Monthly Archives: March 2016

2016 Interior Design Trends: The Influence of Beautiful Landscapes

When it comes to interior design trends, it seems everything’s coming up roses…and hydrangeas…and crawling vines. For 2016 and beyond, experts say we can expect to see lots of horticulture-inspired fabrics and wall coverings, living walls (vertical gardens), and décor-to-your-door monthly floral arrangement clubs brightening our homes.

One creative artist and designer is in the forefront of reimagining horticulture-inspired wall coverings as art. New York City’s own Candice Kaye (Candice Kaye Design) offers an array of beautiful landscape-influenced art in her 2016 collections of wall fabrics, for example.

“It was forest designers who first caught my attention. They had rented a house and decorated it with flowers and vines,” says Kaye. “It looked just like the outdoors and that really moved me. I love studying how the flowers lay out, their bright colors, and how vines and flowers all work together. I think the recent trend in interior design is partly because of social media. People can appreciate all the beautiful interiors being created and that inspires them to want the same for themselves.”

Fortunately, Mother Nature seems limitless in what she can inspire. In Deck and Patio’s own landscaping work, we enjoy choosing from myriad colors and textures of flowers, shrubs and flowering trees in order to create beautiful, yet, individual, outdoor escapes for clients — be the projects large or small.

“In recent years, the ever-rising demand for outdoor landscaped retreats can’t help but go hand-in-hand with a desire to bring all this beauty inside,” says Dave Stockwell, owner of Deck and Patio. “Be it through expansive windows in the home, or the latest upsurge in outdoor pavilions and four season rooms, it’s a fact that once you experience a beautiful outdoor landscape, you want to live it all the time — indoors as well as out.”

With permission from Kaye, we have juxtaposed below a few of her beautiful wall covering creations against selected photos of our own landscaping projects. These are followed with two great examples of horticulture being interchangeable as indoor and outdoor experiences.

Enjoy!

 

These apricot-pink roses were chosen by Deck and Patio’s Marc Wiener for a client. “Such bright plants attract attention and cause the landscape to recede behind them, making the overall area to appear larger,” says Wiener.

These apricot-pink roses were chosen by Deck and Patio’s Marc Wiener for a client. “Such bright plants attract attention and cause the landscape to recede behind them, making the overall area to appear larger,” says Wiener.

Candice Kaye experimented with a little whimsy as she developed her custom “Roses Are Blue” design for a client. “I like to capture what’s been done by Nature, but also make it more exciting by playing with scale and letting florals dominate in a design,” she says.

Candice Kaye experimented with a little whimsy as she developed her elegant “Roses Are Blue” design for a client. “I like to capture what’s been done by Nature, but also make it more exciting by playing with scale and letting florals dominate in a design,” she says.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Water lilies are very popular aquatic plants for backyard ponds. They not only offer vibrant color but they offer shade for pond fish and contribute in a positive way to an overall healthy eco-system,” says Dave Stockwell.

“Water lilies are very popular aquatic plants for backyard ponds. They not only offer vibrant color but they offer shade for pond fish and contribute in a positive way to an overall healthy eco-system,” says Dave Stockwell.

Kaye’s “Exotic” design for her Summer Collection includes a hint of an aquatic plant we particularly love — water lilies. “I love putting together combination of various flowers I love, in soft, but striking, hues and shapes,” says Kaye.

Kaye’s “Exotic” design for her Summer Collection includes a hint of an aquatic plant we particularly love — water lilies. “I love putting together combination of various flowers I love, in soft, but striking, hues and shapes,” says Kaye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kaye’s "Collection N Twelve" boasts a dramatic striped wall covering with a captivating, if subtle, vine design inspired by her outdoor nature walks.

Kaye’s “Collection N Twelve” boasts a dramatic striped wall covering with a captivating, if subtle, vine design inspired by her outdoor nature walks.

For these clients, Deck and Patio created a walk-through private woodland path for quiet moments of contemplation when strolling from one area to another.

For these clients, Deck and Patio created a walk-through private woodland path for quiet moments of contemplation when strolling from one area to another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One design idea that enlivens both interior and exterior space with real flowers is the living wall. Deck and Patio’s Marc Wiener recently installed on a backyard wall in busy New York City.

One design idea that enlivens both interior and exterior space with real flowers is the living wall. Deck and Patio’s Marc Wiener recently installed on a backyard wall in busy New York City.

“There are many type of Living Walls; interior and exterior, permanent or seasonal walls, and then there is the ‘Plug n Play’ (manufactured and trademarked by Green Living Technologies, International  or GLTi),” says Wiener. “Drip irrigation is set up on alternating rows and trickles down to each row below; excess water is either captured or drains. Plants are set on an angle with their holes faced downward so the roots/soil can sap up water via wicking effect.”

