Public Gardens--Chicago

Millenium Park's Lurie Garden



Pocket Park Next to the Art Institute of Chicago

 







Millenium Park's Lurie Garden

Buckingham Fountain

A Sort of Vertical Garden



Garfield Park Conservatory





Millenium Park



Landscape and Garden Design

 

Modern River Rock Island Planter

Before beginning your project, prepare yourself for a a successful project!

• Have insurance, plans, construction schedule in place.
• Test your soil and amend it as needed.  Consider purchasing a soil testing kit or having your soil tested at a lab like Northcoast Labs.  It seems like most county extension offices offer the soil testing kit or service for free as another alternative.
• If you use a contractor, make sure he or she is a licensed landscape contractor.
• Order materials and confirm your order and delivery date
• Make sure you have all if any local, state or federal permits required for your project.
• Be aware of noise ordinances, traffic control plans, etc.
• A few days before beginning any do-it-yourself landscaping project, call 811 to make sure that all underground utilities are marked.  If you are using a landscape contractor, make sure he or she is aware that you expect him or her to do this.
• Be sure to have all existing irrigation and other electrical lines marked prior to digging.
• Look into other pre-construction check lists to make sure you have not overlooked anything.
• No worries, this is not rocket science.  Just be conscientious about your responsibilities and try to be a good neighbor and not leave your site a construction zone for any longer than necessary.  I have a friend who is a contractor who finishes up everyday tidying up the site so that it appears as neat as possible when the homeowners' return, not finished, just neat.  It doesn't take long to do this, maybe 15 minutes.  If you are a professional, it will make you look more professional than some of your competitors that don't take this step.  Your project will also seem less like a nuisance, which on some level all construction projects are.

Conceptual Design & Planting Plan Examples from previous work.

  

Landscape Design & Planting Design Map



Planting Plan



Updated Planting Plan



Enclosed Courtyard for Professional Building
Scale Concept Model

Recommend Emu Bistro Furniture in Red
& Industrial Upcycled Firepit

 



Before

After

After



Pierson Park Plaza
Concept Drawing

Eco-Progressive Mixed Use
Concept Drawing

Eco-Progressive Mixed Use
Presentation Board



ZONE SEVENTEEN

Zone 17

New Blog for Plantings and Planting Plans Specifically for Sunset Zone 17

Cutting Garden

A Neighborly Buffer yet a Not So Neighborly Barrier

Outdoor Dining Tables as Functional Sculpture

By Caluco

Allowing dining tables to perform as sculptural pieces while retaining their overall function adds a dynamic quality to outdoor spaces without adding non-functional pieces that clutter the space.  A distinctive dining table is also a great way to announce which art and design movements resonate with the homeowner.  Pairing a unique dining table with similarly styled teak chairs allows the dining chairs to subtly fade into the background, maintaining continuity and allowing the table to be the focal point.  The fade-away chair look is also popularly achieved by using the Ghost Chair by Kartell ($410).

The 44" Round Red Alfresco Table is by Loll ($889).  Made with recycled materials, it is eco-friendly or eco-chic.  The simple contemporary red table is paired with the clean lined Rolland Teak Stacking Chair by Caluco.  

The 48" Round Florence Iron Dining Table ($509) and the classic Teak Niza Folding Dining Side Chairs by Caluco ($66) allow a more contemporary interpretation of a classically styled table.

The Emu Outdoor Furniture Collection has exquiste tables with sculptural qualities, particularly the Vera and Heaven Collections. 

Caluco product photos courtesty of http://www.caluco.com/

Loll product photos courtesy of http://www.lolldesigns.com/

Eclectic Holiday Lighting Display

Using a red berry wreath (a gift from my sister, possibly from Frontgate), a Buddha bust (another gift), faux garland from K-mart (possibly a Martha Stewart brand when she was still there), existing planters and plants, an opera table, LED berry shaped white lights, zip ties and seven eye screws; I designed this unique Holiday entrance.  The lights will probably be taken a little bit further, lining some of the architecture of the home.  The doorway, for me, is perfect. 

Trust yourself when you design, be creative, allow what you create to resonate with others.  It doesn’t have to be exactly the same kinds of things used by the neighbors, however using some of the more common mediums (lights & garland) is way to connect with them and be understood by them (you and your lights).

The entrance is attractive during the day as well, which for me, is a must.

Contemporary Modular Sofas

Although the double chaise's dimensions were too great for the existing porch, a similar, more suitable option is available from the same Caluco Mirabella Collection.  Utilizing two corner sectional pieces and two ottomans, a daybed is created when pushed together.  When entertaining groups, the pieces may be pulled apart for a seating group or for perimeter seating.  When entertaining one guest, the pieces may be set out in pairs with two groupings of one corner piece and one ottoman separated by an end table.

                                                 

Sometimes when we settle on a concept and realize it is not going to work out, pushing through the concept, the result becomes more refined and in the case higher functioning.

From the first option, the dual functioning, sculptural bar table is retained.

Now that the furnishings have been selected, it is a good time to start looking for accessories to soften the space as well as to enclose it further, perhaps with sunbrella curtains and to diminish the somewhat unsightly view of the hot tub.

Photographs courtesy of http://www.caluco.com/