Pro Tips
Facade and rear yard makeover
Outdated exterior and unused rear yard are now bright and fresh. The existing rear landscape offered a mix of grade changes, low walls, overgrown plant material, an abandoned pond, and unusable landscape areas. Additionally, a rear terrace in disrepair and poor transitions between existing outdoor spaces rendered this property mostly unused. Our design removed the…
Read MoreCircular stone fireplace
A client in Gainesville, GA wanted a custom fireplace with a circular opening inside her home. We designed and built this vent-less gas fireplace for her. To protect the wood framing of the house from the high temperatures that fire places generate, we used an Isokern modular fireplace insert. Over top of the Isokern insert, we laid…
Read MoreTaming the slope
Gaining entertainment space. The homeowner requested a formal back yard with a pool and areas for entertaining. The property was sloped approximately 5.5′ from the upper back yard to the lower back yard so we began by creating terraced areas that would serve as large landings for lounging and a progression through the garden for…
Read MoreUnusuable space made usable
Making room for recreation and entertainment. The homeowner asked us to collaborate with the builder to provide a master plan for the backyard area. Pool, sports court, and cabana were some of the many elements the homeowner wanted to incorporate into this backyard space. One real concern expressed by the homeowner was to maximize what appeared…
Read MoreOutdoor spaces that flow
Multiple outdoor rooms that work together. The homeowner wanted to create multiple outdoor individually themed rooms that connected with seamless sightlines. The goal was an outdoor experience used for entertainment. The main “living” area is a bluestone patio connected directly to the home. Prior to the project, the fireplace was functional on the interior of…
Read MoreBlank slate turned sanctuary
Formal outdoor space blends with the stately home. These two empty-nesters with a love of gardens wanted to create a sanctuary of their own, and their yard was a blank slate. Using materials that blend with the existing architecture, and formal geometry that maximizes the limited available space, this design creates a seamless extension of…
Read MoreMinimal maintenance, water smart
Private garden tailored to homeowners’ life. The new homeowners’ main objective was to transform the small lot into a private garden that they could enjoy with minimal maintenance, as they planned to do almost all of the maintenance themselves. They wanted a small sitting area in the front yard to relax and see neighbors as…
Read MoreWide appeal in narrow space
Maximum outdoor living. This small in-town yard (a little over 2000 sq. ft.) did nothing for the homeowner as far as usability and entertainment. There was a very small concrete back patio beneath the deck and the rest of the yard sloped away or uphill, making it unusable. The back yard and side yard are very narrow, with…
Read MoreEmbracing the lake
Making the connection. This homeowner wanted to feel a personal connection to the lake that borders his property. His main objective was to create an outdoor room for cooking and dining that did not block his view of the lake from inside or outside his home. The existing concrete slab was too small to be useful. We converted it into…
Read MoreSmall space, big impact
Cozy contemporary outdoor space. This small suburban back yard was mainly a leftover spot dominated by out-of-scale screening trees that made it feel like it was in a huge hole, a deck too small to accommodate more than two or three people, and no gardening space to speak of. Our clients like to visit with…
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