On The Drawing Board: Prairie Style in Wilmington-by Landscape Ideas

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Article on-the-drawing-board, Article residential design,

A truly visionary couple in Wilmington, Delaware have been laboring for the past four years to convert their 1980's era four bedroom Colonial into something inspired by the Modernist works of Frank Lloyd Wright. Situated on a snug little cul-de-sac and rubbing shoulders with no fewer than three houses, the owners have transformed a ho-hum dwelling into something that has character, depth and meaning. Here is how the front looks now.

View from cul-de-sac

Front entry foyer & terrace

The landscape is being addressed in two phases, with the front being installed now and the back yard happening later this fall. As is typical of the style, the landscape must be an integral part of the house design where the building seems to be growing from its natural surroundings. The house in this case achieves this through broad, horizontal lines, graduated spaces and earthy tones. In order to support the work of the architect, Maffei Landscape Design designed plantings for the front that are massed and sweeping, suggesting natural lines while acknowledging the contemporary style with recognizable geometric forms.

Front yard plan

The side of the house opposite the garage is dedicated to a drainage swale that evacuates water from the back yard, but then only deposits it in the front yard where it slowly seeps into the soil. A rain garden of sorts was created here using plants that are tolerant of wet conditions, with a stepping stone path of 8" thick granite carved into long rectangles that set upon the ground to allow water and sediment to pass by without washing over their tops. The spaces in between are planted with more wet-tolerant perennials such as Siberian Bugloss and Hayscented Fern.

Early sketch for stepping stone slabs

Raw material for stepping stone slabs

Detail of stepping stone slabs

A truly visionary couple in Wilmington, Delaware have been laboring for the past four years to convert their 1980's era four bedroom Colonial into something inspired by the Modernist works of Frank Lloyd Wright. Situated on a snug little cul-de-sac and rubbing shoulders with no fewer than three houses, the owners have transformed a ho-hum dwelling into something that has character, depth and meaning. Here is how the front looks now.

View from cul-de-sac

Front entry foyer & terrace

The landscape is being addressed in two phases, with the front being installed now and the back yard happening later this fall. As is typical of the style, the landscape must be an integral part of the house design where the building seems to be growing from its natural surroundings. The house in this case achieves this through broad, horizontal lines, graduated spaces and earthy tones. In order to support the work of the architect, Maffei Landscape Design designed plantings for the front that are massed and sweeping, suggesting natural lines while acknowledging the contemporary style with recognizable geometric forms.

Front yard plan

The side of the house opposite the garage is dedicated to a drainage swale that evacuates water from the back yard, but then only deposits it in the front yard where it slowly seeps into the soil. A rain garden of sorts was created here using plants that are tolerant of wet conditions, with a stepping stone path of 8" thick granite carved into long rectangles that set upon the ground to allow water and sediment to pass by without washing over their tops. The spaces in between are planted with more wet-tolerant perennials such as Siberian Bugloss and Hayscented Fern.

Early sketch for stepping stone slabs

Raw material for stepping stone slabs

Detail of stepping stone slabs

A truly visionary couple in Wilmington, Delaware have been laboring for the past four years to convert their 1980's era four bedroom Colonial into something inspired by the Modernist works of Frank Lloyd Wright. Situated on a snug little cul-de-sac and rubbing shoulders with no fewer than three houses, the owners have transformed a ho-hum dwelling into something that has character, depth and meaning. Here is how the front looks now.

View from cul-de-sac

Front entry foyer & terrace

The landscape is being addressed in two phases, with the front being installed now and the back yard happening later this fall. As is typical of the style, the landscape must be an integral part of the house design where the building seems to be growing from its natural surroundings. The house in this case achieves this through broad, horizontal lines, graduated spaces and earthy tones. In order to support the work of the architect, Maffei Landscape Design designed plantings for the front that are massed and sweeping, suggesting natural lines while acknowledging the contemporary style with recognizable geometric forms.

Front yard plan

The side of the house opposite the garage is dedicated to a drainage swale that evacuates water from the back yard, but then only deposits it in the front yard where it slowly seeps into the soil. A rain garden of sorts was created here using plants that are tolerant of wet conditions, with a stepping stone path of 8" thick granite carved into long rectangles that set upon the ground to allow water and sediment to pass by without washing over their tops. The spaces in between are planted with more wet-tolerant perennials such as Siberian Bugloss and Hayscented Fern.

Early sketch for stepping stone slabs

Raw material for stepping stone slabs

Detail of stepping stone slabs

In The Field: Prairie Style in Wilmington-by Landscape Ideas

residential design Hallo Landscape Idea Lover, In sharing this time entitled residential design,I have provided the most complete information may also be what you're looking for, with the latest information and also something different,hopefully posting content that I can write you understand. Okay, this is it.

You're reading : In The Field: Prairie Style in Wilmington-by Landscape Ideas

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Article in-the-field, Article residential design,

Our residential project in Wilmington, Delaware began last week and good progress is being made. The landscape contractor, like most others in the area this fall, has been struggling with deferred scheduling since the rains in August and September have wreaked havoc on their ability to get work done, but they are more than making up for it with a methodical, professional work ethic that is very efficient.

