Landscaping Notes Nichols Baumgartner 2021
**** lighting Chris - I totally agree that this lighting playfulness is what we're going for. Karen - These lights are fun. Also like the patio but it would be really frustrating if it is in a dining area where furniture is moving. Great in a living space - #1 for Karen TLC Team- I agree however do you see having those large joints suitable for dining or for a proper lounge? Would it be better for you both if the level and the spacing was flush with the grass. We love the lighting playfulness. Chris doesn't think we could do this. Have not had luck maintaining the plant material. I think it would work in a lounge type area where we didn't move chairs but not on a dining space
Chris - I like this patio, and the simplicity/functionality of the terraces. I also like the wall of greenery in the back. Love the back wall look. Nice if the terraces are wide enough to use TLC Team- I also enjoy the ashlar patio. It has a very nice color tone for your look, and the terraces (although not large) give a great example of how these elements in elevational change can really work well together.
TLC Team- This pergola shows the cleanliness and attention to form and function. What do you enjoy about the louvers and metal framing? What could be done to improve pleasurable context within your landscape goals? Chris - I like the cleanliness, but the frame seems too thick and the joists to severe and sparse. Karen - likes the overhand and cantelever look.
This is a small yard at a clients house. It is enchanting. There is a slight step up in the back where the hot tub is. Very nice use of terracing TLC Team- Does a stamped concrete terrace provide the aesthetic appeal your looking for? Could you describe what part of the image is enchanting for you? Thank you for providing this example.
I like the small surrounding gardens. Cool fence TLC Team- Do you enjoy a sitting space being crowded on the borders by planting or more organized layer beds? Relative to the earlier image and architectural style of wood fence in this image study. How does the height, size of board slats, and column sizing of this image speak to you for fence design?
Chris - Yes, playful winter lighting would give the outdoor space 4 season appeal. Karen - This reminded me that I like to wrap the elm trunks in the winter for christmas lights so some electrical access would be good near that tree. We currently have to use a long extension cord. TLC Team - Are you open to outdoor power outlets installed through the site for accessible decoration use?
I like the subtle lights and what looks like a little reading room or small dining area. I also like the terracing and the raw metal TLC Team - The lights provide path access availability at anytime, will be opportunistic on site for consistent flow and safety. How does the shadow effect strike you in this image? Can the lights be bolder or would you see them being dimmer? We like to paint with light.
TLC Team - Tell us what you don't like and what you do like about this image? TLC Team - Is there a mixture of paving products that you like to see blended in this design patio - We like both the wood and the stepping stone transition. I love the plant material behind the sofa, fells very cozy - we really like bamboo and would love to keep the plant we have in the back. Also like the lighting. I don't like the furniture if that matters
simple and pretty. TLC Team - What about this image are you attracted to in simplicity, can you be more specific? I find the simplicity in the steel structure is nicely juxtaposed with the wall and access and the flow of the space.Karen - I like the simplicity of the materials. It feels unfussy to me. I like the variety of the pots and simple fountain. Chris - I like this one. "Simple elegance" could be the theme of the project. Chris - 4 - #4 Karen
pretty path don't need quite so much light. TLC Team - I like the circles its playful and functional. With lighting it is important to have areas of darkness. More like painting with light. Chris - Fanciful and fun is a required element. This picture is a good example of that. Chris - 5 Karen #2 TLC Team - what about mulching or a lighter colored stone to fill path in regards to the grey stone?
outdoor dining room, intimate. TLC Team - Nice. How many people will you generally entertain in your future outdoor dining area? Will you use a similar size table? The intimacy is created here with both lighting and framing of the shot. Plant material adds color. Karen #3
fun. The swing if different and the sofa looks comfortable. TLC team - This is a bit fun. Are you wanting to incorporate a swing? COuld incorporate more of a sofa swing but not a necessity. Chris - 2
like the feel of something like this for between houses. TLC Team - Got it, lovely application of the circles is also noted. Chris - Like this too. Beautiful transition from backyard to front yard (see also "Formal gate")
cozy landscape, like the color in the wall and organic lines. TLC Team - Interesting lines with this on a rectangular site. Creates a feeling of more space. This is a tenant of design for creating a larger feeling and breaking up the expected. For your site I feel that some of this applied design techniques will bring the outdoor environment to life.