 

 

Container Gardening for Indoors and Out

Container Gardening for Indoors and Out

 

One other clever idea that can enhance both interiors and exteriors is container gardening. This beautiful collection of hydrangeas in easy-to-move containers means they can be placed wherever the activity is happing in the yard — or bring them inside to enhance your interior design.

In sum: It appears that our love of the outdoors doesn’t seem to be fading any time soon. So! Gather ye rosebuds while (or where) ye may!

 

 

 

Patios and Other Hardscape Designs: Paving the Way to Harmony

New patios, driveways and pool surrounds often come about when refurbishment is needed, e.g., when age has deteriorated an existing hardscape, or after a storm, and when some new outdoor amenity such as a pool, pond, or entertaining space demands it.

Done properly, outdoor hardscapes are more than serviceable — they can be an essential element in ensuring that the residence and property remain one harmonious whole.

To accomplish this requires choosing the new hardscape’s ideal hue, texture and pattern so it complements the exterior of your residence and other outdoor spaces, designed in a way perfect for the amount of property space involved and the use it will have. For a truly welcoming entrance, for example, driveways constructed in the right paving stones can offer inviting warmth and distinction. In backyards, the right patio material can feel like an extension of its surroundings.

 

 

If comparing the many different landscaping materials available seems daunting —  indeed, viewing online photos can distort color and texture — Deck and Patio has addressed this by creating an outdoor display at our design center, so visitors can see many of the available materials close-up.

When visiting our outdoor display, they can walk-on them, and even touch various patio materials to get a proper sense of how a finished hardscape will look in natural light. Plus, if desired, our staff can explain the different benefits of each one — be it bluestone, brick, concrete pavers, permeable pavers, Travertine, etc.

 

 

 

Paving Stone Driveway:

Paving Stone Driveway:

Deck and Patio’s design team was brought in during the early stages of planning and construction of this home and its many hardscapes. Working with the architect and homeowners, in front, our design team created a driveway in earth-tone concrete tumbled pavers that appear as an extension of the geometric patters and hues of the home’s Glen Gary brick.

 

 

Backyard Oasis:

Backyard Oasis:

For the back of the same residence (photo above), we used a 3-D animation program to help the clients see how their backyard oasis would appear. Techo-Bloc pavers (Elena) in a multi-level terracing design were chosen to perfectly harmonize with the back of the home’s architecture, help the space appear larger, and offer elegant surroundings to the freeform pool, the cascading waterfall, meandering stream with its own sheet-falling waterfall and spillway from the spa into the pool.

 

 

Permeable Pavers:

Permeable Pavers:

Because these Brooklyn clients wanted to collect rainwater for irrigation, they opted for permeable pavers. Voids between the pavers are filled with crushed stone; when rain passes through the pavers’ joint spaces, it flows down into an underneath layer of bluestone gravel and about an inch of crushed stone which filters the water.

 

 

Cambridge Paving Stones:

Cambridge Paving Stones:

We surrounded this vinyl-lined pool and spill-over spa in handsome Cambridge Pavingstones, with artful cut-outs for plantings. The beautiful hue of the pool water caused by its vinyl liner, set against the pavers, with a huge backdrop of lush green grass create a very special setting. In addition, the hardscape was designed to be in perfect harmony with the shape of the pool.

 

 

Pool Surrounds:

Pool Surrounds:

Handsome Cambridge Ledgestone XL “Toffee Onyx Light” pavers (Sherwood Collection) were chosen as a patio/pool surround for this yard. The pavers come in 3-piece design kits for a beautiful random design. The color of the pavers nicely pick up both the pool water while simultaneously suggesting beach sand for a beautiful natural appearance.

 

 

Freeform Hardscapes:

Freeform Hardscapes:

Freeform pools are popular because they meander along with the landscape in a natural way; here we designed the Techo-Bloc patio in “freeform” design as well, and added a stacked stone wall for dramatic outline and extra seating when entertaining.

 

 

ravertine Patios:

Travertine Patios:

Travertine is a gorgeous natural stone that can make a beautiful patio. Here the Travertine surrounds a 50-foot-long pool, 800-square-foot pool house, an outdoor kitchen with natural stone facade, and an outdoor shower. Note: Although Travertine has traditionally been used indoors in colder climates, more and more it is being used outdoors. Be careful, however, from where the stone is quarried. You want Travertine from Italy, Mexico or Turkey, not China, which doesn’t hold up in the freeze/thaw conditions of the Northeast.

 

 

 

Geometric Swimming Pools: The Shapes of Things to Come

In recent years there has been a growing re-appreciation of swimming pools in a geometric design (straight lines, triangles, circles, or similar regular shapes) and this trend is predicted to continue well beyond 2016.

