Search results for "Slow drains" in Home Design Ideas

For an 1890s-era property in Northborough, Massachusetts, we completely revitalized the kitchen to be a beautiful gathering spot for a busy family. The homeowners wanted to ensure the space paid homage to the heritage style of the home while maintaining an open and minimalist aesthetic.
To that end, we removed all the wall cabinets and incorporated most of the storage in the base cabinets. The simple Shaker-style doors with brass hardware fit perfectly into the design, with the painted green and natural rustic walnut cabinets offering a gorgeous contrast to the white cabinets. To further transform the kitchen, we added more windows to the previously dark, enclosed space. The ceiling beams are reclaimed wood beams from a mill building in the area and complement the custom walnut butcher block and rustic walnut glass wall cabinet. Another unique feature is the weathered, matte soapstone finish of the black granite on the countertops rather than the more typical polished effect.

Unique cascading grass-like habit is ideal for containers, on patios, along walls or walkways, or as accent plants in mixed borders. This low-maintenance plant provides rich, burgundy color all year, and works great with succulents.
FEATURES
Bloom/Feature Outstanding color and habit
Plant Type Groundcovers/Grasses
Evergreen or Deciduous Evergreen
USDA Zones 8,9,10,11
Zone Detail Hardy to 10°F, USDA zones 8-11
Key Features Small white blossoms
Use Borders, beds, containers, slopes, poolside
Exposure Full sun to part shade
Bloom Season Summer
Dimension 3' H x 3' W
Growth Rate Slow to moderate
CARE
Water Once established water occasionally, as needed; Water-wise
Soil Type Well-drained soils
Fertilizer Yearly applications of a balanced slow release
Pruning If needed, trim damaged foliage at base
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
water before planting
plant in full sun to part shade
dig hole 2X the width of pot,
backfill and plant 1”-2” above soil level
water and add more soil if needed
mulch plants; fertilize in early spring
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This fine-textured broadleafed evergreen grows as tall as it is wide, reaching a maintainable size of 3 feet and resembling a little green muffin. It’s an exceptionally compact boxwood excellent for use in smaller gardens for borders and focal areas. Densely branched, the tiny, green foliage is abundant and adds a distinctive note to the landscape, retaining its color particularly well in winter. The moderate rate of growth makes these boxwoods ideal for carefree edging in a wide area of the US. Other splendid characteristics include deer resistance and tolerance of dry soils once established.
FEATURES
Bloom/Feature
Plant Type Shrubs
Evergreen or Deciduous Evergreen
USDA Zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Zone Detail Hardy to -20°F USDA zones 5–9
Key Features Deer resistant, evergreen foliage provides year-round interest.
Use Hedge, border, mass planting
Exposure Full sun to part shade
Bloom Season Insignificant
Dimension 3' H x 3' W
Growth Rate Moderate
CARE
Water Keep soil moist
Soil Type Well-drained garden soil
Fertilizer Apply a balanced slow release each spring.
Pruning Shape in early spring to maintain shape
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
• water before planting
• plant in full sun to part shade
• dig hole 2X the width of pot
• backfill and plant 1”-2” above soil level
• water and add more soil if needed
• mulch plants

Slow grower to 10 to 12 ft. tall, 3 to 4 ft. wide. Partial to full sun. Excellent evergreen shrub for tall hedges, displaying glossy dark green foliage. Long, upright growing branches form a narrow, columnar habit. Provide well drained soil for best performance.

The garden 3 weeks after planting, on a foggy day.
Photo by Steve Masley
Inspiration for a timeless deck container garden remodel in San Francisco
Inspiration for a timeless deck container garden remodel in San Francisco

This spring container has been planted with a variety of perennials (English primrose & Lamium), annuals (pansies), bulbs (daffodils & hyacinths) and incorporates freshly cut forsythia branches.
Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC

Photos by Brian Reitz, Creative Vision Studios
Example of a small trendy gray one-story stucco house exterior design in Los Angeles with a shed roof
Example of a small trendy gray one-story stucco house exterior design in Los Angeles with a shed roof

Example of a transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Even deep in winter, the Matloff's exit the front door to a garden filled with blooms, texture, and vivacious color. The Indian Mallow to the left blooms with stunning sprays of yellow flowers most of the year.