Formal, unique entry gate. Chris TLC Team - This frames the space well , has clean lines and is simple. I am assuming you would like this at the front access to the yard off the driveway ? Do you mean the space between our houses? If so, then yes. Chris - Formal gate to enter backyard from front yard feels like a required element. See also "Beautiful transition"
really like this. Chris hates the little rocks. would like more foliage and flowers but the clean lines are soothing. TLC Team - This was a water feature design I really had fun creating. The polished beach pebbles actually hide a catch basin under the path. I would love to add more plants to the site but the clients were pretty modern minimalist. Thankyou .
cool fountain. Like the different materials and peacefulness. TLC Team - I like the combination of concrete and steel work. Very elegant.
comfortable feeling. Like the lushness of the plants. TLC Team - reminds me of Seattle. This is a good use of the space here which is narrow. Some of the plant material here is suitable to colorado in the right microclimate on site. The hostas for example . Did you see the sculptural element in the back?
comfy looking bench. Chris hates throw pillows - these would drive him insane. Like the splash of the red table too - TLC Team - copy on throw pillows. Half the time they just are for decoration. Its good to think about seating and I notice even this photo has the wood and edison light element clean lines.
like the feel, lush. TLC Team- Got it. Cozy. TLC Team - Do you like this sense of enclosure? Does there need to be more color?
I like the idea of a dining, living area that is easy to move between but this space is too harsh to me - Karen, TLC Team - Would softer/grassy elements to replace some of the gravel help create better feel?
love this part of the gardens and loved the floating balls in this exhibit. TLC -Team that is pretty cool love it. We could incorporate some of these fun elements into the outdoor environment. Chris - Agreed! If any additional inspiration is needed, the Japanese gardens at the Denver Botanic Gardens is one of my favorite spots on earth!
like the clean tidy lines and the layering Karen TLC Team - Love it. This kind of border look nice and does well in boston. In colorado we can achieve similar lines with different plant material.
like the lighting, fireplace is too big. TLC Team -agreed the scale and ratio is wrong. CHeck our our blog on the golden ratio I use it in all designs and it makes things simple.
nice steps and railing. TLC Team - What specifically do you like about this design? I agree this is a nice flow pattern the steps are a good depth I like the 14" to 16" depth for a good flow. What are your thoughts on the patio stone colorand style. I was picturing more of a dimensional pattern. - Chris - the deep depth of the stairs is a wonderful feature that I never think about but is SUCH a joy to experience when using.
cool fountain. like the thought of having some moving water and water plants with a simple fountain. TLC Team- This one is custom steel work which is nice when you are fitting a small water feature to a site with very specific configuration. I feel your site has this element. We want to use the space in the most efficient way and this allows for functionality and aesthtics. Chris - Yes! "Loud" water feature is a required element. Love the idea of custom steel built around a specific configuration
pretty fence. TLC Team - Definitely I like the wood slat arrangement is adds elegance. We recently complete a steel and wood fence on a small courtyard. In your space the additional of privacy with architectural element add sophistication to the site. Chris - I too like the architectural element. Would love to see this sort of design detail throughout.
pretty planter boxes, TLC Team - What is it about the planter boxes that you like is it the stone the height, the layout ? Can you be more spefic? karen - I like he idea of a planter box. This was kind of a reminder to me. Would like to plant some veggies and herbs but we don't have a lot of sun. a
pretty steps. TLC Team- Easy to integrate on the site were you have elevation changes. Slab steps are one of our favorite path choices. Especially when you couple this with plant material.
like the bamboo, TLC Team - What are your thoughts on the horizontal slat fence detail the colors are nice here. Are you open to wood elements?
layered color. TLC Team - Beautiful TLC Team - The cool tones in this image could be balanced with subtle warmth.
