garden design

Create a Cozy Courtyard with Bistro Tables

March 26, 2014

Who hasn’t envisioned bringing the romance of a sidewalk cafe in Paris to their own backyard? All you need is a bistro table, chairs and a courtyard, terrace or side garden to recreate the scene. Add a cup of coffee, springtime breezes and blooming flowers, and you have the makings of the perfect little retreat within your landscape.

We like placing little retreats such as these in our landscape design projects because they expand our client’s outdoor living spaces and offer a perch for admiring the yard and perhaps enjoying a quick breakfast or drinks with friends. Bistro sets are great for this purpose because they are smaller, making them easy to incorporate into an otherwise empty corner, creating a cozy, intimate spot for conversations.

Take a look at a few of the ways we have incorporated bistro sets into past projects:

A large courtyard is broken up into smaller seating areas, including bistro tables and chairs to suit any occasion, from a quick coffee break to happy hour with friends. The simplicity of the furniture keeps the focus on the surrounding landscape and highlights the beautiful paver patio underfoot.

Atlanta landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects

What could have been a forgotten outdoor space is now a destination in the landscape thanks to the seating area created in this side garden using a chaise lounge and a bistro table and chairs. The pathway leading to the seating area emphasizes the seating arrangement, as does the paver patio that serves as a foundation. What’s more, the table is right outside an entrance into the home, giving owners easy access to the lush hideaway.

landscape architects in Western North Carolina — Dargan Landscape Architects

If you don’t have a courtyard on your property, you can still incorporate a bistro-style setting into a smaller space. Notice that this small terrace, measuring six feet by six feet, is all that’s needed for creating a cozy outdoor dining area for two. The terrace is floored with crab orchard stone in pink hues and a black wrought iron fence is complemented by a black wrought iron bistro set topped with pink cushions, offering a stunning seating for two.

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

A gorgeous brick patio and side garden are the perfect location in this cozy courtyard for a bistro table and chairs in high-contrast white. The seating provides a place for visitors to enjoy the greenery, as well as an afternoon tea and chat.

Charleston landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Lifelong Landscape Design

Are you ready to update your landscape with a beautiful courtyard, terrace or patio? Contact Dargan Landscape Architects to schedule a consultation. We would love to help you achieve the outdoor environment you’ve always wanted. We can help you find the look that best suits your property, right down to the furniture! For many years we’ve been designing custom seating elements. These custom solutions ensure you get the perfect piece, created with your space, style and other considerations in mind. In addition, our Talbot and Walden line of outdoor furniture is available from Kenneth Lynch & Sons in Connecticut.

Landscape Design Inspiration from England

February 28, 2014

Creating a landscape that expresses your point of view doesn’t have to mean reinventing the wheel. Look no further than the historical treasures of the English countryside for inspiration when planning your green space. You’ll find that these lush remnants of yesteryear hearken back to a time when life was wonderfully slower. Incorporating these timeless classics into your landscape design lends a whimsical element to your own unique perspective. Get your creative juices flowing through this virtual journey to three of England’s most breathtaking gardens, located at Barnsley House, Buscot Park and Iford Manor.

Barnsley House
The gardens at Barnsley House of Gloucestershire were designed with approachability, rather than overstated opulence, in mind. Award-winning gardener Rosemary Verey completely transformed the garden into the beauty it is today in the 1950s and went on to mentor future generations of gardeners. Trademarks of the garden include an ornamental fruit and vegetable garden, Laburnum Walk, intimate winding paths and statues by Simon Verity. The love and expertise Rosemary invested into bringing the very best out of this natural space has been appreciated by many over the decades, including the Prince of Wales. Rosemary’s use of visual illusion and color combination is a must-see in this landscape.

Buscot Park
In the heart of Oxfordshire is Buscot Park and the gardens that introduce us to this 18th-century estate. Where Barnsley House soothes, Buscot Park excites. Between the beautifully-preserved frescoes, inviting walkways and one-of-a-kind gardens, the genius of this masterpiece is evident in every cardinal direction. The eastern property features the Peto Water Garden, one of the most-admired water gardens in the United Kingdom, with its formal Italianate style and attractive stair and canal structures. To the west is the Four Seasons garden in full bloom with lilies, bulbs and flowering trees, according to the time of year. The south end is intact with mature woodlands that help border the estate, and the north boasts views of Little Lake and the Thames plain. Sir Harold Peto, the artistic mind behind the grounds, provided excellent examples of retaining walls and created seamless divisions of gardens within gardens.

historic sources of landscape design inspiration — A garden room at Buscot Park.
Photo from Timeless Landscape Design

Iford Manor
Sir Harold Peto, Master Gardener of Buscot Park, also expressed his artistry surrounding Iford Manor Estate, his own home in Wiltshire. The grounds are literally set on a pedestal, poetically situated atop a hillside overlooking the Frome River. The pastoral setting, sculptures and terrace design give the gardens an ambiance of sweeping romance. Peto was a lover of historical landscape elements himself, made clear by his use of Roman columns and Italianate and French design. Notice especially the skill with which he incorporated plants into stone to create the look of steps that have always existed — one of the many gardening feats for which he is famous.

landscape design inspiration from England — Iford Manor
Photo from Timeless Landscape Design

Ready to add some historical context to your modern landscape? Contact us at Dargan Landscape Architects so we can help you incorporate timeless elements into your design. Who wouldn’t want another reason to stop and smell the roses?

