Posted in design principles, hardscape design, hardscapes, renderings, tagged boulders, landscape-rendering, stone out-croppings, stone-fireplace on February 19, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I am in the middle of a project where the main focus of the backyard will be a large fireplace that we hope to have anchor one end of the patio.
The fireplace will anchor the end of the patio, and serve as the main gathering space for those on the patio, also becoming the main [...]
Posted in conceptual drawing, design principles, hardscape design, hardscapes, renderings, tagged brick wall, patio on January 30, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Of my own choosing. That’s right.
This was my choice.
I needed some strong physical divider between this terrace and the rest of the World. A separator that would not only knock out the view that direction, but would also stop others from peeking in.
To top things this wall screamed aesthetics! . . . I need [...]
Posted in equipment, hardscapes, tagged cast iron pots on December 14, 2007 | 1 Comment »
I just want to clarify the size of those 3 pots that I had written about in the previous 2 posts.
Two Previous Post
The 1st post dealt with my finding these pots and a list of ideas on how they might even be used. The 2nd post was a synopsis of the 1st and the added [...]
Posted in equipment, hardscapes on November 28, 2007 | 4 Comments »
Last week I posted about these iron pots that I had picked up at the local auction.
[The pots in question. ]
In the comment’s section Jonathan asked about the sizes of these pots this was my reply:
I’d say they’re somewhere between 30″-36″ in diameter and a good 18″ deep. They are some good size pots, and [...]
Posted in design principles, hardscape design, hardscapes on June 7, 2007 | 5 Comments »
So I am searching along looking for info on outdoor living rooms and I run across this story in InsideBayArea.com that is about this very subject. This is a early paragraph:
We want to hang out in our backyards, and those molded plastic chairs aren’t going to cut it anymore. We want comfort — big, comfy [...]
Posted in design principles, hardscapes, plant material, stone on December 27, 2006 | No Comments »
posted, 12/00/06
The steps from a wider angle:
On 12/7 I posted a close-up of the stone steps, showing some of the detail. I was after a look of strong yet informal steps that led out on to the lawn.
These steps are the only way to get from the parking court and upper terrace to that front [...]
Posted in design principles, hardscape design, hardscapes, stone on December 27, 2006 | 2 Comments »
posted, 12/04/06
This continues the story from Sundays post on The Appreciation of Stone. I’ve been asked a few questions and will attempt to answer them here:
The stone and brick are not the same depth. The stone was placed 1st and the pavers were poured around the stone.
The stone is a waste product from Briar Hill [...]
Posted in color rendering, conceptual drawing, design principles, hardscapes, waterfeatures on December 27, 2006 | 1 Comment »
posted, 11/20/06
Color rendering: markers, colored pencils on yellow trace
This rendering is another take on what we had discussed last week. Especially the talk about where does the fountain belong, or not belong.
This rendering shows the fountain a little further up the sidewalk with a pergola area further behind and to the right. Do they belong [...]
Posted in Construction in-progress, design principles, hardscape design, hardscapes, stone on December 27, 2006 | No Comments »
posted, 11/04/06
The journey continues, from Yesterday
Coming off of the Paver patio the walk through the garden continues on the sandstone walkway. To a bridge made of antique curbstone. Pond is on far right. Fire ring area is across the bridge and double waterfalls are on the left.
That mound is artificial. It was built for falls [...]
Posted in color rendering, conceptual drawing, design principles, hardscapes on December 22, 2006 | 4 Comments »
posted, 09/26/06
This is the existing landscape
I was asked to come up with an idea for a designed space where the seating area was extended out onto the existing lawn, a perennial/cutting garden above the wall, and find a place for a hot-tub.
It made sense to tie the hot-tub into the deck space so there would [...]
Posted in design principles, hardscapes, waterfeatures on December 22, 2006 | 1 Comment »
posted/09/00/06
Firepit; Rick Anderson style.
This is a firepit area I designed for a client, my thought process was simple here: What if Fred Flintstone was a Landscape Designer?
Thats how I came up with the stone seating for the circle, a ring of stones for the fireplace, and of course a stone bridge over the stream spilling [...]
Posted in Construction in-progress, hardscape design, hardscapes, stone on December 21, 2006 | No Comments »
posted, 08/20/06
The two photos are from a job of mine installed back in the mid-90’s in South Carolina. The stone is from Briar Hill a Stoneyard/Quarry in Central, Ohio.
I have always liked Briar Hill, and will always continue to try and find ways to use it on work I design. The wall stone comes in [...]
Posted in design principles, hardscapes, terrace on December 21, 2006 | No Comments »
posted,08/15/06
The drawings of the terrace I had been showing over the past couple of days took a final turn yesterday. After e-mailing the client that I had posted the rendering of his deck idea, I received a quick reply . . . “Oh we are going with extending the concrete and round off the end. [...]
Posted in color rendering, design principles, hardscape design, hardscapes, stone on December 21, 2006 | No Comments »
posted; 08/08/06
This job is a prime example of being called in late on the job. The homeowner has committed to certain aspects of the job and is unwilling/unable/inflexible in his desire to change. The steps are going in on the far right of this photo . . . no matter what. Also the short boulder [...]
Posted in hardscape design, hardscapes, waterfeatures on December 21, 2006 | No Comments »
posted; 07/00/06
Yippee !!!! Look what I get to design and work on . . . after the fact. The spa is poured, the walls are up, and the deck has been installed. Now they want the waterfall(to look natural) to go in against this wall; look dramatic, look natural, and work perfectly. Uh, did I [...]
Posted in hardscape design, hardscapes on December 21, 2006 | No Comments »
posted; 07/26/06
While perusing through Yahoo news I caught this story about rubber sidewalks. The story refers to doing something with all the tires that we Americans dispose of every year. They also mention cost-3 times what concrete would be. . . that’s expensive. Especially in a commercial or municipal setting. Which would be the best [...]
My hope is to use this site to spread some info about the art and practice of Landscape Design. It is a very misunderstood profession; I do not cut grass like the next door neighbor's cousin who carries 3 mowers and a blower in the back of his truck.
I will also pass along comments on industry happenings, events, etc., and any maybe a few other adventures going on in my world-after all this is "my" blog. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. Questions? Drop me an e-mail.
rick (at) whisperingcraneinstitute (dot) com
