Staircases in the Garden

Here are a few examples of staircases that we have designed for some of our clients. I know the gardeners out there will be disappointed for the lack of plants, but it is still nice to show a good foundation for a garden. I love stairs in the landscape because they give a person a destination. They can lead someone to a patio, a sunken fire pit, a water feature or simply another area of the garden. They can also frame a landscape as in the top photo and cause a person to pause and take in the view. They also offer so many possibilities as far as container gardens, lighting display and even a place to set the pumpkins in October.

Patio and Landscape Upgrade

With this particular design, we were challenged to make a small yard more functional. We chose an otherwise awkward, unusable space in the side yard to feature a new concrete patio. Although it isn't yet furnished, it will be a nice spot to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and talk with the neighbors. This patio will function almost as a substitute for the traditional front porch.

We extended the patio into the backyard in order to have a more private place to sit and also a place to hide the grill. The backyard is small, but we left plenty of green space for the dogs, for play and for future gardening. Once the plants grow in and the patio is softened with some container plantings, it will be a very enjoyable little spot.

A Multi-Level Backyard Project

This project was a challenge, but also very rewarding in the end. The yard had a unique slope that wasn't really user friendly, so we made it a multi-level garden space with a spot for eating dinner, a spot for the hot tub and the crowd-pleasing fire pit. It is the ultimate party spot (for suburban America anyway)!

This is the view from the fire pit. There is an upper level patio for dining and also the empty space to the left probably has a table on it by now. We used a variety of materials, including flagstone, boulders and stamped concrete.

Here is the focal point of the yard, the fire pit. There is a flagstone seat wall surrounded by grasses. It was a fun project.

View from the upper level dining area.

Cool Water Feature for Hot Days

This is a water feature we designed as a focal point for a patio. On a hot day like today, it would be a nice addition to any garden space. We included italian mosaic tile, copper and mexican beach pebble to give it a beach-y vibe. For us land-locked Nebraskans, a little water goes a long way!

Live your Life Outside

A deck doesn't have to be boring. Too many backyards go unused simply because they don't have an inviting transitional space. This deck is inviting and multi-functional. The main area is ideal for dining and everyday use. The pergola provides shade and the fan keeps you cool in the summer heat. There is a secondary, functional landing as well that is perfect for when entertaining a crowd. Finally, there is a rustic, flagstone patio with a fire pit to warm you up doing the colder months. This deck increases the usable space in the homeowner's backyard and invites people to sit and stay awhile... no matter what time of year. We love to design something that looks good, but also truly enhances the functionality of your outdoor space.

A transitional space doesn't have to be a fancy deck either. An herb garden right outside the kitchen is functional and invites us out daily during the growing season. A small patio with some seating and perhaps a fire pit would also do the trick. It is nice if these spaces relate to the adjacent indoor rooms such as a small and private patio for two off of a bedroom or a larger patio designed for entertaining off of the kitchen or living room. There are small things we can do to really increase our homes living spaces and encourage ourselves to step outside!

Take a look at a few of our other decks, patios and structures for some ideas.

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A Place to Entertain

Here are some images from a project we completed this past spring. There are a lot of fun features including a fire pit, two water features, a built-in grill, and an inviting seating wall.

Cooper, the neighbor's dog even enjoys hanging out here until his mom gets home from work!

This was a really fun project to work on and I am excited to see it once the plants get established.

As you can see, there is plenty of space for entertaining or dining al fresco.

Garden Party

It's funny how when you're working on someone's outdoor project, they often say they will have a party and invite you as a thank you... most of the time that doesn't happen... but last week it actually did happen! This was a complete outdoor living renovation featuring a built-in grill, several water features, a fire pit and plenty of space to entertain. The kids love it so much they actually do their homework out there now! The client also said that she has to keep the ingredients for s'mores stocked in case of a sudden craving. These clients were great to work with and had this party to thank all who were involved in creating this space. This patio is one of my favorite projects and I will be sure to post more pictures of it in the future.