallery-outdoor-fireplaces-san-diego-orange-county.html

Western Outdoor Design & Build has teams of outdoor living experts, specializing in helping Southern California homeowners expand their living place. Many Southern California homeowners want to add a little wow factor to their backyard paradise and they aren’t sure how to do it. An outdoor fireplace can be the perfect backyard addition that guests will naturally migrate to at night. http://westernoutdoordesigns.com/gallery-outdoor-fireplaces-san-diego-orange-county.html

The concept of the garden was based on, “Brazilian Hummingbirds II”, a painting the MFAH has in its collection by the artist, Martin Johnson Heade. Heade travelled to the rainforest in Brazil between 1863 and 1864 and painted a series of small paintings depicting hummingbirds in the lush foliage of the Brazilian rainforests. His painting, Brazilian Hummingbirds, II, evokes the sultry atmosphere of the Brazilian rainforest with its misty quality and subtle lighting. His interest in ornithology can be seen in his detailed depictions of the hummingbirds. The garden location is adjacent to one of Buffalo Bayou’s steep, wooded ravines. The ravine, with its native plant communities and topography, is a perfect back- drop for a garden with a rainforest theme. Because the date for the garden opening coincides with the spring migration of hummingbirds into our region, the hummingbird theme seemed appropriate for this garden competition. The garden will include a variety of tropical plants native to the rainforests such as bromeliads, orchids, heliconia, and passion fruit flowers. In addition, native plants to our region such as the Sabal Minor and Southern Wood Fern will be included to integrate plants that are found nearby in the ravine. The Heliconia flowers produce considerable amounts of nectar, a high energy food essential for hummingbirds who are known to consume three times their bodyweight in a single day. In addition to nectar producing plants, there will be hummingbird nest materials dispersed throughout the garden. A misty quality to the garden will be provided by a misting system, and tropical colored lights will be lit at night for special events. Visitors to the garden will have a unique sensory experience reminiscent to that of Heade’s travels to Brazil’s rainforests.

Venturing between different imaginative worlds, Jimmy finds respite in a nomadic tent amongst his journeys. Like a homemade fort requires the assemblage of every sheet and towel in the house, active migration demands resourcefulness in the use of available materials. Leather, denim, canvas, and rope allow Jimmy to remain a rugged little boy as he discovers new territories, and is further encouraged to activate space via movable furniture. Roam on. Lively pops of orange and blue from the existing vintage wallpaper by Diego Giacometti for Clarence House and dispersed pillows and stuffed animals from Coral & Tusk set the adventurous mood for this little roamer’s room. Photography by Modern Kids Co

Terren Landscapes http://www.terrenlandscapes.com 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Residential $30,000-$60,000 Award Level: Silver Project Description: Our company was contracted to do a master plan for the family who was in desperate need of a rear yard renovation. The existing lawn area remained saturated throughout most of the year and the runoff from the neighboring property ran across their back yard, down the side of their property and all the way to the sidewalk in front of their house. The water was so intense that it had begun to cut through the back yard and erode the soil across the sidewalk and into the nearby storm drain. By identifying these drainage problems and discussing solutions with the homeowner, we were able to design and create the aesthetically pleasing and sustainable solution of a rain garden. The goal was to slow down storm water runoff, and catch pollution and sediment by creating a rain garden that acts as a filter prior to entering the storm drain, while enhancing the aesthetics of the property. The rain garden created was a shallow depression, 12 - 16" deep that collects rainfall runoff from all downspouts of the home and water collected into perforated pipes underneath the lawn area. The perforated pipe begins at the highest elevation in the yard and ends in the rain garden, the new lowest elevation that has been excavated down to an 8" depth. The perforated pipe captures the runoff water and allows the water to seep slowly back into the ground as it runs across the property and into the garden. The garden was lined with a geotextile filter fabric to aide in removing contaminants from the water, prevent migration of the stone in to the soil, and minimalize maintenance. A large variety of plant material was chosen, focusing mainly on native wetland species for their tolerance of our local soil types, moisture conditions and the habitat they provide for wildlife. The garden was abundant with native wildlife and was a sustainable ecosystem for birds and butterflies upon completion of the project. After planting, we arranged decorative stone throughout the garden to slow the flow of water and help prevent erosion. The combination of vegetative and stone surfaces provides temporary storage for runoff before the water either evaporates or infiltrates the soil. The surrounding beds throughout the property were also all amended with compost and replanted with plants that work in harmony with the rain garden. The front, side, and rear yards are a beautiful display of colors that bloom throughout the seasons and the plants throughout the entire property provide food and shelter for native wildlife. The rear yard that was once a muddy play space for the kids is now a dry lawn space that can be utilized by the family and their neighbors. This multi­ functional garden has become the focal point of the residence. Photo Credit: Terren Landscapes

