Zinc planters sit on the top of the seawall that is a part of the pool area and serve as backdrop to the lower fountain. The fountain has three bubblers creating sound and motion, and additional zinc planters with abundant tropical planting frame the water feature at the living room terrace level. Wes Fredsell Photography

A coffered ceiling living room with views to Long Island Sound in Westchester, New York. The living room has a stone fireplace mantle, exposed brick wall, banks of windows and leads into the dining room. Peter Krupenye Photographer

Expansive entryway in Westchester, New York Victorian home. This shows the double doored entry, pocket doored office, main staircase and kitchen beyond. Peter Krupenye Photographer

Lighting on the home facing the lake was meant to create an impression on viewers from the lake towards this massive home. Landscape lighting below the home helps to visually tie the home to the lake

Lighting on the home facing the lake was meant to create an impression on viewers from the lake towards this massive home. Landscape lighting below the home helps to visually tie the home to the lake

Picture-perfect, this nearly new waterfront estate gives a fresh take on classic island style that epitomizes casually elegant South Florida living. Extremely well built inside and out, this custom residence opens to a relaxing waterside oasis where swaying palms line the saltwater pool and spa. The marble lounge terrace stretches to the 95+/--foot shoreline outfitted with a reinforced seawall and dock for the yachter's 80+/--foot vessel. Tropical gardens beautify the zoysia grass front lawns. This estate is offered at $3.660 Million USD.

Night lighting highlights sweetgum trees, small shrubs and grasses, and knotty cedar fencing. Photo: Van Inwegen Digital Arts
Mid-sized minimalist rooftop deck photo in Chicago with no cover

Family room and library in renovated Victorian manor home. Room features steel spiral staircase, library gallery, built in TV, bookcases and reclaimed beadboard ceiling. Peter Krupenye Photographer

New Leaf Homes

Lighting on the home facing the lake was meant to create an impression on viewers from the lake towards this massive home. Landscape lighting below the home helps to visually tie the home to the lake

Boathouse - large contemporary two-story and detached stucco beige boathouse idea in Miami with a clipped gable roof

Lighting on the home facing the lake was meant to create an impression on viewers from the lake towards this massive home. Landscape lighting below the home helps to visually tie the home to the lake

The light from South Arch side window is focused upon the North wall where there is a large granite fossil. A smaller version of these swimming creatures appears above. Next to these is a cave-like opening where a thyme plant meanders down the rock wall. Other interesting artifacts are included in the design. Photo credits: Dan Drobnick

John Welsh
Large l-shaped cork floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Philadelphia with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, an undermount sink, gray cabinets, brick backsplash and white countertops

Lighting on the home facing the lake was meant to create an impression on viewers from the lake towards this massive home. Landscape lighting below the home helps to visually tie the home to the lake. The home has a grand and welcoming entrance due to the warm accent lighting used throughout the entryway

Lighting on the home facing the lake was meant to create an impression on viewers from the lake towards this massive home. Landscape lighting below the home helps to visually tie the home to the lake. The home has a grand and welcoming entrance due to the warm accent lighting used throughout the entryway

Picture-perfect, this nearly new waterfront estate gives a fresh take on classic island style that epitomizes casually elegant South Florida living. Extremely well built inside and out, this custom residence opens to a relaxing waterside oasis where swaying palms line the saltwater pool and spa. The marble lounge terrace stretches to the 95+/--foot shoreline outfitted with a reinforced seawall and dock for the yachter's 80+/--foot vessel. Tropical gardens beautify the zoysia grass front lawns. This estate is offered at $3.660 Million USD.

One feature palm was salvaged when this seven year old Mediterranean style residence on the Caloosahatchee River underwent a complete landscape and hardscape remodel in the beginning of 2015. The landscape had not been properly maintained for a few years prior to when the new owners purchased in 2014, was overgrown and unhealthy and therefore was in need of a complete evaluation and landscape overhall. The original red brick concrete pavers were removed and replaced with a gold travertine blend with ivory travertine border for accent. The front entry stair was expanded and redesigned for a more significant and welcoming front door. The side yard had a significant slope from the foundation of the house to the seawall and had significant erosion damage. This space was re-graded, grading and drainage was repaired and re-routed and a 70 foot long retaining wall was installed. The retaining wall not only solved the stormwater washout problem, but also provided a level space for a private side yard tropical palm garden and pathway to access both the pool deck and the walk along the seawall. The stairs to the pool deck, dock and landing were all completely modified for ease of use. Aside from the tropical and beautiful landscape that was installed, the most significant visual and aesthetic improvement to this property was the addition of three 9 foot tall by 5 foot wide natural stone water walls with stone basins that were designed to fit within the archways at the driveway entry and designed to complement the architecture of the residence. These water walls offer ambient noise, visual interest and have completely improved the use and entry experience for the homeowner and visitors. Tropical shade bromeliads, alocasias, cordylines and ferns dress up the new landscape beds at the entry and along the front foundation where previously red brick intersected the foundation walls for a mundane solution. Other elements of interest include the cable wire espalier that was installed in front of the archway on both sides of the entry way for colorful bougainvillea trellis vine to climb and soften the tall walls and eventually connect over the arch. Confederate jasmine vine will soften the garage corner on the cable wire trellis installed and there is also a 4 foot wide by 18 foot tall cable wire espalier on a tall, once stark, wall on the pool deck. Three pool planters were reconfigured and planted with large triple princess palms and bold blue-tone pottery was selected to add interest and color to the pool deck. Micro-drip irrigation was connected to the pool planters and pottery for a low maintenance solution. This project was a collaborative effort with an ideal client who was open to all design ideas, who worked closely with the design team, and was a great success for both the client and R.S. Walsh Landscaping.

This newly completed contemporary island style Florida home overlooks the Roosevelt Channel, on the Bay side of Captiva Island, and is graced with the sunrise in the mornings. Repeat clients remind us of the success of previous landscape designs and of lasting relationships built while offering new and challenging opportunities for creative design. This client expressed a desire for a colorful tropical garden with emphasis on tropical plants, creative color palette and privacy. A grove of coconut palms with lush bamboo and a dense clusia hedge with a small tropical garden at the entry of the property screen views to the interior of the property plant a seed of intrigue for what lies around the corner beyond the decorative tabby stucco gate columns. Upon passing under the grove of coconuts and rounding the corner of the drive, the property opens to an expansive front yard with colorful tropical garden beds and channels views to the newly completed residence. Gardens containing colorful bromeliads, bougainvillea and tropical palms with a variety of leaf shape and texture and color draw upon influences of Brazilian garden design. Manicured swaths of Empire Zoysa separates the various gardens and allows for the user to stroll and explore the different gardens. The winding drive terminates at the front entry in a large tear drop shape turn around with massive coconuts in the center island surrounded by seven Sylvester Date palms around the outside of the drive. The entire perimeter of the turn around is surrounded with tropical gardens and intimate tropical gardens flank each side of the main entrance stairs. The hardscape pattern and color was selected to compliment the coquina tabby shell stucco finish on the foundation walls. The completed hardscape design including retaining walls, driveway, golf cart paths and private walks, is the result of collaborating closely with the owner over multiple revisions. The back of the residence overlooks an expansive resort-like pool and spa and a pool deck that terminates just feet from the seawall of the Roosevelt Channel. Tropical vegetation at each side of the property offers privacy to the pool area but is manicured to preserve views to the bay beyond. This truly is an island paradise.