The heavy stepping stones (made of Pennsylvania Blue Granite) mentioned in an earlier post were picked up from the quarry and delivered to the site.The holes at the edges are from the "plug and feather" technique used to split each stepping stone from its parent slab. The tops of each stone were "flamed", meaning that the quarryman used an acetylene torch to heat up the stone surface until it shattered, resulting in a very uniform, dimpled, non-slip surface. In order to facilitate their placement relative to the drawing, I marked each stone with chalk, indicating their dimension.

We began placing stones in the back yard and worked our way towards the front. This beefy 72"x18"x6" hunk of rock weighs about 900 pounds and was set on a bed of stone dust to ensure a level, stable base at the foot of the deck.

The design for the stepping stones was inspired by Japanese plank foot bridges that can be found traversing ponds, rice paddies and iris fields, so each stone was set with safety in mind, but with the intention that the visitor would have to look down to appreciate the garden, allowing them to see the perennials growing below and creating a greater sense of space and journey in the otherwise short and narrow space.

We left this stump in place for several reasons. One was that we (the owner and I) could not come up with a compelling reason to expend the resources necessary to remove it. What would that afford us? One more shrub? Six more perennials? Not worth it. Another reason was that the owner is an avid bird watcher, and this stump is home for hundreds of tasty little bugs for the birds to eat, thus attracting the birds closer to the house. A third reason was that the stump represented a reason for the path to change direction, thus making the path more interesting since it makes an intentional and purposeful  shift to the side.

As we moved closer to the front and the connection with the main entrance terrace, the ground sloped upwards and the stepping stones were set to follow the grade. Because of their thickness (6-9") the steppers were easily set into the ground as "stairs".

Next week we will continue around the front with the installation of the "boulder outcropping" and witchhazel screen, along with bed preparation and the installation of plants.

Our residential project in Wilmington, Delaware began last week and good progress is being made. The landscape contractor, like most others in the area this fall, has been struggling with deferred scheduling since the rains in August and September have wreaked havoc on their ability to get work done, but they are more than making up for it with a methodical, professional work ethic that is very efficient.

The heavy stepping stones (made of Pennsylvania Blue Granite) mentioned in an earlier post were picked up from the quarry and delivered to the site.The holes at the edges are from the "plug and feather" technique used to split each stepping stone from its parent slab. The tops of each stone were "flamed", meaning that the quarryman used an acetylene torch to heat up the stone surface until it shattered, resulting in a very uniform, dimpled, non-slip surface. In order to facilitate their placement relative to the drawing, I marked each stone with chalk, indicating their dimension.

We began placing stones in the back yard and worked our way towards the front. This beefy 72"x18"x6" hunk of rock weighs about 900 pounds and was set on a bed of stone dust to ensure a level, stable base at the foot of the deck.

The design for the stepping stones was inspired by Japanese plank foot bridges that can be found traversing ponds, rice paddies and iris fields, so each stone was set with safety in mind, but with the intention that the visitor would have to look down to appreciate the garden, allowing them to see the perennials growing below and creating a greater sense of space and journey in the otherwise short and narrow space.

We left this stump in place for several reasons. One was that we (the owner and I) could not come up with a compelling reason to expend the resources necessary to remove it. What would that afford us? One more shrub? Six more perennials? Not worth it. Another reason was that the owner is an avid bird watcher, and this stump is home for hundreds of tasty little bugs for the birds to eat, thus attracting the birds closer to the house. A third reason was that the stump represented a reason for the path to change direction, thus making the path more interesting since it makes an intentional and purposeful  shift to the side.

As we moved closer to the front and the connection with the main entrance terrace, the ground sloped upwards and the stepping stones were set to follow the grade. Because of their thickness (6-9") the steppers were easily set into the ground as "stairs".

Next week we will continue around the front with the installation of the "boulder outcropping" and witchhazel screen, along with bed preparation and the installation of plants.

Our residential project in Wilmington, Delaware began last week and good progress is being made. The landscape contractor, like most others in the area this fall, has been struggling with deferred scheduling since the rains in August and September have wreaked havoc on their ability to get work done, but they are more than making up for it with a methodical, professional work ethic that is very efficient.

The heavy stepping stones (made of Pennsylvania Blue Granite) mentioned in an earlier post were picked up from the quarry and delivered to the site.The holes at the edges are from the "plug and feather" technique used to split each stepping stone from its parent slab. The tops of each stone were "flamed", meaning that the quarryman used an acetylene torch to heat up the stone surface until it shattered, resulting in a very uniform, dimpled, non-slip surface. In order to facilitate their placement relative to the drawing, I marked each stone with chalk, indicating their dimension.

We began placing stones in the back yard and worked our way towards the front. This beefy 72"x18"x6" hunk of rock weighs about 900 pounds and was set on a bed of stone dust to ensure a level, stable base at the foot of the deck.

The design for the stepping stones was inspired by Japanese plank foot bridges that can be found traversing ponds, rice paddies and iris fields, so each stone was set with safety in mind, but with the intention that the visitor would have to look down to appreciate the garden, allowing them to see the perennials growing below and creating a greater sense of space and journey in the otherwise short and narrow space.

