Dazzling Designs: Residential Design

A RETURN TO GLAMOUR
Leydet Residence: Horizons West Landscaping, Tucson, Ariz.

Prior to being revamped by Horizons West Landscaping, Tucson, Ariz., the Leydet residence was "an overgrown mess," according to J.D. Di Meglio, the company’s general manager. To bring the property back to its glory days, the project entailed a complete renovation and replacement of all major landscape elements while preserving the grounds’ elegant 1930s style, Di Meglio related.

One of the projects’ most interesting challenges was removing 12 palm trees without damaging the existing landscape. "We had to chop them down in between everything else," Di Meglio recalled. The stumps were then buried and a raised perennial bed was placed where the trees once were. Additional project elements included contrasting a subdued green background with heavy annual plantings for vibrant color, using an Octillo screen with honeysuckle vines to disguise the pool equipment area, installing used brick patios and lawn edging as well as a new irrigation system zoned to minimize water consumption.

This project, which took two months to complete, won the Presidential Award from the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association in 1999 as well as the Judges Award for Residential Irrigation and Award of Excellence for Single Family Residential Installation ($10,001-$25,000).

RURAL REVIVAL
Residence At Clover Bend: Bob Jackson Landscapes, Owings Mills, Md.

The objective of this project was to complement the European country styling of the clients’ house, according to Bob Jackson, president, Bob Jackson Landscapes, Owings Mills, Md. The design focus was to create a landscape with texture and color easily visible from inside the house. The design also needed to capitalize on the house’s view of the surrounding rural area.

With many landscape elements installed prior to the project, such as a driveway and an irrigation system, one challenge included taking precautions to avoid damage while installing the cobblestone entrance, front entrance piers, side bluestone patio and specimen trees by crane. Because of "fast track" installation schedule, plant material was dug in spring and carefully held until its mid-June planting. Throughout the summer, planting required special on-site care to overcome drought and heat conditions.

This project won the Grand Award (Residential Design/Build - Above $100,000) in 1999 from the Associated Landscape Contractors of America.

CALIFORNIA DREAM
Silver Residence: Richard Taylor and Associates, Costa Mesa, Calif.

The goal of this nine-month renovation project was to produce a clean look that fit the coastal home’s contemporary, Mediterranean style, according to Richard Taylor, president, Richard Taylor and Associates, Costa Mesa, Calif.

Specific challenges included removing all existing concrete from the yard, which was at least 7 inches deep, took five to seven weeks to remove and was difficult to access, Taylor recalled. The concrete was replaced with limestone imported from France to match existing limestone areas, which were left intact.

Another challenge was finding an 84-inch tree to fit in an 85-inch hole in the front yard. Fortunately, the perfect Ficus was found, Taylor said. Other plant material used included bold Cycas, Zamia and Cacti to contrast with the property’s more common plant material. Dracaena dracos and succulents were placed in pots and on pedestals by the pool area.

This project won the 2000 President’s Award from the California Landscape Contractors Association’s Long Beach/Orange County Chapter.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN MAGNIFICENCE
Tucker Residence: Bear Creek Landscape Co., Evergreen, Colo.

This project’s goal was to create a natural, low maintenance yet stunning landscape, according to Lari Besant, landscape designer, Bear Creek Landscape Co., Evergreen, Colo.

One of the most interesting challenges on this job was to camouflage the house’s view of a nudist camp in the valley below. "The trick was to screen out the camp without losing the view," Besant related. To achieve this, mid-sized shrubs were mixed in with aspen.

In order to reduce fire risk, the property’s native vegetation was thinned out and much of the new plantings were established away from the house. To "naturalize" the planting, large, granite boulders were trucked in from local stone quarries and partially buried using a crane loader and a skid steer, Besant described. Other key landscape elements – which included all native plant material – included anchoring the entire driveway with large Colorado spruce as well as covering large embankments in wildflowers.

A drip irrigation system also was installed, which fit with the homeowners’ desire for a low-maintenance landscape as well as with the native plant material’s water needs, Besant noted. The landscape was finished off with low-voltage lighting.

This project took about three weeks to complete and won a 1999 merit award from the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado.

AN IMPRESSIVE TRANSFORMATION
Black Residence: Pavliks Custom Landscaping, (Landscape East & West), Portland, Ore.

This project’s goal was to transform the clients’ yard, once overrun with blackberries, morning glory and other noxious weeds, into a private garden space with a European flavor. This design/build project’s biggest challenge was access – this property was located in a hilly area of Portland on a narrow, steep street. All work was done by hand since there was no room for installation equipment and little storage space for materials.

A few installation intricacies included constructing a 9-foot-high retaining wall to create more garden space on the front side yard, building a sunning deck and two tile terraces in the backyard along with a small garden planted with herbs, ground covers and perennials. In the backyard, numerous boulders were placed as another retaining wall, allowing for a stairway to be built below the decks. A basalt stone step pathway was installed to provide access from the back deck to the front yard. Multiple stone walls were built to create additional usable garden space. Irrigation and lighting also was added.

This project won a 1999 award in the residential design/build category (More than $75,000) from the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association.

The author is Associate Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine.