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Meeting clients' needs
18 Mar, 2010 By: Landscape Management Staff LDB SolutionsLaughlin Design Associates, Inc. turn a small city backyard into a relaxing garden refuge.
The space was small, but the needs were great. This project’s client requested a subdued and relaxed garden refuge. They wanted privacy from an adjacent house to the north and condos to the east, a quiet garden patio under a custom arbor for meals and to entertain a few friends.
The design by Rick Laughlin, APLD, a certified professional landscape designer at Laughlin Design Associates, Inc., in Salt Lake City called for a spa, relocating the existing fish pool, a new privacy wall or fence on east border, and access to a vegetable garden.
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The color blind homeowners wanted plants with interest in form, texture and fragrance to attract birds, butterflies and bees. The plants also needed to prevent soil runoff into the condo parking lot. The clients also wanted to see most of the garden from the arbor patio.
Bringing it together
Both clients work during the day and enjoy early morning and evening relaxing in their garden. I used a custom cedar fence, Amelanchier trees and a sunken spa to provide privacy.
The benches, fish pool, plants, sunken spa and arbor patio were arranged to create an arrival sequence coming from the driveway, which is the primary entrance to the garden. Elevation changes were softened using 5-in. risers and wide treads.
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The line of the north stone wall, plantings and path focus the eye on the rose trellis bench. An entry trellis panel screens the rest of the garden. The wood fence on top of the north stone wall screens neighboring views. An iron entry gate allows a tempting peek into the garden where you hear the fish pool gurgling. The sunken spa bordered by Amelanchier trees creates privacy from the neighboring condos. A disappearing gravel path creates a sense of mystery.
Repetition of form and color in the manufactured stone walls, path, steps, patio, fence and chair fabric color unifies the space and visually connects it to the house. Note the north spa wall’s smooth transition with the house foundation. Unity was also achieved by repeating form and color in the entry gate, benches, arbor and patio table.
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The custom arbor creates a sense of enclosure over the patio. The Patio was sited at the lowest elevation for privacy and to draw the eye diagonally across the garden. The loft stairs lattice panel trellised with Lonicera screens the underside of the loft stairs. The back door stone step creates a comfortable garden entry. The existing concrete slab south of the back door guides visitors to the vegetable garden entrance.
The soft-colored plants and warm hardscape colors create the illusion of more space. Agastache behind the entry bench and a rose trellis bench provide a fragrant surprise. Fragrant Nepeta and soft, billowing Pennisetum soften and enclose the patio edge. Nepeta and Lavendula bordering the path provide more fragrance.
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