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Houston Deck Design

admin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:53:46 +0000

Decks add form, texture and interest to your landscape. The most common deck design attaches the deck to the house, although freestanding decks can be quite dramatic. With the variety of materials available today, deck designs come in all forms and shapes from their inclusion in a small garden design to an unexpected urban landsca......ping project to a sprawling hillside sun garden.

Decks add natural beauty, warmth and desirability to your home. And not just for you and your family. A well-designed, properly built deck-one that is sturdy, long-lasting and beautiful-will add value to your property as well.

Deck Design: Choosing a Designer or Contractor

The long list of choices you will face concerning the design of your deck begins with choosing who will build it. In this region, you have a wide choice of Houston landscape designers and landscape contractors to choose from. It is a critical decision for many reasons, not the least of which is the desire to avoid an under-built design-one that is inadequately attached to the structure or inadequately supported.

Here are some tips for finding someone suitable for your project, courtesy of Jeff Halper, landscape design specialist at Exterior Worlds:

Spend time interviewing the designer. Discuss the types of projects they've done and how long they've been in business.
Ask friends for referrals.
Ask for references and then follow up on them.
Halper advises you to keep in mind that "the more complex the project-the more sophisticated the design-the more important your designer and contractor become."

Deck Design: Design Choices

Once selected and hired, your contractor or designer will start the interview process. It is during these discussions that you define and convey what you want out of your deck design. For instance, whether to cover the deck or not. Be creative in thinking through this aspect since other solutions, like planting trees, might work. (This type of issue is where professional designers really earn their keep since they'll be mindful of the deck's impact on the total landscape.) You also might want to consider deck railing and built-in seats.

Other add-ons include outdoor fireplaces or fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and outdoor water fountains. Houston's infamous rainstorms need to be taken into account so you will want to tie the deck's design into any existing drainage systems. Consider the need for gutters, French drains, or decorative drains. Decks also present a great opportunity to enhance your landscape lighting.

Your designer or contractor will work with you to make sure the deck is in proportion to your home and other structures. The deck design will also take into consideration the house's architecture, exits and entrances, what space is available on which to build, the grade of the yard, and any existing trees or gardens.

Deck Design: Material Choices

In landscape design terminology, the term "deck" refers to both a wooden deck and the decking, usually some kind of masonry or stone, around a luxury swimming pool. Materials used vary with personal preferences, design considerations and your desired budget. Main choices include wood, stone (cut stone, flagstone, limestone, bluestone, slate), brick, concrete (colored or textured or both), and pavers.

When choosing wood for a patio or terrace, pressure-treated pine is the mainstay option.

Another good choice is an engineered product like Trex. The original financial outlay is a bit more than with wood, but, if maintained properly, the longevity is 1 ½-2 times that of wood. Trex offers another benefit in these eco-conscious times: its decking, railing and fencing are made primarily from recycled plastic grocery bags, reclaimed pallet wrap and waste wood. Halper also points out that Trex is great for tree preservation. "You only have to make a few holes to hold up the decking. And you don't cover the ground with it, something that suffocates trees," he says.

For pool decking, surfaces like stone, brick and concrete are durable options. Beautiful, too. These products are also valued because they can be roughed up and made to be non-slippery, which is essential for the wet areas around a pool.

Deck Design: Maintenance

Houston's weather is hard on everything, including your deck. Wooden decks can be cleaned with a special cleaner, which will remove the gray mildew. Whatever cleaning agent is used, be sure to rinse thoroughly.

Stone, brick and concrete are relatively maintenance free. However, you will want your landscape service company to perform regular checks for any cracking or splintering. Also, if your deck is deeply shaded, mildew can grow on these surfaces. A deck cleansing product or a mild bleach solution will take care of most problems. Make sure your landscape maintenance contract covers all these items.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share information about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Deck Design or Landscaping Design

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Houston Swimming Pool Remodeling

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:55:50 +0000

Swimming pool remodeling is often done as part of a larger landscaping plan. Many times people purchase a home that already has a pool built many years before. Normally such a pool was built many years before by a pool contractor hired directly by the homeowner. The intention at that time was to create a pool whose function and fo......rm reflected the immediate interests of the homeowner when it came to matters of swimming, lounging, and entertaining by the pool. Most of these pool designs were very popular at the time, and still work very effectively from a functional perspective in our time. However, few pool contractors in years past (or even today for that matter) considered the benefits of recommending pool construction styles that directly complemented home architecture and landscape elements. It was not a matter of deliberate sabotage or even neglect-simply a lack of awareness of other disciplines that play a direct role in the overall aesthetic of the property.

