Landscape & Irrigation

30 May/June 2016 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION will allow. If the client has a large space, the second challenge is usually related to resources. Have you worked on any unique outdoor room projects lately? Preston: We recently installed an outdoor room designed as a four-season destination into an already established garden that we are very proud of. This particular design features a rustic approach to the space composed of massive boulder stairs and natural flagstone pathways. The destination is a flagstone patio and fireplace in a heavy timber pergola, which reinforced architectural details of the house. Positioned on the edge of the space is a large pond and waterfall that catches the summer breeze and provides natural air conditioning. The pond, a focal point, washes away noise and delights with playful fish. Kevin: I had a potential client that described their project as a challenge. I love hearing that word. They had a bunch of aged rectangular floating decks and some minor elevation changes. I saw a curved sitting wall around a circular patio. I saw a ramped path that curved up behind the sitting wall toward an existing paver path. Off that ramped path, I saw a smaller raised sitting area patio so the client could have two separate areas to entertain. The one thing that made this project unique is the wall pattern for the brick. The client suggested mimicking an MC Escher pattern with a light brick at one end, dark brick at the other end and then the two mixing in the middle. I loved the idea, and it turned out making the wall an awesome feature in this space. When a client is involved in some of the details of the design, it often makes it more personal for them and easier to buy in. Bill: Yes, but I look at every exterior project or space as an outdoor room. For a space to be comfortable, it is natural to have something under, next to and above you. The under part is easy. We all need something to stand, sit or lay on. Whether it is a patio, a swimming pool or a big open field, gravity dictates that we have something under our feet. As for surfaces or the space above our heads, as humans we crave defined areas. It might be a fence or a mountain range in the distance, a pergola or the canopy of a tree. What opportunities do you see for landscape pros for outdoor room projects? Preston: Forecasts seem to predict an increasing preference for yards defined by hardscape, rather than traditional garden/ lawn models. As a culture we still insist on spending time outdoors, but are choosing to spend that time relaxing, rather than maintaining a landscape. Additionally, we are seeing a pattern of bigger houses and smaller yards here in North Carolina. We have met these trends by focusing not on the lawn and flowering plants, but on outdoor rooms that connect to open lawns. Kevin: My clients are mostly all residential, and I prefer that because of the relationships I can build with them over time. My clients find me through referrals and my website. The referrals come from prior clients and from a referral group that meets weekly. I have been a member of that referral group since September of 2008, right after the recession. As for my online marketing, I spend about $22K per year for my website and the SEO management. To some it may seem like a lot of money, but it keeps the leads rolling in. I get way more than I can handle, so I can pick and choose which leads to pursue. Bill: The opportunities are endless. I believe that the only limitations we have as professionals are our imaginations and our client's pocket book. In my opinion, every project, big or small, residential or commercial can be great if, as professionals, we focus on the details and provide our clients the most creative solutions for their needs. As green industry professionals, it is our duty and obligation to present the consumer with the best products, craftsmanship and services combined with innovative design. If the focus is on quality and detail, we will not need to find the clients — they will find us. Jennifer Foden is a writer and editor based in Vancouver (www.jdfoden.wordpress.com). PHOTO PROVIDED BY KEVIN WENGERNUK The biggest challenge that I face when designing is meeting the client's budget and delivering everything that they want at the budget. Q: Q:

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