Driven by a passion for the salt life and a love of the natural beauty of the area, they will leave the Northeast on a trek for the Florida Gulf Coast. The winters there are simply too cold to tolerate for any length of time. And why would they suffer those freezing temperatures when the average temperature on Longboat Key in January is 71 degrees? However, this is no migration and the subject is not a bird. My clients cannot be referred to as “Snowbirds” either. This is a homecoming. More so, it is a new beginning; a resurrection! “From the crown of the palm tree, there grew a flame. The flame revealed a nest. As the flames of change kissed the nest, a new being was born. This fantastic creature was born in the image of its predecessor, but it was given a new life. Indeed, it was resurrected. Behold the Phoenix!” Many years ago, they were pulled from the area in the pursuit of better employment. All the while, they maintained a strong connection with the Gulf Coast. This is where they would spend the best years of their lives. Now is their time of rebirth. The property they chose is on boating water on the Bay side of Longboat Key. The property is among the few undeveloped lots scattered around the island. Over the years it had been planted with a variety of tropical species including many of the common house varieties such as Ficus, rubber trees, and Areca Palms. Loving the locale, these species quickly outgrew their space. In the shadows, native Sabal Palms stretched their trunks in an effort to survive. A Phoenix Reclinata Palm sat unassumingly beneath the shadow of a large Ficus. We liberated them by removing all of the invasive varieties. We then relocated all ten of the resident Sabal Palms (our State Tree) on site. The home, designed by celebrated local architect Mark Sultana of DSDG, Inc., is a contemporary flat. The layout is a single living level above parking and grade level outdoor spaces. The architecture is crisp and inspiring and it is sensitive to the smaller scale of the eclectic neighborhood in which it will be constructed. From the elevated balcony, the residents will enjoy watching the many local manatees as they hug the sea wall looking for warmth on chilly mornings. From grade level decks, they will get up close and personal with the abundant schools of mullet in the canal. A northern exposure to the open side of the plan will allow for the amazing breezes offered by passing cool fronts.

The concept of the garden was based on, “Brazilian Hummingbirds II”, a painting the MFAH has in its collection by the artist, Martin Johnson Heade. Heade travelled to the rainforest in Brazil between 1863 and 1864 and painted a series of small paintings depicting hummingbirds in the lush foliage of the Brazilian rainforests. His painting, Brazilian Hummingbirds, II, evokes the sultry atmosphere of the Brazilian rainforest with its misty quality and subtle lighting. His interest in ornithology can be seen in his detailed depictions of the hummingbirds. The garden location is adjacent to one of Buffalo Bayou’s steep, wooded ravines. The ravine, with its native plant communities and topography, is a perfect back- drop for a garden with a rainforest theme. Because the date for the garden opening coincides with the spring migration of hummingbirds into our region, the hummingbird theme seemed appropriate for this garden competition. The garden will include a variety of tropical plants native to the rainforests such as bromeliads, orchids, heliconia, and passion fruit flowers. In addition, native plants to our region such as the Sabal Minor and Southern Wood Fern will be included to integrate plants that are found nearby in the ravine. The Heliconia flowers produce considerable amounts of nectar, a high energy food essential for hummingbirds who are known to consume three times their bodyweight in a single day. In addition to nectar producing plants, there will be hummingbird nest materials dispersed throughout the garden. A misty quality to the garden will be provided by a misting system, and tropical colored lights will be lit at night for special events. Visitors to the garden will have a unique sensory experience reminiscent to that of Heade’s travels to Brazil’s rainforests.