Because of this, most people who buy a home that already has a swimming pool on premises end up seriously considering remodeling the pool when it comes time to upgrade the landscape in general. Suddenly, what looked like a nice pool when they first moved in becomes a subsequent challenge when the landscaping contractor points out how certain outdoor structures, garden styles, vegetation styles, and ornamental statuary will clash with the pool as it appears in its present form. Rather than limiting the options of our clients and recommending only designs that will work with what they have, Exterior Worlds has a policy of offering a swimming pool remodel included in our landscaping master plans. We study the surrounding terrain and specifics of home architecture, then look at ways to reshape the old pool structure into a new aesthetic that harmoniously blends with both. We then subcontract a reputable and established swimming pool remodeling company to handle the specifics of reconstruction, carefully managing their work to ensure that it remains consistent with the thematic intention of the project as a whole.

Sometimes an old swimming pool needs only minimal remodeling to look like a completely new structure. Something as simple as adding a spa, or installing a fountain, can totally transform its appearance. In other instances, it is not the pool itself that needs reconstruction, but rather what is around the pool. Many pools built in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s were constructed with a concrete coping and surrounding concrete slab for a patio. Others were built with wooden decks leading up to the coping. Such rudimentary designs offer only limited opportunities for landscaping upgrades unless replaced with more cosmetic structures. Patios made of flagstone and coping made with more cosmetic materials can often make an old swimming pool appear completely remodeled even though the only thing that has really been changed is what surrounds the pool.

Other swimming pools require more extensive remodeling to work with new landscape designs. For these projects, we begin by looking at municipal codes that may have changed since the structure was originally built. Any new construction must be in compliance with current regulations, so this is normally our starting point any time we remodel a pool that was built more than 15 years ago. In most of these older remodels, plumbing and electrical systems have to be completely overhauled to meet with regulatory compliance. If the shell is still good, we can simply remove the concrete, redo the plumbing and electrical, and then rebuild the structure around the existing shell.

In other instances, it may be determined that the original pool shell is simply in the wrong place and built in the wrong style. For example, there was a time about 30 years ago when lagoon style pools were in high demand. This particular style, however, clashes with most modern architecture and in almost every remodeling job has to be completely transformed into something more complimentary to its surroundings. If swimming pool remodeling is managed by under the general contract of a professional landscaping company, not only will the new pool work harmoniously with its surroundings, but it can actually function as something of an aesthetic hub whose spas, fountains, steps, benches, and patio designs create special outdoor living space that is highly decorative and specifically oriented toward comfort and entertainment.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share information about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Houston Swimming Pool Remodeling or Landscaping Design

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Classic Landscape Designs and Traditional Landscape Designs in Houston Texas

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:01:51 +0000

In the first millennium, a wealthy Roman family would most likely have had a garden surrounding their home. In it, you might find an open-air palazzo, pergola-style structures dripping with vines and blooming flowers, a dining area with couches for relaxation, water features such as an outdoor water fountain or wall fountain, and ......walkways that led out into the garden proper, perhaps to a prized rosebush or into an olive grove. These are some of the elements characterizing what is now called classical landscape design, also known as traditional landscape design.

Classical landscape design is a subset of formal landscape design that uses linear, clean lines to develop an uncluttered look. These lines can be drawn with rows of trees and well-trimmed hedges, perfect plantings for the classical landscape design. Or perhaps a seat wall made of regimented terra cotta tiles can do double-duty. Here and there, vines, such as ivy or wisteria, can soften any harshness. In this regard, this style is similar to the Mediterranean landscape design with its Roman and Greek influences.

The History of Classical Landscape Design

Borrowing influences from previous civilizations, classical landscape design solidified in Rome and the surrounding countryside. Villas were built with comfortable courtyards, sparkling with the sound of water, shaded by large trees, fragrant with rosemary and citrus fruits. It was from this setting that we got the term "pleasure garden."

In England of the late 1700s, property owners started looking backwards, past the Baroque period and the Renaissance, to the beginnings of western civilization. There, they found classical landscapes making use of woods, water, indigenous plants and small temples. These elements were incorporated into the gardens of that day, further defining the principles of traditional landscape design.

