When talking about landscaping and gardens, it helps to view the overall design as two parts that make up a whole composition. First, we can look at the ways landscape designers use artful groupings of trees, shrubs, flowering plants and grasses to create living compositions. The greenscape is the dynamic part of the composition because […]
Outdoor Kitchen Designs for Backyard Living Spaces
As days grow warmer and evenings longer, Northern Virginia families start to spend more time outdoors enjoying their backyard living spaces. Aside from fireplaces and swimming pools, outdoor kitchens are one of the most frequently requested features. Outdoor kitchen designs range from super simple built-in BBQ grills to café style kitchens with multi-level stone countertops […]
The Allure of Garden Paths & Walkways
Artfully designed garden paths mimic a sensation similar to what we feel when walking in nature. You’ve probably had this experience walking a woodland path in one of our Northern Virginia regional parks: You pause at an overlook to take in the feeling of space rolling out before you. You sit for a moment and […]
The Role of Garden Fountains in Landscape Design
Fountains have had a prominent role in landscape design for hundreds of years in both public spaces and private homes. Compared to other landscaping water features such as waterfalls and ponds, garden fountains are less labor intensive to construct and offer a comparatively easy way to introduce the pleasing sensory effects of moving water to […]
Striking a Balance Between Natural and Cultivated Landscapes in Loudoun County
As landscape architects, we know that elegant landscaping contributes to the appeal and market value of a home. But how does the natural setting of a community contribute to its appeal? We set out to answer this question in a four-part series of blog articles. The previous three installments explored the fine points of Chevy […]