We left this stump in place for several reasons. One was that we (the owner and I) could not come up with a compelling reason to expend the resources necessary to remove it. What would that afford us? One more shrub? Six more perennials? Not worth it. Another reason was that the owner is an avid bird watcher, and this stump is home for hundreds of tasty little bugs for the birds to eat, thus attracting the birds closer to the house. A third reason was that the stump represented a reason for the path to change direction, thus making the path more interesting since it makes an intentional and purposeful  shift to the side.

As we moved closer to the front and the connection with the main entrance terrace, the ground sloped upwards and the stepping stones were set to follow the grade. Because of their thickness (6-9") the steppers were easily set into the ground as "stairs".

Next week we will continue around the front with the installation of the "boulder outcropping" and witchhazel screen, along with bed preparation and the installation of plants.

In The Field: Prairie Style Nears Completion-by Landscape Ideas

residential design Hallo Landscape Idea Lover, In sharing this time entitled residential design,I have provided the most complete information may also be what you're looking for, with the latest information and also something different,hopefully posting content that I can write you understand. Okay, this is it.

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Article in-the-field, Article residential design,

With the weather being less than an ally this year, progress has been measured in stops and starts, but we are near the finale. The most recent progress involved fine tuning some details on existing stone work, creating new rock "outcroppings", bed preparation and installation of plants.

Autumn descends on the newly planted garden

A detail overlooked by the masons that worked on the house itself was the treatment of the edges of the Pennsylvania bluestone at the foyer and entry terrace. While the tops of the stone have a lightly textured, dimpled finish, the edges were sporting a very uncouth saw cut that looked raw and incomplete in contrast to the adjoining face.

Unfinished bluestone edge

The solution to this problem is "flaming" as described in an earlier post. This involves extreme heating of the stone surface with an acetylene torch to the point that a thin layer of stone shatters with its sudden, heat-induced expansion. Our masonry subcontractor was careful to protect the surrounding area with a heavy and quite disposable sheet of plywood while he performed this task. The sound of hissing gas and exploding rock made me think of being inside a giant popcorn popper, as I silently prayed that only the intended edges were the things exploding.

Joe artfully demolishes one millimeter of bluestone

Cardboard boxes fill in for shrubs

Quick digital manipulation aids decisions

The bluestone was not the only thing in the garden having its edges tended to. The intersection of the garden with the cul-de-sac also needed some attention, with the driving motive of making this huge circle of asphalt seem a little less imposing. We studied this at length from many angles, both inside and outside the house. The images show the view through the dining room window and the street. The cardboard boxes are a mock-up of where shrubs might be placed to soften the visual impact of the street, while some quick photo manipulation aided us in imagining the final appearance of the improvements on approach to the house. This exercise ultimately led us to the conclusion that this area of the garden needed more of a backstory to avoid it appearing trite and one-dimensional, so we expanded upon the stone theme prevalent not only on the property, but in the surrounding cultural landscape that features boulders and natural stone constructions. Large, flat slabs of indigenous rock were scouted at a nearby quarry and tagged by the owner and myself, and placed in the garden to simulate the fractured leading edge of a massive and largely buried geologic formation. Care was taken to place the boulders to suggest eons of imperceptible, tectonic plate-like movement, while opportunistic witchhazels (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Primavera') and stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) leap into the resulting gaps.

Stone slabs suggest a buried geologic formation

With the constructed elements installed and the heavy equipment out of the way, we turned our attention to the improvement of the soil and installation of plants. The aesthetic of the front yard was envisioned to balance the man-made with the natural, pairing recognizable geometric shapes, such as rectangles (in the case of the house), circles and arcs with natural plant communities such as those found in local woodlands and stream banks. While the plant list does not strictly demand Mid-Atlantic or even North American natives, the selections do embrace naturalistic or naturalized species that do not possess any weedy, invasive tendencies. Sod was used for the lawn installation to provide instant erosion control and expedite aesthetic gratification.

Soil conditioning, planting and mulching in progress

Epimedium 'Sulphureum' is planted between the heavy steppers

Installing Sedum ternatum at the stone outcropping

Plants were selected and placed to suggest natural communities, with sod providing instant erosion control. 

With the weather being less than an ally this year, progress has been measured in stops and starts, but we are near the finale. The most recent progress involved fine tuning some details on existing stone work, creating new rock "outcroppings", bed preparation and installation of plants.

Autumn descends on the newly planted garden

A detail overlooked by the masons that worked on the house itself was the treatment of the edges of the Pennsylvania bluestone at the foyer and entry terrace. While the tops of the stone have a lightly textured, dimpled finish, the edges were sporting a very uncouth saw cut that looked raw and incomplete in contrast to the adjoining face.

Unfinished bluestone edge

The solution to this problem is "flaming" as described in an earlier post. This involves extreme heating of the stone surface with an acetylene torch to the point that a thin layer of stone shatters with its sudden, heat-induced expansion. Our masonry subcontractor was careful to protect the surrounding area with a heavy and quite disposable sheet of plywood while he performed this task. The sound of hissing gas and exploding rock made me think of being inside a giant popcorn popper, as I silently prayed that only the intended edges were the things exploding.

