Wednesday, April 19, 2017

A NY Landscape Architecture Project

A backyard landscape design project located in the NY Hudson Valley.  I created a series of outdoor rooms, separated by a series of walls, steps, hedges and planting beds. I incorporated several seating areas, and outdoor kitchen, fireplace, and pergola.

Above, the upper lawn area with a stone inlay. This space is enclosed with a low Boxwood Hedge.  To the right, rear is an upper terrace...designated dining area that seats 12. A pergola creates shade.

Above is a seating/lounging area.  This space is framed with Horse Tails planted in a custom designed planter to keep this invasive plant contained.

A view from the house to the infinity edge water feature at the rear of the yard.  A grouping of Boxwood form the backdrop for the water feature and framing the view are a grove of White Birch Trees to the left and right side.

A view of the upper dining terrace and outdoor kitchen.

We are a full-service design/build firm servicing the NY and NJ areas.  http://www.summersetgardens.com/
845-590-7306

Friday, April 14, 2017

A Back Yard Retreat in Warwick NY

A backyard landscape architecture project located in Warwick, NY. This project features extensive masonry work using weathered brick, bluestone, granite and precast stone. Features include an outdoor kitchen, bar, fireplace, several patios, steps, landings, decorative garden gates, trellis panels, fencing, outdoor lighting, and extensive plantings.

To the right, you can catch a glimpse of the granite outdoor fireplace. Great care and workmanship were required to make the curves. Casual lounge chairs from Restoration Hardware sit on a small dry laid bluestone patio. In the background, you can see the dining area and furniture which sits on a patio built with a combination of brick & bluestone. A small weathered brick and bluestone seating wall frames the back corner of the dining patio.


To the left, you can catch a glimpse of the granite outdoor fireplace. Great care and workmanship were required to make the curves. Furnishings from Restoration Hardware sit on a small dry laid bluestone patio. I used weathered brick for the outdoor kitchen and bar. A thick dark granite was used for the bar top. I installed a curved trellis panel to break up the house facade.  I am currently training some climbing roses to cover the trellis.

Attention to detail.... I used a combination of traditional clay brick and bluestone for the patio. These materials are timeless. A ceramic bird sits atop a carefully placed boulder. The plantings have been designed to provide color from April through October. Some of the plants used are Rhododendron, Astilbe, Sweet Woodruff, Blue Star Creeper, Salvia, Daylily, Shasta Daisy and Carpet Bugle.

A grove of white Birch trees under planted with Rhododendron and several varieties of Hydrangea. I tucked a stone bench into the planting bed. Some perennials that I used, are Allium, Iris, Shasta Daisy, Catmint, Salvia, Anemone, Thyme, Phlox, and Astilbe.

A raised backyard living area supported with a weathered brick retaining wall. Stone steppers lead down to the swimming pool area. A small nicely furnished bluestone patio is placed in front of the outdoor fireplace which cannot be seen but is to the right of the patio. To the left, you catch a glimpse of the brick outdoor kitchen. For the plantings, I used a variety of Sedums, Phlox, Shasta Daisy, Daylily, Hydrangea, Scabiosa, Iris & Dogwood.

A view of a small stepping stone path off the bluestone and brick dining patio. To the right is a weathered brick seating wall capped with a rock faced bluestone coping. For the plantings, I used Blue Star Creepers, Carpet Bugle, Salvia, Leucanthemum, and Rhododendron.

A set of brick and bluestone steps and landing that lead to the mudroom of this 
Warwick NY residence. The treads are constructed with a 2" thick rock faced bluestone. I used a custom color blended mortar for the brick joints, slightly recessed. Below is a detail of the walkway. It is constructed with a weathered clay brick, bluestone borders and randomly placed blue stone inlay.  Hybrid Rhododendron help to visually soften the steps.