Genius Loci: Spirit of Place

February 10, 2014

Part of what makes landscapes unique is the “genius loci”, a Latin phrase we use in landscape design meaning “spirit of place.” Identifying or describing the genius loci of your property is essential to creating a timeless landscape that best suits you.

The concept of genius loci dates back to 18th century England, when it was first described by poet, classical scholar and gardener Alexander Pope. In a place and time when it was most fashionable to recreate French and Italian gardens, Pope advocated for a landscape style that considered the inherent qualities of a place first and foremost. In other words, let nature be your guide.

The easiest way to understand genius loci is to tap into your senses. Touch, taste, smell, sight and sound all contribute to spirit of place. Considering these aspects should help with more concrete parts of the decision-making process involved in any landscaping project such as Dargan Landscape Architect’s Four-Part Master Plan.

To identify your genius loci, observe your land and the surrounding area and what is naturally occurring there. Here are some things to consider:

What is the local topography?
What kinds of plants are already growing and doing well?
What are the prominent natural features–a creek, pasture, etc.?
What are some of the naturally occurring raw materials and color palettes?
What kinds of rock, stone and earth abound?
What kind of wildlife inhabit the area?
Are there any subtle sounds or smells?
How does the sunlight hit your property throughout the day?
What is your home’s architectural scale and style?
What building materials are used on the house?
What are the house colors, forms and textures?
What is the neighborhood like, and are there any vernacular building styles?
Does the neighborhood have lots of trees, hills, or other features?
Are the houses modern or traditional?
Are there straight or winding streets?

For more information about the concept of genius loci, order a copy of Mary Palmer’s book “Timeless Landscape Design.”

Contact Dargan Landscape Architects for help identifying your genius loci and incorporating it into your landscape master plan.

Register Now for the February Sprout-to-Grow Landscape Design Workshop

February 6, 2014

Spring is just around the corner, and what better way to get ready for spring gardening than by brushing up on your landscape design knowledge? Dargan Landscape Architects is offering a virtual landscape design workshop starting in mid-February 2014 that you don’t want to miss.

The Sprout-to-Grow virtual workshop kicks off with a one-day intensive lead by landscaping expert Mary Palmer Dargan, owner of Dargan Landscape Architects. Mary Palmer will help you rediscover your home PLACE (Potentials Layers Agenda Create Enjoy) and take the first step toward a revitalized landscape and lifestyle. Get one-on-one landscape design advice and ask all your questions to help plan your dream outdoor oasis.

Students of the virtual course will use Pinterest to create an online inspiration board for their landscape and home. When your inspiration board is complete, you’ll be able to share it with your family and friends and add to it in the future. It also makes a great resource to share with your contractor when you’re ready to begin work on your landscape. You will also leave the course with our Sprout-to-Grow Virtual Blueprint System to kick start your plans.

The Sprout-to-Grow landscape design workshop is the first level in the PlaceMakers program, a unique branded system created by Mary Palmer that allows you to get the best use of your property using the PLACE method mentioned above. It is based on Mary Palmer’s 30 years of designing hundreds of landscapes for private clients.

Other levels in the program offer more knowledge and experience to meet your growing needs as a designer. The program is a three-month home-study course that includes downloadable videos, audio, DVDs, access to an interactive forum and an inspirational photo gallery.

The February 2014 Sprout-to-Grow landscape design workshop is almost here. Visit our website for more information on the course, pricing and to register for the course!

Historic Sources of Landscape Design Inspiration

February 4, 2014

Part of creating a timeless landscape is looking to historical sources for design inspiration. Some of our sources for inspiration are the gardens of England, Scotland and Wales, as we’ve mentioned before in our post on Hidcote Manor & Garden. In this post, we will discuss the allure of several other properties and what aspects you might incorporate into your own landscape. These include The Laskett in Herefordshire, England; Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Sissinghurst, Kent; and Stourhead near Warminster, Wiltshire.

The Laskett
Known as the largest private formal gardens created in England since 1945, The Laskett Gardens were designed by Sir Roy Strong, a historian, and his wife, Dr. Julia Trevelyan Oman, a set designer. The couple transformed the property, which boasts some 30 garden rooms, over nearly 40 years. What makes it special is how personalized the landscape is, featuring inscriptions of meaningful phrases and handmade garden ornaments, for example. It also undeniably beautiful, showcasing the artistic principles of balance, repetition, rhythm, focalization and light and shadow. In the end, the gardens make a strong statement about who the owners are.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Another couple, Vita Sackville-West, a poet and writer, and Harold Nicolson, a diplomat and author, cultivated the Sissinghurst Castle Garden, which features a collection of enclosures laid out around the surviving parts of an Elizabethan mansion. Each room has a theme with specific plants and colors supporting the theme. Besides being a study in color and plant selection, the garden also shows how layering can create seasonal interest.

Stourhead
Also built around a historical home are the better known Stourhead gardens, created in the 18th century. The centerpiece of the grounds is a man-made lake, which serves as the backdrop for well-placed features such as classical temples, a fabulous grotto and majestically mature trees. This property reminds us of the power of a circular walk and the use of architectural elements as focal points in the landscape.

Feeling inspired to get to work on your own landscape? For more ideas and help transforming or planning your property, contact Dargan Landscape Architects.

garden design

Footer

Let’s Get Started on Your Project