The reasons for the renewed appreciation could be that “geometrically” shaped pools are sleeker and more contemporary than freeform pools. They also are more traditional and, therefore, suggest permanency — a comforting image in times of rapid change.

Perhaps an even bigger factor is that today’s pool builders can incorporate deluxe features in any pool design, e.g., baja or tanning shelves, waterfalls, beach or sloping entries, swim out steps, in-water ledges and spas, providing extra interest to plain geometric shapes.

In the first two photos below, Deck and Patio’s Marc Wiener worked with Michael Truehart of True Blue Swimming Pools to create a sleek and elegant modern geometric design. Indeed, the completed pool won a Gold medal from the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals’ (APSP) International Awards of Excellence Program.

However, despite geometric design’s simplicity, these pools are not simple to build.

“With freeform pools, there really is no right or wrong,” says Truehart. “But with parallel and perpendicular angles, geometric designs have to be exact. Plus, vinyl liners, which are so popular today, these are measured and cut by computer and require that everything be on the money.”

 

Geometric Salt Water Pool and Surround:

Geometric Salt Water Pool and Surround:

Deck and Patio’s Marc Wiener’s chose sandy-hued Techo-Bloc pavers to harmonize with the ‘Sand Pebble’ vinyl pool liner by Loop-Loc installed by True Blue Swimming Pools. (Photo: True Blue Pools)

 

 

Geometric Salt Water Pool Amenities:

Geometric Salt Water Pool Amenities:

This same salt-water pool includes a generous amount of interesting corners and notch-outs, a “cuddle cove” in between two sheer descent waterfalls, and clean-lined pool steps at each end (swim-outs at the deep end). (Photo: True Blue Pools)

 

 

Roman Ell Geometric Pool:

Roman Ell Geometric Pool:

True Blue Swimming Pools also built this lovely geometric pool in a Roman Ell shape with a long shallow and full deep end. It is also a vinyl pool with a liner by Loop-Loc; Also note the Wild Ride water slide by Interfab. The pool boasts a Cambridge Ledgestone XL paver surround/patio and sheer descent waterfalls. (Photo: True Blue Pools)

 

 

Geometric Pool with Seating Ledge:

Geometric Pool with Seating Ledge:

Deck and Patio’s design for this sleek vinyl pool included an in-pool seating ledge and swim-out steps. Vinyl refers to the method used to line the pool’s interior. Its base construction, however, is the same as any other. The pool surround/patio was created in a warm chestnut-hued random pattern using Cambridge pavers.

 

 

In-pool Hot Tubs:

In-pool Hot Tubs:

Another trend in pool design is to make the spa or hot tub disappear within the pool. For these Deck and Patio clients, such an option wasn’t just for beauty. With young children, for safety reasons they wanted an automatic cover that would overlay both bodies of water; special automation also allows them to isolate the spa and heat only the spa water.

 

 

Geometric Pool with Landscaping:

Geometric Pool with Landscaping:

The steps Deck and Patio installed just above the far end of the pool are part of a natural retaining wall of boulders; they lead to a delightfully landscaped wilderness where pool equipment has been artfully hid. Pool includes sheer descent waterfalls and is surrounded by a patio with complementary random geometric patterns.

 

 

 

What is Involved in Creating a Backyard Oasis Landscape?

You know it when you see it, a backyard so tranquil and lovely — and beautifully designed for entertaining — that it didn’t come about without expert planning.

Of course, you’ll no doubt turn to a professional to install any pool or spa, and perhaps the deck or patio areas. But for you hardy do-it-yourselfers out there, if you want to do the landscaping yourself, for picture-perfect, and useful, outdoor living spaces, here’s a few tips.

It is key to learn which plantings work well together, their bloom periods, those that thrive in full or partial shade, as well as plantings that will need the least care.

In addition, a beautiful backyard retreat can require selectively removing what is already there: trees and shrubs, as well as undesirable rocks and boulders that may be in the way. It’s also important to learn what is needed to nourish your particular property’s soil.

When it comes to soil nutrients, there are several places you can go for information, such as the Cornell Cooperative Extension in your area, where experts can guide you and sometimes even help analyze the soil.

As for the landscape design plan, take into consideration your home’s architecture as well as your style preferences.

“It’s also key to pay close attention to your property grades,” adds Dave Stockwell, owner of Deck and Patio. “We plan so that the landscape will flourish and last for years. Our designs include a layering technique that offers privacy on the periphery and vibrancy where it will be best enjoyed.”

Dave adds that another trademark of great design is the careful combining of ‘softscape’ with ‘hardscape.’ “Careful placement of moss rock will also add to the dimension and texture and a natural appearance.”

