Contemporary Landscape Design, Part 1

Back in September 2018, I was asked to write an article for The Resource Home Show about what it takes to have a contemporary landscape design. The Resource Home Show was created to bring designers, architects and other creatives together to meet each other and home owners throughout North Jersey. It was a great event! Along with the article, my company installed a temporary living wall for the event. I thought that the info in the article could be useful to the readers of my blog so I'm publishing it in several parts for you to read.  Part One is about the design process needed to discover the best way to transform a yard or property.  Enjoy!  

​Contemporary landscape design is trending more and more with homeowners. People are starting to see that any type of residence can have a more elegant and modern landscape. The biggest reason for this is that contemporary landscape design is as much an approach as it is an aesthetic. There is more attention to clean lines, sustainability, high quality materials and sophisticated lighting. Unlike other “styles”, the goal is not to apply a preconceived look to the layout of a space.  The solutions are collaborative where owner and designer discover the best outcome that addresses the needs of the project and the existing conditions of the site. The use of materials isn’t prescriptive either. The design may use wood, steel, stone, plantings, concrete in new and refreshing ways that aren’t, at first, clear but during the design process become obvious. That’s just as true for a Queen Anne Victorian or Colonial Revival as it is for a Midcentury or sleek Modern house.  
 
Nearly all homeowners, without hesitation, renovate the interior of these types of houses with modern flare, say, with a new kitchen with brilliant appliances and open concept eating areas.  They decorate their living rooms and bedrooms with contemporary furnishings be it Ikea, Design Within Reach or other stylish brands. However when it comes to redoing the exterior of their homes, the modern sensibility free to roam indoors is nowhere to be found outdoors.  

​Part of the problem is that there are very few design professionals that focus on contemporary landscape design.  Secondly, even fewer contemporary landscape examples are in the market.  The lack of examples and designers means that the best owners can do is go to a local garden store or Home Depot searching for solutions. I’ve worked with dozens of clients to help them rethink their exterior spaces with a more modern feel. Landscape design doesn’t stop with just grass and plants but can include everything on the outside of the house from the cladding and windows to the driveway, walkways, patios, fencing, decking as well as plantings, trees and anything in between.  
 
Design Process
Contemporary landscape design is a process.  It takes a little more consideration at the beginning than more standard methods. For one, the goal is to discover the best solution that may seem invisible at the outset. This process will allow for the right choices to be made and have huge benefits for a home.  Some of these benefits include more sustainable yards by using native plants and materials along with increased curb appeal.  In fact, many sources suggest that an investment into a yard will have a 100 to 110 percent return when selling the property.
 
The owners have more to gain with a better the landscape design because it will offer more beneficial outcome. With this in mind, it makes total sense to take time to consider the final project before installation gets underway.  Moreover, a thoughtful design period will save money during implementation. The end result is a clean transformation of property into more conscious, sustainable and breathtaking place to live. 

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When I first meet with a client, we may start with conversations about plants but as things progress, I may end up assisting them renovating every inch of the yard. Regardless of the size of the project, there are several steps needed to make sure the design is the best solution.  Usually, I start a project with a telephone conversation to listen to what an owner wants. I can ask some general questions and determine if my design studio is the right fit for their project.  Most of the time it is, but sometimes it’s not. Knowing that as soon as possible will help everyone save time.   

A master plan is a full design of a yard. It lets us create a real vision for the yard, and helps layout a path for how to get everything built all at once or over time. Master plans are the most cost-effective approach because the fees for the design are far less than the cost for construction.  They are like buying design in bulk. The end result is highly detailed documents that show the layout of the new yard as well as materials, plants, sizing and costs.  Below are a few examples of finished master plans.

​After it’s clear we are a good fit, I setup a time to visit the site and walk the property with the owners.  The conversation can go in many directions at this point, but one of my main goals is diving deeper into who the owner is and figuring out stylistic and performance desires they have. For example, they may want privacy from neighbors or to add edibles to a garden.  They may want a new deck and patio or to freshen up their house with new cladding.  We have designed pools and Koi ponds as well. During the initial consultation, I will recommend materials or plantings depending on the scope of the project. We talk about where larger items like decks and pools could go in the yard, and I mention any challenges I see moving forward. Though I work on many different sizes of project, I think projects work out best when we do a master plan for the property.
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Read the Other Parts of the Contemporary Landscape Design Series:
Contemporary Landscape Design, Part 2
Contemporary Landscape Design, Part 3
Contemporary Landscape Design, Part 4
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