Joe artfully demolishes one millimeter of bluestone

Cardboard boxes fill in for shrubs

Quick digital manipulation aids decisions

The bluestone was not the only thing in the garden having its edges tended to. The intersection of the garden with the cul-de-sac also needed some attention, with the driving motive of making this huge circle of asphalt seem a little less imposing. We studied this at length from many angles, both inside and outside the house. The images show the view through the dining room window and the street. The cardboard boxes are a mock-up of where shrubs might be placed to soften the visual impact of the street, while some quick photo manipulation aided us in imagining the final appearance of the improvements on approach to the house. This exercise ultimately led us to the conclusion that this area of the garden needed more of a backstory to avoid it appearing trite and one-dimensional, so we expanded upon the stone theme prevalent not only on the property, but in the surrounding cultural landscape that features boulders and natural stone constructions. Large, flat slabs of indigenous rock were scouted at a nearby quarry and tagged by the owner and myself, and placed in the garden to simulate the fractured leading edge of a massive and largely buried geologic formation. Care was taken to place the boulders to suggest eons of imperceptible, tectonic plate-like movement, while opportunistic witchhazels (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Primavera') and stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) leap into the resulting gaps.

Stone slabs suggest a buried geologic formation

With the constructed elements installed and the heavy equipment out of the way, we turned our attention to the improvement of the soil and installation of plants. The aesthetic of the front yard was envisioned to balance the man-made with the natural, pairing recognizable geometric shapes, such as rectangles (in the case of the house), circles and arcs with natural plant communities such as those found in local woodlands and stream banks. While the plant list does not strictly demand Mid-Atlantic or even North American natives, the selections do embrace naturalistic or naturalized species that do not possess any weedy, invasive tendencies. Sod was used for the lawn installation to provide instant erosion control and expedite aesthetic gratification.

Soil conditioning, planting and mulching in progress

Epimedium 'Sulphureum' is planted between the heavy steppers

Installing Sedum ternatum at the stone outcropping

Plants were selected and placed to suggest natural communities, with sod providing instant erosion control. 

With the weather being less than an ally this year, progress has been measured in stops and starts, but we are near the finale. The most recent progress involved fine tuning some details on existing stone work, creating new rock "outcroppings", bed preparation and installation of plants.

Autumn descends on the newly planted garden

A detail overlooked by the masons that worked on the house itself was the treatment of the edges of the Pennsylvania bluestone at the foyer and entry terrace. While the tops of the stone have a lightly textured, dimpled finish, the edges were sporting a very uncouth saw cut that looked raw and incomplete in contrast to the adjoining face.

Unfinished bluestone edge

The solution to this problem is "flaming" as described in an earlier post. This involves extreme heating of the stone surface with an acetylene torch to the point that a thin layer of stone shatters with its sudden, heat-induced expansion. Our masonry subcontractor was careful to protect the surrounding area with a heavy and quite disposable sheet of plywood while he performed this task. The sound of hissing gas and exploding rock made me think of being inside a giant popcorn popper, as I silently prayed that only the intended edges were the things exploding.

Joe artfully demolishes one millimeter of bluestone

Cardboard boxes fill in for shrubs

Quick digital manipulation aids decisions

The bluestone was not the only thing in the garden having its edges tended to. The intersection of the garden with the cul-de-sac also needed some attention, with the driving motive of making this huge circle of asphalt seem a little less imposing. We studied this at length from many angles, both inside and outside the house. The images show the view through the dining room window and the street. The cardboard boxes are a mock-up of where shrubs might be placed to soften the visual impact of the street, while some quick photo manipulation aided us in imagining the final appearance of the improvements on approach to the house. This exercise ultimately led us to the conclusion that this area of the garden needed more of a backstory to avoid it appearing trite and one-dimensional, so we expanded upon the stone theme prevalent not only on the property, but in the surrounding cultural landscape that features boulders and natural stone constructions. Large, flat slabs of indigenous rock were scouted at a nearby quarry and tagged by the owner and myself, and placed in the garden to simulate the fractured leading edge of a massive and largely buried geologic formation. Care was taken to place the boulders to suggest eons of imperceptible, tectonic plate-like movement, while opportunistic witchhazels (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Primavera') and stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) leap into the resulting gaps.

Stone slabs suggest a buried geologic formation

With the constructed elements installed and the heavy equipment out of the way, we turned our attention to the improvement of the soil and installation of plants. The aesthetic of the front yard was envisioned to balance the man-made with the natural, pairing recognizable geometric shapes, such as rectangles (in the case of the house), circles and arcs with natural plant communities such as those found in local woodlands and stream banks. While the plant list does not strictly demand Mid-Atlantic or even North American natives, the selections do embrace naturalistic or naturalized species that do not possess any weedy, invasive tendencies. Sod was used for the lawn installation to provide instant erosion control and expedite aesthetic gratification.

Soil conditioning, planting and mulching in progress

Epimedium 'Sulphureum' is planted between the heavy steppers

Installing Sedum ternatum at the stone outcropping

Plants were selected and placed to suggest natural communities, with sod providing instant erosion control. 