 

Landscaping Techniques:

Landscaping Techniques:

Because this property was open on three sides with three homes in full view, we added Skip Laurels, Leyland Cypress, and Cedars on the periphery to create a natural privacy screen. Texture and color were brought in to the buffering divider by incorporating flowering deciduous shrubs.

 

 

Landscaping Techniques:

Landscaping Techniques:

For the same project above, Deck and Patio’s Marc Wiener incorporated creeping evergreen ground covers that cascade and wind over and between the rocks we used. His selection of plants provide color from April through October; the whole design flows beautifully into the back property.

 

 

Year Long Garden Color:

Year Long Garden Color:

Sandra Vutaggio, Horticulture Consultant at the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Riverhead, NY says that there are many plant choices that will provide either bark interest, colorful berries/seedheads late-season. The beautiful purple berries of the Callicarpa plant pictured here, for example, begin in fall and last through winter. Photo: Missouri Botanical Garden

 

 

Crepe Myrtle Trees:

Crepe Myrtle Trees:

The Crepe Myrtle thrives on Long Island and the northeast. It’s offers delicate clusters of pink blossoms in late spring (shown behind waterfall); in fall, it shows bright red-orange leaves, and in winter it has interesting bark.

 

 

Purple Allium Sphaerocephalon:

Purple Allium Sphaerocephalon:

These beautiful purple flowers (seen in the foreground) are planted in the fall and are one of the many plantings that offer robust color in the summer outdoor season and thrive nicely on Long Island and in the northeast. Deck and Patio’s Marc Wiener chose them for this design plan for their height as well as their lovely color contrast.

 

 

Design/Build Landscaping: Owning a Piece of Paradise, One Phase at a Time

A backyard oasis can be a major undertaking. Depending on the scope of the project, it isn’t always possible to bring it about all at once. Depending on when you get started, time constraints can limit what is possible to do in one season. Budget can also be a factor. Even local codes may cause temporary roadblocks.

When any these factors frustrate completing your heart’s desire in one season, the answer, of course, is build it in stages. However, in order to ensure that each stage  is in harmony with earlier work, the project’s design requires an extra measure of care.

Phase I should include enough enjoyable elements so that the family can experience a bit of paradise from the get-go. Certainly that was true for the project showcase we’re highlighting here, which was done in two phases.

In addition to a swimming pool and spa, the clients were passionate about having backyard water features in a natural setting that appeared as if Mother Nature did the work — not a landscaping firm. Our Phase I plan included just such backyard delights: a pond, stream and multiple waterfalls that seemed to have always been there.

“In addition to appearing natural, the clients wanted to enjoy beautiful natural sounds and sights from various points in their yard and residence,” says Bill Renter.

“A key decision we made was not to clear-cut their backyard just to make it easy on us to work,” says Bill Renter. “We kept much of the property’s mature oaks, maples and pines in the overall design. In the initial phase, we were also careful to leave sufficient space and access to where the pool and spa would be constructed the following year, taking care that any future construction would not interfere with anything already in place.”

Not only did the homeowners end up with their heart’s desire — owning a piece of paradise that was theirs alone — but the project won Deck and Patio three prestigious awards: Gold, Silver and Bronze from the National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI).

 

Backyard Paradise:

Backyard Paradise:

Before any pool was built, Deck and Patio designed the property’s new stream and multiple waterfalls to transverse the rear property line ending in a koi pond. By using the existing topography, we created spills and changes to water direction so they could be easily heard as well as seen from the rear patio and from inside the residence.

 

 

Swimming Pool with Spillover Spa:

Swimming Pool with Spillover Spa:

After a year of enjoying their water feature, we installed the pool and spa to complete the backyard renovation. The pool was designed to be “organic” with its natural surroundings and to meet the clients’ desire to have a body of water that would be harmonious with the residence’s existing patio, outdoor kitchen area, waterfall, stream and koi pond.

 

 

Spillover Spa:

Spillover Spa:

Built 12 inches above the pool water line, the spa provides a picturesque spillway that intermingles with the surrounding landscape. The clients wanted the spa to be unique and provide some seclusion from the main patio and other viewing angles. A 2-foot-high cascading waterfall into the spa not only offers a gentle massage should you sit under it, but it adds to the overall theme of having pleasant visual and audio effects of moving water.

 

 

Landscaping Backyard Oasis:

Landscaping Backyard Oasis:

The pool was also constructed with a moss rock boulder coping which brings the landscape right up to the beam of the pool in a natural setting. Vibration flowers with fragrance that also offer successional color throughout the pool season include a wide variety of perennials, evergreen and deciduous plantings.

 

 

Backyard Koi Pond:

Backyard Koi Pond:

The spa was situated by Deck and Patio’s design/build team so the client could view the koi pond and waterfalls while relaxing in the spa.

 

 

 

 

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