Diversity in Our Designs, Craftsmanship in Our Work

Welcome to our Design Gallery. The projects displayed here are recent examples of work we recently designed and completed. We continually update this section of our web site and would enjoy displaying your project as our next addition.

Case Study #1: Mercer Island Garden Oasis

The objective for this project was to create several outdoor rooms wrapped in texture, color and the sound of water. We created two diverse seating areas that addressed interior rooms of the house. The existing concrete terraces were removed. The hillside was excavated. We constructed terraces using dimensional paving stone near the house entries. The paving gives way to a more random pattern as it finds it's way out into the garden. The basalt water basin is the garden's fulcrum; all paths and sitting spaces share this common element. A wood arbor emphasizes the central seating area where family and friends gather. Layers of plants provide an ever-changing palette to view from both inside and outside the house. Outdoor lighting at night completes the garden providing a different perception of the garden's textures and patterns.

[click on any image to view a larger picture]

before	during construction
after

Case Study #2: Water Garden

The project objective was to build a residential water garden that wrapped itself around existing seating terraces and utilized an existing steep hillside.

Working with the grand proportions of both site and the existing residence we imported large granite boulders and set to work creating pools and falls that would be captured visually and audibly from various viewpoints around the property. We added Paths that became bridges over streams in order to access the water as it rushed to form quite pools. Boulders became sculpture and native plants softened the installation allowing it to blend in with the surrounding rural landscape.

[click on any image to view a larger picture]

Case Study #3: North-end Remodel

The project objective was - plain and simple-to give this house a facelift. The front entry was deteriorating and the main landscape element (tree) dominated the front yard.

We removed the tree to "open up" the front yard for the possibility of creating a front entry garden. We then removed and reformed the entry walk to take advantage of the spacious yard. A secluded seating space using random bluestone paving was created in front to take advantage of the western exposure. The entire yard was wrapped in layers of new dwarf trees, perennials and shrubs. The front lawn was renovated and left in respect to the context of the neighborhood. Outdoor lighting was added to further compliment this project at night.

[click on any image to view a larger picture]

before

after

Case Study #4: Eastside Remodel

Project objective was to create more useable space. The original landscape surroundings of this house either fell away immediately to the street or rose high above to the adjoining property. We terraced the site with retaining walls of various materials to create a level lawn area and an expansive backyard terrace. We worked with the topography to create a stream that cascaded over a rustic retaining wall.

[click on any image to view a larger picture]

Other Projects

[click on any image to view a larger picture]

fountain	perennial pathway and border	concrete and brick steps, wood arbor
mortar set bluestone path	brick patio & plantings	brick & concrete steps