layered flowers.TLC Team - will you be cutting flowers for inside display. yes I love to have flowers inside. Owen loves bugs and likes to explore in gardens like these too
need a long table for min 8 people, maybe 10. maybe two tables? TLC Team - copy I like the flow lines on this image. Its always important to look at that for ultimate enjoyment. I will look at both possiblilties. Chris - Room to absorb a 10 - 12 for intimate dinners is a required element
nice xeriscaping. don't love the rough boulders. TLC Team - What about the granite boulders in our rock canyon project ? Those have more clean lines that help the plants pop.
like the idea of top shade. TLC Team - Could you give me an idea of wether you would like me to design dappled shade or solid shade some clients perfer one over the other. I can do either depending on what you want. Karen - I would probably prefer or more dappled look and so that it feels airier. I like the room idea but not the idea of being too enclosed
love the whimsiness of these but they aren't terribly practical. TLC Team -True. Though you did have swings in another segment of the idea book. So tell me more about this. Are you wanting to swing? Swings seem impractical to me unless they can be removed. I like the feeling of them probably ore than the actual nature. I like the shape of these - maybe some furniture could be similar - karen
need a place to grow herbs. TLC Team - Are you wanting raised beds like these? we made these out of steel and power coated them. Yes I like raised beds/pots. I would likely prefer a more organic style of pot. i like clay over metal. You can see my big blue pots on our front porch. I love them
drainage for garage Karen likes the stones, Chris hates . TLC Team - copy Chris does not like polished beach pebbles. I do often use steel and linear drains to create functional drainage around and in hardscape areas. Could you please describe the drainage problem you are having?
like the plant wall. TLC Team - That would be nice in several locations. softens things a bit. TLC Team- what vines, trellis materials could you envision on site?
firepit. Chris isn't super into having a firepit, I think it would be nice to have a casual option but doesn't have to be a permanent fixture. TLC Team - copy. portable optons are nice as are modern chimineas there are a few styles that would fit the modern look and be super funciontal. Add a little spark.
soft thyme would be nice to have. Like the idea of having scents, TLC Team - copy, what scents are provided on site? what scents do you endure in the space, and could a buffer be provided to omit bad ones?
cascading flowers. great smell. TLC Team -Jasmine and Mockorange are some of my favorites. TLC Team - Do you enjoy to grow vegetables? Fruitful trees harvesting? Sustainability is always fun and functional
Large, shared swing under shade. TLC Team - That looks fun. Love these. You have a nice tree for this to. Chris - A backyard swing to replicate the intimacy and joy of the front porch swing is a required element.
Loud, lush waterfall with enough noise to drown out leaf blowers, wind chimes, dogs, and other sound annoyances. Chris TLC Team - Love it. You don't need a big water feature to create the sound you would want though. Small water features designed right make more sound. The sound comes from the water dropping into the basin underground.
I love this yard for a small space. FLW inspired Karen. TLC Team - Nice flow, Layout is intriguing and makes the space feel larger, the fire pit is unique. What do you like about it? karen - I like the clean lines. Chris does not like this. I think a simple fire pit could be nice but Chris doesn't think we need one.
Pretty. Comfy. TLC Team - cozy good textures. TLC Team - Would this furniture style be exposed? is there a predetermind style that would match the paving style or existing site elements?
love the wood and the cleanliness of this TLC Team - Yep me to. TLC Team - does this variable spacing intrigue you?
like the stairs and the step stones TLC Team - Playfull isn't it. Nice use of space and flow pattern using different material and textures.
we have a piece of art we would like to keep TLc Team - could you take a picture of it and send to us as a team? - the picture of our art is at the top of the pictures. Its not very good but is the metal piece on the fence
Do not like this. Looks harsh and uncomfortable TLC Team - Roger. Noted.
nice step pattern. TLC Team I actually toured this garden in Boston as well as a host of others you have in this image study. This was a big hit with the national design conference. We all liked the simplicity.
I like the aesthetic of this hardscape. Chris
I like the wall aesthetic, and the modern looking fountain. Chris
I like the way this is integrated into the wall and can be sort of in the background - allowing marshmallow roasts but not necessarily having to sit around it.
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