A weathered brick retaining wall and lush plantings surround this Warwick NY backyard living space. A bluestone stepping stone path leads to a weathered brick and bluestone dining patio. To the right is an outdoor kitchen and bar. In the rear of the space is a granite outdoor fireplace with a small bluestone patio to accommodate the lounging furniture. The plantings in the foreground consist of Sweet Woodruff, Isotoma, Salvia & Rhododendron.

A weathered brick and granite outdoor kitchen and outdoor fireplace. The living space is surrounded by a weathered brick garden wall and plantings. The plantings consist of Daylily, Dogwood, Carpet Bugle Hydrangea and Norway Spruce for privacy.

We are a full-service design/build firm servicing the NY and NJ areas.  http://www.summersetgardens.com/
845-590-7306

Monday, March 13, 2017

Bergen County NJ Landscape Design



Landscape design in Bergen County NJ. This backyard garden bed features a variety of spring blooming perennials and groundcovers. 

Landscape design and construction services for the NJ and NY areas. 

845-590-7306

Friday, April 24, 2015

Back Yard Landscape Design in Westchester NY



A back yard design in September. I softened the stone steps and path with low growing perennials.  The Hydrangeas are past their prime but still look nice. 

Swimming pool, landscape, garden design and construction services in the NJ and NY areas.  

845-590-7306  

Summerset Gardens Elegant Landscape Design, Fine Workmanship  

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Back Yard Living in NJ



A NJ back yard featuring a swimming pool and natural stone patio. The chaise lounge chairs are facing the pool and a three tier waterfall. I used natural stone for the pool steps and added some carefully placed boulders into the pool coping. I used Hydrangea, Ornamental Grasses and a variety of perennials around the pool patio. To the left you can catch a glimpse of a midlevel terrace with an outdoor kitchen. Tucked to the rear of the property is playset with a white picket fence. 

Landscape architecture, Landscape design, Garden design and installation services in the NY and NJ areas.


Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Potted planter idea



A newly planted pot using a variety of annuals and some Ivy.

Landscape architecture, Landscape design, Garden design and installation services in the NY and NJ areas.


Saturday, March 7, 2015

A retaining wall under construction in a Westchester back yard



A retaining wall project under construction in a Weschester back yard.  This project required extensive cut and fill excavation as well as hammering out ledge rock. I am using Versa Lok for some of the retaining walls and steel reinforced masonry walls closer to the house.

Landscape architecture, Landscape design, Garden design and installation services in the NY and NJ areas.


http://www.summersetgardens.com 

Friday, March 6, 2015

Ny front yard and driveway design



A front yard landscape and driveway design and construction project for a NY residence that is under way. A cobblestone apron at the entrance.  I designed this driveway gate along with stone piers and precast pier caps and trim. A rustic stone wall and fence set on the wall defines the front property line. I provided a separate garden gate and stepping stone path through the garden. A sweeping curved driveway with a stone border and a tar and chip driveway surface takes you across this beautiful property to the home. I am keeping a large open lawn in the front yard with privacy plantings along the perimeter. The front foundation planting design will remain low to compliment the architecture of the home.

Landscape architecture, Landscape design, Garden design and installation services in the NY and NJ areas.

845-590-7306

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Landscaping a NJ backyard featuring a waterfall.



Landscaping a NJ back yard featuring a waterfall.  I used rocks and boulders native to the area. I planted all the nooks and crannies with low growing perennials. 

Landscape architecture, Landscape design, Garden design and installation services in the NY and NJ areas.

845-590-7306

Thursday, February 19, 2015

A Small Outdoor Room Design in NY



A small outdoor room design for a home located in Warwick Grove, NY. I created a wood porch with steps that wrap and tie in two sets of doors. I added a lantern, ceiling fan, hanging baskets, planters and lounge furniture to the porch area.  Two cut outs, water proofed planters with a root barrier in the step landing allow me to plant a conifer and climbing flowering vine. 
The patio is just large enough to accomadate a dining table that seats six, a gas grill, and a gas fire pit that seats four. There is still room easily walk from area to area. 

Landscape architecture, Landscape design, Garden design and installation services in the NY and NJ areas.

845-590-7306