Landscape & Irrigation

www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation May/June 2016 29 lawn, each stage of the year has a space specifically designed to provide comfort at that time. Additionally, continued product developments for outdoor rooms provide us with opportunities to bring our clients' specific taste in accents and accessories from indoors out, using innovative materials that are weather resistant and easy to clean. This allows for a seamless transition of comfort and personal style from inside to outside. Kevin: One trend that I have been seeing with clients is flexibility in allowing the design to be more "outside the box." Whether it is the use of unique materials, such as fabrics or metals, or the use of bright colors on fixtures in the landscape (like bright- orange containers against a pale-grey house or a cedar gate stained a vivid aqua). I am also seeing the use of classic materials such as clay brick and underused stones, especially travertine, to create a look that extends the architecture of the home into the landscape. Years ago, I saw The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie. I was instantly hooked on his themed outdoor rooms and I wanted to build them. Nothing is better than truly creating the feel of Japan in a client's backyard, or how about Italy, or maybe even Arizona? Bill: In general, I think there are some solid trends that have taken hold in the past, and will continue for many years. One of the most obvious trends in design is the shift to more simplistic lines and form. I believe that there has been a strong shift from more traditional design to more contemporary and modern design. Other trends that are dominant in the design landscape are the use of edibles and vegetable gardens. With an ever-growing number of people becoming increasingly more health conscious, trends like "garden to table" are very popular. Who doesn't like to harvest from their own space? What challenges are associated with designing and constructing outdoor rooms? Preston: The flip side of having so many new products on the market for outdoor rooms is that there are so many more choices to make! Competing in the market for outdoor rooms means that designers have to be increasingly knowledgeable about the products that are out there, and continually developing their network to include new suppliers. Of course, there are the perennial challenges of balancing client need with budget, designing unique spaces using modular materials, and for siting outdoor rooms in the landscape appropriately so that they are comfortable in a range of weather conditions. Kevin: The biggest challenge that I face when designing is meeting the client's budget and delivering everything that they want at the budget. Often after the initial consult, I will give my rough budget to see if the client is a client that I can work with. I hate to tease a potential client with a design that they want but could never afford. Bill: The biggest challenges associated with designing outdoor rooms usually are related to the inherent limitations of the space. Consumers today want it all. On many occasions I have struggled with attempting to incorporate more features than the space PHOTO PROVIDED BY GREENSCAPE INC. I believe that the only limitations we have as professionals are our imaginations and our client's pocket book. Q:

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