On The Drawing Board: Chester County Farmhouse-by Landscape Ideas

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You're reading : On The Drawing Board: Chester County Farmhouse-by Landscape Ideas

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Article on-the-drawing-board, Article residential design,

Nestled among the rolling hills of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania is this stone farmhouse built in 1860, where the owners have spent the past eight years restoring and improving this beautiful example of Chester County vernacular architecture. With those efforts well in hand they are turning their attention to the outdoors, specifically the space associated with a spring-fed pond on the east side of the property.

Like most water-edge landscapes, the space affords lovely views and tremendous opportunity but can be difficult to maintain with traditional (i.e. mowed lawn, mulched bed shrub borders, etc) methods due to wet soils, steep embankments and indigenous or naturalized wildlife. Having become frustrated with that course of action, the owners turned to Maffei Landscape Design, LLC to prepare an overarching vision for the pond area and a planting plan to address a particularly boggy area at the end of the pond nearest the house.

The master plan was developed through careful site analysis that took into consideration pedestrian circulation, ideal views, available usable space and natural landforms. A path was created that enabled guests to move around the pond and connect with the water's edge at two key points, one of them being a small space large enough for two people to sit with their feet in the water or get into a rowboat, the other a "party dock" with dramatic views back to the house and large enough for dining or dancing.

Future view from the "party dock"

Spaces around the pond are organized by the physical and cultural characteristics present, there being three: pond edge, riparian zone and swale. Each of these cultural environments support different plant types and feature their own distinct aesthetic. By identifying and delineating these environments we can create a landscape plan that will take full advantage of the plants that will thrive there with the least amount of effort and look great!

Concept Plan

Planting Plan

Using the master plan to define the context, a planting plan was created as the first phase to be installed in spring of 2012. A "path" of partially buried, vertical tree trunk sections will provide access for maintenance and to the water's edge for recreation. Bands of plants were defined based on soil types and the degree of moisture typically found there, ranging from submerged aquatics such as hardy waterlily to moisture-tolerant perennials you might find in a traditional border, like Purple Coneflower, Smooth Oxeye and Shenandoah Switchgrass.

Detail view of log round steppers

Planting Plan detail

Nestled among the rolling hills of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania is this stone farmhouse built in 1860, where the owners have spent the past eight years restoring and improving this beautiful example of Chester County vernacular architecture. With those efforts well in hand they are turning their attention to the outdoors, specifically the space associated with a spring-fed pond on the east side of the property.

Like most water-edge landscapes, the space affords lovely views and tremendous opportunity but can be difficult to maintain with traditional (i.e. mowed lawn, mulched bed shrub borders, etc) methods due to wet soils, steep embankments and indigenous or naturalized wildlife. Having become frustrated with that course of action, the owners turned to Maffei Landscape Design, LLC to prepare an overarching vision for the pond area and a planting plan to address a particularly boggy area at the end of the pond nearest the house.

The master plan was developed through careful site analysis that took into consideration pedestrian circulation, ideal views, available usable space and natural landforms. A path was created that enabled guests to move around the pond and connect with the water's edge at two key points, one of them being a small space large enough for two people to sit with their feet in the water or get into a rowboat, the other a "party dock" with dramatic views back to the house and large enough for dining or dancing.

Future view from the "party dock"

Spaces around the pond are organized by the physical and cultural characteristics present, there being three: pond edge, riparian zone and swale. Each of these cultural environments support different plant types and feature their own distinct aesthetic. By identifying and delineating these environments we can create a landscape plan that will take full advantage of the plants that will thrive there with the least amount of effort and look great!

Concept Plan

Planting Plan

Using the master plan to define the context, a planting plan was created as the first phase to be installed in spring of 2012. A "path" of partially buried, vertical tree trunk sections will provide access for maintenance and to the water's edge for recreation. Bands of plants were defined based on soil types and the degree of moisture typically found there, ranging from submerged aquatics such as hardy waterlily to moisture-tolerant perennials you might find in a traditional border, like Purple Coneflower, Smooth Oxeye and Shenandoah Switchgrass.

Detail view of log round steppers

Planting Plan detail

Nestled among the rolling hills of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania is this stone farmhouse built in 1860, where the owners have spent the past eight years restoring and improving this beautiful example of Chester County vernacular architecture. With those efforts well in hand they are turning their attention to the outdoors, specifically the space associated with a spring-fed pond on the east side of the property.

Like most water-edge landscapes, the space affords lovely views and tremendous opportunity but can be difficult to maintain with traditional (i.e. mowed lawn, mulched bed shrub borders, etc) methods due to wet soils, steep embankments and indigenous or naturalized wildlife. Having become frustrated with that course of action, the owners turned to Maffei Landscape Design, LLC to prepare an overarching vision for the pond area and a planting plan to address a particularly boggy area at the end of the pond nearest the house.

The master plan was developed through careful site analysis that took into consideration pedestrian circulation, ideal views, available usable space and natural landforms. A path was created that enabled guests to move around the pond and connect with the water's edge at two key points, one of them being a small space large enough for two people to sit with their feet in the water or get into a rowboat, the other a "party dock" with dramatic views back to the house and large enough for dining or dancing.

Future view from the "party dock"

Spaces around the pond are organized by the physical and cultural characteristics present, there being three: pond edge, riparian zone and swale. Each of these cultural environments support different plant types and feature their own distinct aesthetic. By identifying and delineating these environments we can create a landscape plan that will take full advantage of the plants that will thrive there with the least amount of effort and look great!

