DISCOVERING YOUR STYLE
Explore landscapes you admire in your neighborhood or community, noting design elements like color, texture, form, and balance. Feeling a part of your community ("genus loci") often shapes preferences. Seek inspiration from local botanical gardens, avoiding national chain store nurseries for region-specific plant selections. Magazines and books can offer ideas, although adaptation to your space is necessary.
SITE ANALYSIS
Consider architectural style similarities between your home and designs you like. Evaluate hardscape materials and potential plant substitutions. An official boundary survey aids in understanding available space and potential feature placements. Analyze voids between your house and property lines to guide feature forms.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SITE
Conduct a thorough site inventory and analyze how site conditions might influence your design. View conditions as opportunities or constraints—land forms, natural features, or built elements could impact or enhance your design.
DEFINING OUTDOOR SPACES
Consider the architectural style, yard shape, and site opportunities to place features logically. Designate high-traffic features near the house for convenience. Spatially dividing the yard into "outdoor rooms" using materials, elevation changes, or features aids in functional and aesthetically pleasing landscapes. Use design elements to define spaces, create interest, and establish a cohesive landscape.
CREATING A UNIFIED LANDSCAPE
Differentiate spaces using color, texture, and visual weight. Employ scale and proportion for spatial organization. Connect spaces through pathways, focal points, or repeated elements. Control movement within the space through intentional design, culminating in a unified and functional landscape.