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A Garden Lecture in Cashiers NC

May 5, 2014

Join Mary Palmer for a talk on Empowered Gardens: Everything You Wanted to Know About Mountain Garden Design But Were Afraid to Ask on May 29 at 10 a.m. at the Albert Carlton Library in Cashiers.

For reservations, call 828-743-0307. Mary will also be available for book signings!

The event is to kickoff a series of talks that Mary Palmer will give in Cashiers as part of the opening of the Dovecote Garden & Porch Delights in Cashiers. The talks will be every Thursday at 10 a.m. – starting in June.

Dovecote Garden & Porch Delights: Open All Summer!

Dovecote is also the North Carolina offices for Dargen Landscape Architects. Stop by to talk about a consultation for your garden — or stroll around our gardens. The address is:

35 Flash Point
Drive, Cashiers, NC 28717

Hours: 11-3 Thursday, Friday and Saturday… or by appointment

Phone number: 828-743- 0307

Historic Atlanta Garden Design

May 2, 2014

A gorgeous French Chateau-style mansion was in need of new landscape design. The project meant a lot to us because of the famous architect associated with the mansion, located in the historic neighborhood of Atlanta.

Our Atlanta landscape design firm was naturally excited to take on the delightful task of rebuilding the gardens for the Phil Walden estate in 2001. Hugh Dargen, principle of Dargen Landscape Architects, worked together with Walden, who was the founder of Capricorn Records and an avid historic preservationist.

We were particularly enthusiastic because this historic French chateau was designed by Neel Reid, a prominent architect who died at an early age in 1926. Before his passing, he left a series of beaux-arts mansions in the Atlanta area that reflected his deep love for European classical architecture.

Some of Atlanta’s most recognizable landmark mansions were designed in the classical style and built in the early 20th century by the city’s then-top architectural firms led by Neel Reid: Hentz, Reid & Adler.

Historic Atlanta Gardens

The owner believed that his gorgeous Atlanta mansion deserved to be encompassed by a landscape design that enhances and complements its design. As longtime Atlanta landscape design consultants, we were sensitive to the history associated with the Walden home and the Buckhead neighborhood.

Walden Estate - Pool View — Pool View of Buckhead Mansion

Our master landscape plan for this Atlanta treasure employed the principles of geometry to enhance the grand structure. We’ll be featuring more of this project in future blog entries. See more about the Walden home in our Houzz portfolio as well!

Enhance Your Landscape with an Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit

April 29, 2014

An outdoor fireplace or fire pit is one of the most attractive, useful and special hardscape design features you can install in your backyard landscape. Why? Because they can be used year-round, become a part of your outdoor kitchen and be a spot where your family, friends and guests will make memories that last a lifetime.

There are so many different styles of outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, so we thought we we’d share some of them with you and discuss the best applications of each for your backyard.

Extend your outdoor living space
Oftentimes, we see outdoor fireplaces added directly to the perimeter landscape, which instantly increases the square footage of your home. Your fireplace can be built directly on the outside of your house, tying into an existing chimney system on the inside. Additional seating alongside the fireplace will enhance its function. You can also build a fireplace niche on a wall that extends adjacent to your home. This is ideal if you live in an area that’s windy or with close neighbors, in order to create a more private and sheltered courtyard area.

Atlanta landscape architects — Source: Pedersen Associates via Houzz

Atlanta GA landscape architects — Source: Cornerstone Architects via Houzz

Extend or link the perimeter
If you like the idea of having a fireplace or fire pit further away from your home, we recommend placing it on the extended perimeter of your patio or backyard border. This can be a wonderful way to use the perimeter to link one area of your yard to another.

Charleston landscape architects — Source: Mary Price via Houzz

landscape architects in Atlanta — Source: Simpson Design Group Architects via Houzz

A remote focal feature
Because outdoor fire pits tend to be late night congregation areas, many homeowners choose to keep the space removed from the main house. This helps buffer indoor occupants from late-night conversation and laughter. It also protects those around the fire from the glow of exterior house lights, creating a sense of privacy and a better view of the stars.

Cashiers landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects

Western NC landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Lifelong Landscape Design

Adding a fireplace or fire pit to your outdoor landscape will provide enjoyable evenings for a lifetime and will also enhance the resale value of your home. If you’re ready to discuss adding a fireplace to your hardscape or a fire pit in your landscape master plan, contact Dargan Landscape Architects.