Concept Plan

Planting Plan

Using the master plan to define the context, a planting plan was created as the first phase to be installed in spring of 2012. A "path" of partially buried, vertical tree trunk sections will provide access for maintenance and to the water's edge for recreation. Bands of plants were defined based on soil types and the degree of moisture typically found there, ranging from submerged aquatics such as hardy waterlily to moisture-tolerant perennials you might find in a traditional border, like Purple Coneflower, Smooth Oxeye and Shenandoah Switchgrass.

Detail view of log round steppers

Planting Plan detail

On The Drawing Board: Federal Style in York, Pennsylvania-by Landscape Ideas

residential design Hallo Landscape Idea Lover, In sharing this time entitled residential design,I have provided the most complete information may also be what you're looking for, with the latest information and also something different,hopefully posting content that I can write you understand. Okay, this is it.

You're reading : On The Drawing Board: Federal Style in York, Pennsylvania-by Landscape Ideas

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Article on-the-drawing-board, Article residential design,

This 30-year old house is the new home for a couple who intend to use it for business entertaining, fund-raising and family gatherings. It is situated on a two-acre parcel on sloping ground with dramatic views of the city. Maffei Landscape Design, LLC was hired to create a master plan to maximize usable space and support the owners' interests in classical architecture and gardens, art and furniture. The following images and sketches represent the initial impressions and preliminary design solutions presented to the client.

This 30-year old house is the new home for a couple who intend to use it for business entertaining, fund-raising and family gatherings. It is situated on a two-acre parcel on sloping ground with dramatic views of the city. Maffei Landscape Design, LLC was hired to create a master plan to maximize usable space and support the owners' interests in classical architecture and gardens, art and furniture. The following images and sketches represent the initial impressions and preliminary design solutions presented to the client.

This 30-year old house is the new home for a couple who intend to use it for business entertaining, fund-raising and family gatherings. It is situated on a two-acre parcel on sloping ground with dramatic views of the city. Maffei Landscape Design, LLC was hired to create a master plan to maximize usable space and support the owners' interests in classical architecture and gardens, art and furniture. The following images and sketches represent the initial impressions and preliminary design solutions presented to the client.

On The Drawing Board: 1958 Contemporary-by Landscape Ideas

residential design Hallo Landscape Idea Lover, In sharing this time entitled residential design,I have provided the most complete information may also be what you're looking for, with the latest information and also something different,hopefully posting content that I can write you understand. Okay, this is it.

You're reading : On The Drawing Board: 1958 Contemporary-by Landscape Ideas

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Article on-the-drawing-board, Article residential design, Article sustainability,

The disfunctional circular driveway will be replaced with a smaller
parking court, shade trees and low shrubs. A rain chain and
urn will receive water from the small roof above the front door.

Not far from Winterthur in northern Delaware this architectural gem, with Prairie and International influences, was built in 1960 and is being nursed back to vibrancy by its current owners. The landscape will feature a redesigned driveway that will slash impervious surface by 25% while increasing its capacity and functionality. A new allee of trees will screen views and provide a shady entrance, accented by a square fountain and bluestone walkways set at a subtle angle that suggest movement and space.

The driveway entrance will receive a pair of stone piers to
match the details of the house. Broad cap eaves will
hold recessed light fixtures to illuminate the ground only.

An allee of trees will frame the bluestone walkway and a
small square fountain.

The back yard will receive a new patio to support a larger table for entertaining dinner guests al fresco with a large grill set in a counter top positioned for casual conversation while cooking. The utmost sensitivity will be given to the mature trees, such as the Scarlet Oak with its 42" diameter trunk, and managing storm runoff water quality with recharge trenches on the virtually pancake-flat lot.

Currently in design development, we will be exploring options for construction materials and methods, such as pervious concrete or exposed aggregate concrete driveway surfaces, LED bollard lights, rain chains, art objects, native groundcovers and canopy trees with multi-season interest.

The disfunctional circular driveway will be replaced with a smaller
parking court, shade trees and low shrubs. A rain chain and
urn will receive water from the small roof above the front door.

Not far from Winterthur in northern Delaware this architectural gem, with Prairie and International influences, was built in 1960 and is being nursed back to vibrancy by its current owners. The landscape will feature a redesigned driveway that will slash impervious surface by 25% while increasing its capacity and functionality. A new allee of trees will screen views and provide a shady entrance, accented by a square fountain and bluestone walkways set at a subtle angle that suggest movement and space.

The driveway entrance will receive a pair of stone piers to
match the details of the house. Broad cap eaves will
hold recessed light fixtures to illuminate the ground only.

An allee of trees will frame the bluestone walkway and a
small square fountain.

The back yard will receive a new patio to support a larger table for entertaining dinner guests al fresco with a large grill set in a counter top positioned for casual conversation while cooking. The utmost sensitivity will be given to the mature trees, such as the Scarlet Oak with its 42" diameter trunk, and managing storm runoff water quality with recharge trenches on the virtually pancake-flat lot.