By the way, when Rome fell to the barbarians, the gardens had become so exquisite that the barbarians chose not to ransack them. Instead they kept them up and learned from them. This development is one of the early examples of how we, as humans, learned that beauty can change the world: it can stop violence. This principle is now being used to good effect in gardens started as rehabilitation projects in prisons, inner cities and ghettos.

Choices in Classical Landscape Design

As with all landscape design, the architecture of the house needs to be considered when using a traditional landscape design. For this style, the home and landscape can be tied together through the subtle placement of a hardscape feature, such as the use of tumbled travertine for the courtyard flooring.

Because of the formal principles inherent in this style, you want to strike a balance when choosing materials between boring blandness and baroque lavishness. Think instead in terms of interesting variety. For instance, well-contained decorative gravel can provide color and texture. Courtyards, pool decking and patios should use materials that are symmetrical, in keeping with the formal style. Stone, terra cotta tiles and flagstone are appropriate choices. Granite benches, concrete grottoes and marble urns add sturdiness and reference antiquities.

Your preference for classical landscape design can also be demonstrated in the plants you choose. Your residential garden will be enhanced by fruit trees and other dwarf trees-or perhaps a stand of cypress, mulberry or fig trees. The cheery colors of marigolds, hyacinths and roses are well suited for the classical landscape design. Herbs planted in terra cotta pots scent the air and provide fresh flavor in your outdoor kitchen cooking.

Hardscapes in Classical Landscape Design

Color, form, line, scale, and texture are your means of expressing classical landscape design preferences just as they are with modern landscape design.

Hardscapes to include:

Outdoor rooms for outdoor living. These living areas, in effect, make your home bigger. They also serve to create transition areas that connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. Plus, they further the notion that a garden is a place of rejuvenation. In particular, outdoor kitchens are important to the traditional landscape design.

Outdoor water fountains. If you remember your ancient world history classes, you know that the Romans perfected the aqueduct. So water is prized within classical landscape design and nothing showcases it like a picture-perfect outdoor water fountain. Look for fountains in formal, Romanesque, Italianate, Mediterranean and rustic styles. Those made of tile, cast stone, cast iron and concrete work particularly well with this style.

Swimming pools. When placed within a classical landscape design, the shape of your swimming pool should tend towards basic geometric shapes like rectangles and ovals. Thus, the shape of the pool frames the water and turns it into a classical design element of the landscape. It is often efficient to combine the pool with an outdoor water fountain to eliminate some maintenance redundancies.

Landscape lighting. Landscape lighting is another important element of traditional landscape design as it creates ambiance and lets you enjoy the outdoors, night and day.

Classical Landscape Design: A Houston Setting

"We implemented a classical landscape design for one of our Houston clients, whose home was French Country. For the garden, we chose a design that closely resembles a famous garden in Florence," says Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds. "The landscape design makes good use of gravel and limestone, which looks very natural in a Houston garden. And we planted boxwoods, which we trim and shape regularly as part of a well-thought-out residential landscape maintenance plan. It is a lovely and relaxing space."

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Classic Landscape Design and Traditional Landscape Design in Houston Texas

admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:48:59 +0000

The History of Classical Landscape Design

Choices in Classical Landscape Design

Hardscapes in Classical Landscape Design

Color, form, line, scale, and texture are your means of expressing classical landscape design preferences just as they are with modern landscape design.

Hardscapes to include:
Outdoor rooms for outdoor living. These living areas, in effect, make your home bigger. They also serve to create transition areas that connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. Plus, they further the notion that a garden is a place of rejuvenation. In particular, outdoor kitchens are important to the traditional landscape design.

Landscape lighting. Landscape lighting is another important element of traditional landscape design as it creates ambiance and lets you enjoy the outdoors, night and day.

Classical Landscape Design: A Houston Setting

Classic Landsape Design exterior worlds

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Formal Landscape Design, Residential Landscaping and Installation in Houston Texas

admin — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:24:04 +0000

Formal landscape design invokes order and balance. Think of the gardens of Monticello, the landscaping of Versailles, and, closer to home, the gardens of Bayou Bend, which is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

The hand of the gardener is clearly in evidence in formal landscape designs as the pathways an......d plantings are controlled along crisp lines. It is this discipline that gives a sense of peace and order. Formal landscape design is our attempt to exert our control over nature, to create our idealized version of it.

Throughout history, formal gardens have evolved. Traditional, or classic, landscape design, for instance, is a type of formal garden that uses linear walkways and clipped shrubbery. In the 16th and 17th centuries, knot gardens and parterres were in vogue. Originating in England, a knot garden is a square made of low, clipped hedges. Within the "knot", a variety of blooming plants and herbs grow. Parterres developed in the formal estates of France and are four squares laid in a symmetrical pattern separated by gravel paths. The planting that makes the outline of the parterre is an evergreen shrub trimmed into a pleasant, sometimes intricate, shape. Parterres are designed to be viewed from on high-from the crest of a slope or the balcony of a chateau.

Like language, the term "formal landscape design" continues to change with time. There are few hard and fast rules-but the main constant is to use the principles of formal landscape design to create a landscape that is beautiful and supports the things you love.

Creating Your Formal Residential Landscape Design

Formal gardens need not be boring. They can be quietly dramatic or outright bold. While there are many kinds of formal gardens, they have two qualities in common: balance and symmetry. These attributes are best exemplified by the way the structural lines, called axes, bring the eye to rest where they intersect. Axes are straight lines of sight that lead to a prominent feature, usually the house. Typically a formal residential landscape has two axes perpendicular to one another. Called the main axis and the secondary axis, they often double as paths.

The main axis is usually wider than the secondary path that crosses it. The extra width gives the main axis visual prominence and directs the eye. Thus the eye travels along the main axis, then stops when it reaches the intersection with the secondary axis, which joins it at a 90 degree angle. This joining is a good place for a focal point, such as an outdoor water fountain, that creates interest.

As opposed to an English garden design that uses curved borders with undulating edges, in formal garden design the edges and borders are laid out in neat, geometric shapes-rectangles, squares, triangles or circles. Along with the decisive contouring of the plant materials, these shapes accentuate the stability and serenity of formal landscape designs.

Because of the acute geometry of formal garden designs, some house styles are better suited for formal gardens than others. Colonial and Federal-style houses built of brick or stone work well with this style of garden. Formal gardens nicely complement urban townhouses, especially those constructed in formal architectural styles such as Second Empire, Georgian or Greek Revival. Contemporary designs, with their spare and unadorned lines, also support formal garden design.

Other Features in a Formal Landscape Designs and Formal Garden Designs

Luxury swimming pools. The water is the whole point of a formal pool. You want to create a frame for the water that turns it into a design element within the landscape. To that end, a rectangular shape of water looks inherently formal. Round, oval and square work well, too. Within a formal garden, the pool should be placed where it geometrically fits into the overall design. It can be situated in the middle of the space or unconnected to the other immediate features or structures. The pool is meant to stand out and be noticed. Be mindful of your choice of materials with a pool. You want to stay within the formal realm. Flagstone, tile or brick all work well.

Outdoor water fountains. Fountains fit beautifully in formal landscape designs. Just remember to keep them in the style of the garden and house design. A simple garden design with lots of open space and spare lines can take a more complex water fountain. If, however, your garden is more intricately designed or tightly planted, a simpler fountain works best.

Landscape lighting. Use the different types of landscape lighting-down-lighting, up-lighting, architectural lighting, incandescent lights-to play up the theatricality of a formal landscape design.

Residential Landscape Maintenance is the Key

An ongoing feature of formal gardens is maintenance. Regular and conscientious maintenance will keep your formal landscape design formal. "After spending a lot of money on your landscape installation, it only makes sense to protect it and make sure it develops as designed. And that's where a landscape maintenance program comes in," says Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds. "As part of a thorough landscape maintenance program, hedges as well as other shrubs and bushes should be trimmed regularly to maintain the desired contours. Ground cover and vines should be edged to maintain a neat appearance. This regularly-scheduled attention will ensure that all elements conform to the overall plan of the formal landscape design."

Formal Landscape Design Exterior Worlds

Outdoor Fireplaces Project in Houston Texas

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:51:27 +0000

A couple named Rick and Susan Ashcroft contacted Exterior Worlds back in the spring of 2000. They told us that they had always wanted a fireplace, but knew the winters in Houston were too mild to justify having one installed indoors. They asked us if we could build them an outdoor fireplace and a patio adjacent to their livin......g room. The intent was to create a virtual extension of the living room centered on a warm element that would make chilly nights in the early spring, late autumn, and winter both comfortable and pleasant for gatherings and conversation.