Terren Landscapes http://www.terrenlandscapes.com
Project Entry: Pembrooke Estate Rain Garden
2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner
Category: Sustainable Landscape &60,000-$120,000
Award Level: Silver
Project Description:
The client contracted our company to solve multiple existing drainage problems. In a heavy rain event the existing French drain system would overflow, causing water to pool in the driveway. After investigating the system we found that the capacity of the French drain was undersized for the amount of storm water from the large rain events received in recent years. As a result of our findings and at the request of the homeowner, we designed a storm water management system to capture all storm water from the structures on the property and regenerate the underground aquifers for the volume of a 5.8” rainstorm. In addition to the new drain system, the homeowners wanted a rain garden to provide a backdrop for an existing formal garden, provide a habitat for wildlife, and provide screening from an adjacent neighbor.
Throughout the design process many challenges were presented, including an existing gas line, which ran directly through the area that best suited the bioswale. The existence of the gas line caused us to alter the shape and depth of the bioswale in some areas. We also inspected the existing downspouts to make sure there were no obstructions that would impede the system’s efficiency, and then conducted a test pit dig to make sure we had sufficient percolation rates for disposal of storm water.
To effectively capture the storm water runoff, the existing downspouts were piped from the main house and the large detached garage to a large catch basin located at the low point in the driveway. The driveway catch basin contains two outlet pipes at different elevations within the basin allowing water from smaller rain events to enter the bioswale and rain garden area to percolate into the soil before excess water overflows into a sediment trap which filters out any debris and is then piped to an underground StormTech® pit to slowly percolate into the ground. The other outlet pipe in the driveway catch basin is used for larger storm water events, taking the water directly to the StormTech® pit.
Accepting and slowing the velocity of the storm water, mitigation of erosion, and filtering out pollutants contained in the “first flush” of rainfall are the primary functions of the bioswale and rain garden. Planting these areas with mostly native plant species helps carry out these functions while attracting and providing shelter for wildlife.
The ‘Niobe’ weeping willow is the centerpiece of the rain garden, connecting with the axis of the existing formal garden. To screen the neighboring property we chose Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ for its graceful evergreen habit and tolerance of wet sites. ‘Ivory Halo’ dogwood and Panicum ‘Cloud Nine’ were used for screening as well as winter interest. To provide deciduous structure to the garden Taxodium distichum and Magnolia virginiana were used in conjunction with witch hazel. Mostly native wetland perennials were used due to their tolerance of wet conditions and occasional drought.
The area above the StormTech® pit provides space for the client’s family to relax. The rain garden and bioswale provide screening, storm water management, a habitat for wildlife, and plants that enhance the adjacent formal garden.
Photo Credit: Terren Landscapes

The trellised terrace opens up to a quieter view of a magnificent existing redwood grove. A bluestone footbridge crosses a bioswale filled with clusters of ornamental grasses and perennials. In the distance, an existing below-grade greenhouse, renovated as part of the project program.
Photography by Marion Brenner

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood.
INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site.
EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot.
THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place.
HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde.
YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting.
ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements.
RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage.
OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet.
ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer
Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor
Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering
Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design
Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings
Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Designed by Growsgreen Landscape Design: growsgreen.com.
Inspiration for a modern patio remodel in San Francisco
Inspiration for a modern patio remodel in San Francisco

Martin King
Large transitional master gray tile, white tile and mosaic tile gray floor and ceramic tile alcove shower photo in Orange County with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, gray walls, shaker cabinets, a two-piece toilet, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door
Large transitional master gray tile, white tile and mosaic tile gray floor and ceramic tile alcove shower photo in Orange County with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, gray walls, shaker cabinets, a two-piece toilet, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

The “handrill” of Corten steel follows the peastone and steel steps down a steep slope to pour into a round basin, emptying into a channel that meanders through the narrow back garden at ground level, ending finally in a boulder fountain.
Devised to minimize root disturbance for the tall existing pines on the property, the continuous Corten steel structure is supported by concrete tubes rather than a foundation that would have required extensive excavation.
Architect: Wolf Architects, Inc.
General Contractor: GF Rhode Construction, Inc.
Landscape Contractor: Robert Hanss, Inc.
Steel Fabrication: Wovensteel and Richard Duca
Water Systems: Pond Creations by Sean
Photo by Susan Teare.

Wind sculpture by Lyman Whitaker. Photo by Jay Sifford.
Photo of an eclectic landscaping in Charlotte.
Photo of an eclectic landscaping in Charlotte.

Brick pavers "lead" to raised seating area.
Julianna Fecskes Phillips
www.AboutInsideOut.com
Design ideas for a traditional brick landscaping in San Francisco.
Design ideas for a traditional brick landscaping in San Francisco.
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