Outdoor Sanctuaries

April 25, 2014

As spring continues to bloom, it’s hard not to spend your day outdoors. In an outdoor sanctuary, you’ll find the best of both worlds — wonderful fresh air and natural beauty, along with the intimacy of the great indoors. In Mary Palmer’s book Timeless Landscape Design, she shares some features of the best in class for this category to help you get the most out of your outdoor sanctuaries, whether you’re looking to add a terraced perimeter, courtyard, walled garden or all of the above.

Terraced Perimeters
A terraced perimeter is a paved outdoor area that behaves as an extension of the nearest room(s). They make the adjoining rooms feel and appear larger and can add space and seating that may be lacking otherwise. Consider adding a series of these areas to create a linked perimeter that wraps around your home. By simply bordering your home with a terraced perimeter, you’ll create a 24/7, multipurpose space for relaxing, eating and entertaining.

Buckhead landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Courtyards
Courtyards are paved outdoor sanctuaries in which two out of four enclosing walls are shared with the home itself. The size, wall height and wall material used in courtyards vary depending on building codes and personal preference. It’s best to choose a style that will appear seamless with your home’s existing style instead of making a separate design statement.

Charleston SC landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

For privacy, walls enclosing courtyards are typically six to eight feet tall. Growing vines and creeping plants along your walls can soften their solid appearance. To achieve this effect, try adding a custom treillage to your wall, or support lattices that guide the direction of your plant’s growth. Water elements are perfect for drowning out unwanted noise, creating ambiance and providing a lovely focal point. Remember that every decision and selection appears magnified in smaller spaces, so your area should be carefully planned and executed.

Walled Gardens
Walled gardens cover a wide variety of functions and are less room-like than courtyards. They enclose everything from swimming pools to formal gardens to lawns. They also operate as separate entities, not necessarily adjoined to any other rooms or walls of the home. You can even situate a small courtyard within a walled garden to create more dimension.

Charleston landscape design — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Are you inspired by these lush garden ideas? Contact Dargan Landscape Architects, and let us help you turn your home’s outdoor sanctuary dreams into a reality.

P.S. – Don’t forget to join us at The Garden Show of Buckhead this weekend! Hugh and Mary Palmer will unveil their miniature landscapes at the event, which takes place at The Buckhead Theatre Friday through Sunday. Be sure to stop by on Saturday from 4 to 5 pm for Mary Palmer’s Big Birthday!

Adding a Terrace to Your Landscape’s Perimeter Spaces

April 23, 2014

Terraces are one of the most important aspects of your landscape’s perimeter spaces, especially for those who live in smaller suburban homes and townhouses, where they may comprise the majority — if not the entirety — of your landscape plan. A terrace, or patio, is any paved surface that joins the house, regardless of its size. A well-designed terrace will be congruent with the existing architecture and will also create a seamless transition to the subsequent landscape, providing homeowners with more ways to use their outdoor living space to the fullest.

If you’re considering the addition of a terrace for your landscape, consider the following tips from Mary Palmer’s book, Timeless Landscape Design:

Size: The first thing you’ll want to consider is how large or small your terrace should be.

Small. A small terrace is ideal for an intimate bistro table for two. In cases where outdoor space is limited, a 6’x6′ space will suffice. For a sightly larger dining area, you may want to allow for a 12’x12′ area.

Buckhead GA landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Medium. If you entertain often and enjoy dining alfresco, we recommend at least a medium-sized terrace, measuring 12’x18′. This will accommodate two 60-inch round tables, which can each comfortably seat six to eight people with room to move.

Large. If you commonly host large gatherings, a large terrace should measure at least 24’x36′ and accommodate three 60-inch tables.

Larger terraces are often required in backyards with a pool to provide enough patio space for entering/exiting the pool and lounging. Without ample space, the pool may become littered with landscape debris.

Shapes. A terrace’s shape is usually determined by its function. If the terrace will have a grill, that should be accounted for to prevent impeding traffic flow. Pools and water features affect the shape, as does the size of the house — the larger the house, the larger the terrace for proportion’s sake. Ground-level terraces are often designed with a round or bowed shape to create a graceful aesthetic that flows into nature.

Materials. The two most traditional terrace materials are brick and stone. The largest surface area is called the “field.” If you choose a different material for the edge, this area is referred to as “edging” or “banding.” The materials and colors you choose are completely dependent on your existing architecture and landscape features. Monochromatic palettes are optimal for a soothing ambiance. Contrasting colors and patterns will also liven things up.

Sea Island GA landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

For more information on terraces and perimeter spaces, purchase a copy of Timeless Landscape Design, or contact Dargan Landscape Architects for professional assistance with your next master plan or tuneup project.

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