We agreed with this plan wholeheartedly. Outdoor fireplaces like this are much more useful in temperate, humid climates. The warmth of a fire adds relief from both cold and humidity, and the structure of a fireplace is an ideal architectural compliment to the styles of many home builds. To create this type of centerpiece, however, we would have to build a special patio that would be reminiscent of interior architecture and also complimentary to outdoor landscaping. The best way to accomplish this was to place symmetrically square interlocking pavers in a pattern that mimicked that of indoor tile. This helped accentuate the feeling of a virtual living room, and it better blended with the stonework and vegetation in the surrounding landscape.

We built the outdoor fireplace completely out of natural stone, fitting each one together like pieces in a puzzle. The chimney was approximately 2 ½ times higher than the fireplace interior, and added a stately touch to the backdrop of the landscape. Two flanking columns, both slightly higher than the fireplace interior, were constructed on either side. This added an Old World sensibility to the structure that naturally drew the eye toward the logs that burned in its interior on cold nights. There was one more element, however, that we needed to add in order to make this elegant feature a truly year-round keynote and that was the element of concealed lighting. On nights too warm to light a fire, it was still possible to enjoy the illusion of fire by using these special luminaires to light the interior, the stones in the chimney, and the two flanking columns. This created a sublime interplay of firelight and stone that rose majestically into the night and provided the ideal gathering point for a summer dinner party or family gathering.

At the end of the patio opposite the outdoor fireplace, there was a drop-off of about 4 feet. Here, we built a stone staircase that connected the patio to a walkway that ran around the corner of the home to the natural swimming pool. Next to the steps, we built a stone wall that connected on both ends to the patio, giving us ample room for a planter populated with a number of indigenous plant species. We completed the project by planting an oak tree within this enclosure in order to give the patio future shade, and also to provide a place to mount an outdoor chandelier to fully magnify the sense of indoor living turned inside out.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Outdoor fireplaces or Landscape Design

English Garden Design and Residential Engish Landscape Designers in Houston Texas

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:01:40 +0000

You know one when you see it. The English garden design is all about curved beds, winding paths, riotous color. The gardener's hand is light. There-but just barely. It lets nature do its own thing. You might even say that the English garden design is controlled chaos.

The history of English garden design began...... with the revolt against the constraints of formal landscape design and classic landscape design. These two forms, with their appreciation of balance, symmetry and geometry, sit on the opposing end of the spectrum from English garden design. Where formal gardens find beauty in linearity, English gardens use undulating lines. Where formal gardens seek right angles, English gardens use few, if any, angles. The words of the English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744)-the "amiable simplicity of unadorned nature"-describe this style.

Impressionist painters were key influencers in the continuing development of the English garden design. Claude Monet (1840-1926) claimed that painting and gardening were his only two interests in life. When he first moved to Giverny, where he would build his famous water gardens, his first concern was to arrange the garden in a rampant, naturalistic explosion of color.

The residential English garden design has since become hugely popular in the United States. Houston's semi-tropical climate is well suited for vine-covered pergolas, sunny rose gardens, dazzling azalea beds and bursts of seasonal color-all plant materials that fit well within the English garden's concept of abundance.

A Quick Study of English Gardens

The English garden design is the essence of an informal garden. The different colors and textures of the plant materials-the profuse wildness-draw the viewer in, creating a feast for the mind's eye. However, while it has elements of a naturalistic garden, it is not considered of this style. Instead, flowering plants are arranged in a seemingly haphazard arrangement that merely recalls a natural landscape.

The general characteristics of an English garden design fall along these lines:

Plants are chosen out of personal preference or connection. It is common to find cuttings from the gardens of family and friends.

Regional plants have prominence because they enhance the naturalistic feel.

Plants, especially flowering ones, are grouped into smaller clumps-not drifts. The desired effect is for the garden to appear somewhat random, but not messy.

Many different kinds of plants are used-annuals, bulbs, herbs, perennials, shrubs and vines.

Scent is very important in an English garden design. Hence, the prevalence of roses and herbs.

Often the garden is enclosed by a picket fence or hedge to help bring some additional order.

Strong mix of colors.

Colors of an English Garden: Evoking the Emotions

English garden design uses plants to reach the viewer emotionally rather than intellectually. Primarily, it is done with color.

Different colors affect people differently, but generally each color has its own psychological appeal. Green is the most restful color. Pale greens and yellow-greens are perfect for an English garden design because they feel lighter, brighter and more informal. White creates a sense of space in a garden. Red calls attention to itself or what it surrounds, making it perfect for planting near focal points. Apricot, salmon and peach tints are friendly and welcoming.

Space and Elements of the English Garden Design

The arrangement of elements within the English garden space is very important. Whereas the modern garden design uses a philosophy of "less is more", the English garden simply says "more."

Some elements to consider for an English garden:

Gates. The garden entryway can become an important element of an English garden design. Plants can soften the garden gate, making it even more inviting.

Hardscapes. Hardscapes are non-plant material features of landscape design. Popular residential hardscape structures made of wood that work well in an English garden design include arbors, pergolas and gazebos. In an English garden, walkways meander through the landscape while providing easy access to your home and other structures. Perhaps a retaining wall, a short wall used to hold the soil in place, is needed as part of a proper landscape drainage system. If so, good landscape designers and landscape architects will construct it so that it fits the design.

Material choices. Just as flagstone and travertine work well in a Mediterranean garden design, brick and gravel complement an English garden design.

The Ever After of an English Garden

While English gardens are lower in maintenance than a formal landscape design, a landscape maintenance program is still required. Especially it will involve the systematic feeding of flowers, bushes and trees. Since trees are a vital part of the English garden, make sure proper tree preservation methods are used during installation. "A temporary irrigation system and hand-digging to minimize damage to trees and their root systems are a very important part of tree preservation," explains Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds. For the longer term, a permanent irrigation system is also a plus for the entire landscape since it will increase the ease of the required regular watering.

English Garden Design exterior worlds

Houston Landscaping Ideas

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:06:50 +0000

Do you cut out and collect magazine pictures of great landscaping ideas? Do you have a photo album of, say, a stately English mansion that you'd love to use for your home landscape design in Houston? Have you admired the plants and trees of European countryside estates and wondered if they would grow on the Texas coastal plai......ns? If so, then you have a beautiful start to turning your landscaping ideas into reality.

Landscaping Ideas: The Gathering

Landscape design starts with ideas. Your ideas-before you bring in the professionals. It is the time to write down not only your needs, but also your wishes and deepest desires. This is true whether you want to landscape a two-acre homestead or install a small garden design.

Jeff Halper, landscape design specialist with Exterior Worlds, says, "Landscaping ideas help in your own landscaping design process. The more landscape ideas and photos one has, the better. Even landscaping ideas of things one doesn't like can help landscape designers and landscape architects achieve the desired results."

Landscaping Ideas: Elements to Consider

Hardscapes. Hardscapes-the non-plant material of your landscape design-play a critical part of any garden landscape project. Types of hardscapes include pathways, retaining walls, pool decking and driveways. You will need to make material choices that range from basic concrete to decorative stone and brick to wooden decking.

Luxury swimming pools. A swimming pool is a necessity for any upscale home. It finishes off the design of the house because it is a natural extension of your indoor living space. All choices about a pool should factor in safety. One way to do it is through the use of fences. Halper points out that they can be built in a non-intrusive way. "We like to hide fences and gates by weaving them among shrubbery. This method makes the pool area safe, up to code and aesthetically pleasing," he says.

Outdoor water fountains. Outdoor water fountains come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and styles. Additional features can be added, such as a cascading waterfall or a contemporary wall fountain. Whatever style you prefer, the main thing to remember is that your overall landscape will be improved if you use an outdoor water fountain that coordinates with the style of your home and garden.

Outdoor kitchens. Decisions to make concerning your outdoor kitchen include whether to cover it or not. You will want to consider the overall size needed. For instance, for the chairs at the dining table, you need at least two feet away from any other element, especially the grill or any step-downs. Be sure to plan for adequate cabinet space. Counter top options include tile, granite, stone and concrete. Also you'll have choices regarding overhead fans and types of refrigeration.

Landscaping Ideas: Theme Possibilities

Modern landscape design. Modern garden design tends to focus on scale rather than formal or classic designs that are based on axial relationships from Greek, Roman, and classical architectural traditions. The architecture of the house needs to be carefully considered when using a contemporary garden design. The home and landscape can be tied together through selective use of plantings or the intelligent placement of a hardscape feature, such as an organic pathway to the front door.

Formal landscape design. Formal landscape design invokes order and balance. Think of the gardens of Monticello, the landscaping of Versailles, and, closer to home, the gardens of Bayou Bend, which is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

English garden design. The English garden design is all about curved beds, winding paths and free-flowing color. The gardener's hand is light. There-but just barely. Houston's semi-tropical climate is well suited for vine-covered pergolas, sunny rose gardens, and sparkling azalea beds-all plant materials that fit well within the English garden's concept of abundance.

Mediterranean landscape design. The phrase to live by in this style is "Old World ambiance." Favored materials include stone, weathered bricks, terra cotta tiles, flagstone, tumbled travertine, wooden beams, wrought iron, classical statuary and Roman columns, and outdoor furniture that evokes Arabian, Moroccan or Italian sensibilities.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Landscaping ideas

Mediterranean Landscape Design and Garden Designers in Houston Texas

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:18:22 +0000

Every garden has a bit of fantasy in it and, for Houstonians longing for the look and feel of, say, Tuscany or the Italian Renaissance period, no garden fills that desire like a Mediterranean landscape design.

Combining elegant elements of nature with the relaxed Mediterranean culture, the Mediterranean landsc......ape design can go from simple, yet cultivated to elaborate lavishness. Crystal clear water and outdoor water fountains, sweet herbs right off the vine to be used in outdoor kitchens, relaxed spaces for entertainment, and lush, practical vegetation characterized the Mediterranean landscape design.

Just as a rose by any other name smells sweet, so too the Mediterranean landscape design. It is known variously as Andalusian, Santa Barbara Revival, Tuscan and Moroccan styles. Primarily taking its name from the climate of the Mediterranean region and southern Europe, it falls midway between the broad formal and informal garden design categories. The influences of classic landscape design can clearly be seen in this style due to the proximity and prominence of ancient Rome.

Mediterranean Landscape Design-Through History

The Mediterranean landscapes originated in ancient Arabia and evolved, as all garden styles have, throughout the centuries. Major influences were the gardens of Greece, Rome and Italy.

Since it is so closely associated with the warm, sometimes arid, climate of the Mediterranean region, this style has little in common with English garden design, largely due to plant material choices. Because of its evocation of another time and place, the Mediterranean landscape design stands apart from modern landscape designs with its emphasis on contemporary choices and imagery.

Features of Mediterranean Landscape Designs

You can pick and choose among several different striking features suitable for residential gardens done in the Mediterranean style. The byword to remember is "Old World ambiance."

Stone, weathered bricks, terra cotta tiles, flagstone, tumbled travertine
Wooden beams
Wrought iron
Classical statuary and Roman columns
Outdoor furniture that evokes Arabian, Moroccan or Italian sensibilities

The architecture of the house needs to be carefully considered when using a Mediterranean landscape design. Actually the house dictates this choice, as some architectural styles-Colonial and Federal-style come to mind-would jar the senses if paired with a Mediterranean garden. The intelligent placement of a hardscape feature, perhaps a wrought iron garden gate in the curvaceous style of Barcelona, can be used to solidify the connection to your home.

When this style is appropriate, the home and landscape can also be tied together through selective use of plantings. Your choice of plants, in fact, further defines your Mediterranean design:

Trees and shrubs. Given the hot climate from which this style arose, shade is extremely important-making it perfect for the Houston area. Live oaks, with their twists and turns, look lovely in this garden. Also, Italian cypress, olive trees and fruit trees such as orange and lemon trees.

Vines. Use creeping vines like wisteria and grapevines.

Herb gardens. Basil, rosemary, sage and thyme enhance the Italian influence and create enticing smells. Herbs are especially attractive in terra cotta planters.

Vegetable gardens. Since authentic Mediterranean gardens are practical, heralding back to their roots in farming cultures, a vegetable garden fits right into the landscape. A vegetable garden not only provides sustenance, but also color.

The Spaces of the Mediterranean Landscape Design

The residential garden with a Mediterranean flair is beautiful and relaxed, capturing the easy living of the outdoors. In choosing the spaces and hardscapes to further augment that tone, consider these options:

Outdoor kitchens. A focal point of outdoor entertainment, a summer kitchen provides a natural gathering place. Its design should tie the house and the landscape together and must, above all, be functional.

Outdoor water fountains. Water is a critical part of the Mediterranean landscape design, so consider fountains done in an Italianate, Romanesque or rustic style. Be mindful of scale-you want the fountain to be in proportion to the rest of the landscape. Also consider the sightlines of the shooting water from your favorite viewing spot.

Luxury swimming pools. Within the Mediterranean landscape design, classic shapes, like rectangles and circles, work well. Which, given the versatility of basic forms, means the pools can be simple and austere-or eye-catching and mesmerizing. Often, you can combine them with an outdoor water fountain that eliminates some redundancies while adding vitality to your overall design.