Currently in design development, we will be exploring options for construction materials and methods, such as pervious concrete or exposed aggregate concrete driveway surfaces, LED bollard lights, rain chains, art objects, native groundcovers and canopy trees with multi-season interest.

The disfunctional circular driveway will be replaced with a smaller
parking court, shade trees and low shrubs. A rain chain and
urn will receive water from the small roof above the front door.

Not far from Winterthur in northern Delaware this architectural gem, with Prairie and International influences, was built in 1960 and is being nursed back to vibrancy by its current owners. The landscape will feature a redesigned driveway that will slash impervious surface by 25% while increasing its capacity and functionality. A new allee of trees will screen views and provide a shady entrance, accented by a square fountain and bluestone walkways set at a subtle angle that suggest movement and space.

The driveway entrance will receive a pair of stone piers to
match the details of the house. Broad cap eaves will
hold recessed light fixtures to illuminate the ground only.

An allee of trees will frame the bluestone walkway and a
small square fountain.

The back yard will receive a new patio to support a larger table for entertaining dinner guests al fresco with a large grill set in a counter top positioned for casual conversation while cooking. The utmost sensitivity will be given to the mature trees, such as the Scarlet Oak with its 42" diameter trunk, and managing storm runoff water quality with recharge trenches on the virtually pancake-flat lot.

Currently in design development, we will be exploring options for construction materials and methods, such as pervious concrete or exposed aggregate concrete driveway surfaces, LED bollard lights, rain chains, art objects, native groundcovers and canopy trees with multi-season interest.

In The Field: Federal Style in York, Pennsylvania-by Landscape Ideas

residential design Hallo Landscape Idea Lover, In sharing this time entitled residential design,I have provided the most complete information may also be what you're looking for, with the latest information and also something different,hopefully posting content that I can write you understand. Okay, this is it.

You're reading : In The Field: Federal Style in York, Pennsylvania-by Landscape Ideas

residential design

Article in-the-field, Article residential design,

The parking court walls have been constructed, continuing the theme set by the architecture.

The relocated American boxwood frame the front
facade while maintaining a sense of maturity.

The extended brick wall seems to finish
the intent of the original.

Solid progress is being made on this renovation project which is a collaboration between Maffei Landscape Design, the owner, the builder and the landscape contractor. 

The water feature has been formed and poured
 as a custom fit to the existing wall.

The builder's expertise and familiarity with the house has enabled him to produce a virtually seemless transition into the constructed portions of the landscape, including the extension of the brick wall in the back yard, modifying the front door and stoop, realignment of the driveway and the construction of the parking court walls. 

The landscape contractor relocated the 6' American boxwoods per the Master Plan to allow better views of the front facade and is constructing the water feature nestled into the existing brick wall.

The parking court walls have been constructed, continuing the theme set by the architecture.

The relocated American boxwood frame the front
facade while maintaining a sense of maturity.

The extended brick wall seems to finish
the intent of the original.

Solid progress is being made on this renovation project which is a collaboration between Maffei Landscape Design, the owner, the builder and the landscape contractor. 

The water feature has been formed and poured
 as a custom fit to the existing wall.

The builder's expertise and familiarity with the house has enabled him to produce a virtually seemless transition into the constructed portions of the landscape, including the extension of the brick wall in the back yard, modifying the front door and stoop, realignment of the driveway and the construction of the parking court walls. 

The landscape contractor relocated the 6' American boxwoods per the Master Plan to allow better views of the front facade and is constructing the water feature nestled into the existing brick wall.

The parking court walls have been constructed, continuing the theme set by the architecture.

The relocated American boxwood frame the front
facade while maintaining a sense of maturity.

The extended brick wall seems to finish
the intent of the original.

Solid progress is being made on this renovation project which is a collaboration between Maffei Landscape Design, the owner, the builder and the landscape contractor. 

The water feature has been formed and poured
 as a custom fit to the existing wall.

The builder's expertise and familiarity with the house has enabled him to produce a virtually seemless transition into the constructed portions of the landscape, including the extension of the brick wall in the back yard, modifying the front door and stoop, realignment of the driveway and the construction of the parking court walls. 

The landscape contractor relocated the 6' American boxwoods per the Master Plan to allow better views of the front facade and is constructing the water feature nestled into the existing brick wall.

Prairie Style: Wilmington, Delaware-by Landscape Ideas

residential design Hallo Landscape Idea Lover, In sharing this time entitled residential design,I have provided the most complete information may also be what you're looking for, with the latest information and also something different,hopefully posting content that I can write you understand. Okay, this is it.

You're reading : Prairie Style: Wilmington, Delaware-by Landscape Ideas

residential design

Article residential design,

This private residence is an example of what can be accomplished when the owners are inspired to make their house a home and celebrate the qualities of garden and architecture that best define their sensibilities. Located in the most unlikely of places, a cramped exurban subdivision full of Postmodern interpretations of Colonial and Federal style houses, the owners chose to realize their vision here where they have put down their roots.


These images (taken nine months after installation) depict the front of the house, which in the American residential landscape is typically the sacrificial offering to passersby and the neighbor across the street. Not so with this home, where the design intentionally responds to the the owners' wishes first and everyone else second. Groupings of winter blooming Primavera Witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Primavera') command the center of the front lawn to diminish views of public asphalt as seen from the newly remodeled dining room and the new glass and bluestone vestibule.
A circular garden niche on the right side is lined with Fastigate Hornbeams (Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata') and Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica), creating at once a human-scaled destination and visual buffering of the neighboring domicile a scant 40 feet away. The home office window peers through the branches of an existing Japanese Snowbell (Styrax obassia) and into this space, offering peaceful and private scenery.

On the left side a narrow, low-lying space was transformed into a Japan-esque woodland walk that simultaneously provides conveyance for both garden visitors and rainwater. Before being renovated, this area was muddy, eroded and generally devoid of interest due to the demands placed on it by feet and slowly draining puddles. These conditions were celebrated by elevating the walking surface above the ground level and selecting plants that would thrive in shady, moist conditions. The path was created with granite stepping stones inspired by large rocks crossing a stream and arranged as a Japanese plank bridge. Each stone was hand cut from a massive slab of Pennsylvania granite and tooled to provide just the right dimensions and nonslip texture. The sides purposely sport the markings left by the tools that fractured them from the parent rock, offering character and an interesting story to tell.

Learn more about this project and its evolution by seeing it On The Drawing Board and being installed In The Field. Danilo Maffei creates landscapes that embrace the environmental, social and economic aspects of the garden and crafts them into a meaningful and useful whole.

This private residence is an example of what can be accomplished when the owners are inspired to make their house a home and celebrate the qualities of garden and architecture that best define their sensibilities. Located in the most unlikely of places, a cramped exurban subdivision full of Postmodern interpretations of Colonial and Federal style houses, the owners chose to realize their vision here where they have put down their roots.


These images (taken nine months after installation) depict the front of the house, which in the American residential landscape is typically the sacrificial offering to passersby and the neighbor across the street. Not so with this home, where the design intentionally responds to the the owners' wishes first and everyone else second. Groupings of winter blooming Primavera Witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Primavera') command the center of the front lawn to diminish views of public asphalt as seen from the newly remodeled dining room and the new glass and bluestone vestibule.
A circular garden niche on the right side is lined with Fastigate Hornbeams (Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata') and Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica), creating at once a human-scaled destination and visual buffering of the neighboring domicile a scant 40 feet away. The home office window peers through the branches of an existing Japanese Snowbell (Styrax obassia) and into this space, offering peaceful and private scenery.

On the left side a narrow, low-lying space was transformed into a Japan-esque woodland walk that simultaneously provides conveyance for both garden visitors and rainwater. Before being renovated, this area was muddy, eroded and generally devoid of interest due to the demands placed on it by feet and slowly draining puddles. These conditions were celebrated by elevating the walking surface above the ground level and selecting plants that would thrive in shady, moist conditions. The path was created with granite stepping stones inspired by large rocks crossing a stream and arranged as a Japanese plank bridge. Each stone was hand cut from a massive slab of Pennsylvania granite and tooled to provide just the right dimensions and nonslip texture. The sides purposely sport the markings left by the tools that fractured them from the parent rock, offering character and an interesting story to tell.

Learn more about this project and its evolution by seeing it On The Drawing Board and being installed In The Field. Danilo Maffei creates landscapes that embrace the environmental, social and economic aspects of the garden and crafts them into a meaningful and useful whole.

This private residence is an example of what can be accomplished when the owners are inspired to make their house a home and celebrate the qualities of garden and architecture that best define their sensibilities. Located in the most unlikely of places, a cramped exurban subdivision full of Postmodern interpretations of Colonial and Federal style houses, the owners chose to realize their vision here where they have put down their roots.


These images (taken nine months after installation) depict the front of the house, which in the American residential landscape is typically the sacrificial offering to passersby and the neighbor across the street. Not so with this home, where the design intentionally responds to the the owners' wishes first and everyone else second. Groupings of winter blooming Primavera Witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Primavera') command the center of the front lawn to diminish views of public asphalt as seen from the newly remodeled dining room and the new glass and bluestone vestibule.
A circular garden niche on the right side is lined with Fastigate Hornbeams (Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata') and Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica), creating at once a human-scaled destination and visual buffering of the neighboring domicile a scant 40 feet away. The home office window peers through the branches of an existing Japanese Snowbell (Styrax obassia) and into this space, offering peaceful and private scenery.

On the left side a narrow, low-lying space was transformed into a Japan-esque woodland walk that simultaneously provides conveyance for both garden visitors and rainwater. Before being renovated, this area was muddy, eroded and generally devoid of interest due to the demands placed on it by feet and slowly draining puddles. These conditions were celebrated by elevating the walking surface above the ground level and selecting plants that would thrive in shady, moist conditions. The path was created with granite stepping stones inspired by large rocks crossing a stream and arranged as a Japanese plank bridge. Each stone was hand cut from a massive slab of Pennsylvania granite and tooled to provide just the right dimensions and nonslip texture. The sides purposely sport the markings left by the tools that fractured them from the parent rock, offering character and an interesting story to tell.

Learn more about this project and its evolution by seeing it On The Drawing Board and being installed In The Field. Danilo Maffei creates landscapes that embrace the environmental, social and economic aspects of the garden and crafts them into a meaningful and useful whole.