Walkways. Gravel, stone, bricks and flagstone work well for paths in the Mediterranean landscape design. Neutral colors are preferred.

Final Thoughts on the Mediterranean Landscape Design

Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds says, "Our clients travel to Europe and come home wanting to emulate a scene that they fell in love with in Italy, Tuscany, Spain or Greece. As the name implies, Mediterranean gardens are usually formal, dry-climate gardens. They have the same attributes-linearity, use of axis and central focal points-of formal landscape design. I think their most distinguishing feature is in their use of materials: limestone or gravels for paths, junipers, Italian cypress, dwarf yaupons and other blue-green or grey dry plants. Think of the dry, rocky hills of Austin with olive groves."

He goes on to say, "What surprises people most with this type of design is the amount of math and order that it takes to create chaos in a garden."

Mediterranean Landscape Design Exterior Worlds

Houston Paver Patio

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:43:37 +0000

Prized for their durability, affordability and strength, patio pavers-or concrete pavers-have become increasingly popular among U.S. homeowners. Because they come in many shapes, sizes, colors, patterns and designs, patio pavers bring versatility to your patio design. They can be used in small garden designs, outdoor rooms, f......ormal and informal spaces, entryways, in your deck design and...well, wherever you can think of a landscaping idea.

Patio pavers are both elegant and low-maintenance. When properly installed, they rarely crack, shift or sag. Should any paver become stained or chipped, they can be easily repaired or replaced, something not necessarily duplicated with other flooring options.

Patio Pavers: Types of Pavers

The variety of shapes and textures for pavers accounts for much of their popularity. A list would include the look of stone (think of the earthy and storied stone fences of old Ireland), flagstone (this paver mimics the interesting, irregular shapes of original flagstone), cobblestone (antiquing technology is used to give the appearance of stone used in an Old World piazza like you might find in an Italian villa), and rectangular brick (with this classic, refined look you have the flexibility to create many interesting architectural designs).

For homeowners who are interested in a green garden-"green", as in ecologically-sensitive-you can find pavers that are designed to let plants grow through them. This innovative design is actually a two-way street since it also allows water to filter naturally into the soil instead of running off. In other words, it works with nature while still permitting you to shape and maintain your landscape.

Patio Pavers: Patterns

Square, rectangular, hexagon, octagon-there are only a few of the shapes you will find for patio pavers. Once you've picked out the shape of your choice, you can then have fun choosing a design in which to lay them. Some examples:

Basket weave. Pavers are laid in a checkerboard pattern, something that the eye welcomes and is drawn to. It is a popular choice for patios. This pattern is also known as parquet.

Herringbone. With this design, pavers are put down at either a 45 or 90 degree angle with the angle rotating in direction with each sequence. It also is a commonly chosen pattern for patios because it is tasteful and classic.

Flagstone. This design, also called "random", uses different sizes of pavers for a single application. When putting it down, it might feel like a giant jigsaw puzzle. It is a good choice for paths, walkways and driveways.

Circle design. This challenging pattern, due to the degree of difficulty in creating curves, makes for a memorable effect. Usually done with the stone or rectangular brick shapes, although other shapes can be used.

Running bond or stack bond pattern. These patterns alternate each course of pavers back and forth in the pattern commonly seen on most brick houses. Running bond is one of the most practical patterns for outdoor patios. Stack bond works well in areas with lots of foot traffic, such as walkways.

In coming up with the design for your patio pavers, remember that the same project can use two or more different colors of concrete pavers. You can mix the textures, too. For instance, for the main part of the patio you might go with a cobblestone square look in a subtle earth tone. For the edge, you could then pick the classic look of hand-hewn stone in an octagonal shape in a slightly different shade. The geometrics of the two shapes play well against each other while the two color tones naturally complement and enhance the other, both blending naturally into the landscape garden design-elegant, timeless and graceful.

Patio Pavers: Hire a Professional

Your landscaper, landscape designer or landscape architect can help you create the perfect design and match for your patio design project. Further, they can help you coordinate and integrate the look with your home's architecture and other landscape elements. Besides patios, concrete pavers have a variety of uses for the hardscapes of your landscape design, including driveways, motor courts, pathways, retaining walls, patio walls, outdoor kitchens, and decking around a luxury swimming pool.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share information about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Paver Patio or patios and outdoors