I often have people contact me about editing or drawing up plans they found or purchased online, and it has never worked out. Ultimately, it costs them much more time and money than they could have imagined. EXAMPLE ONE: One client took a screenshot of the plan, searched for months, and found it online to… Continue reading When Buying Plans Online Goes Wrong: A Designer’s Perspective
Category: Landscapes
Time to Consider Landscaping
Even though in New England, our ground is brown and the trees are naked, it’s time to consider landscaping. Since the beginning of February, the landscapers have been contacting me about getting designs done and placing material orders. But unfortunately, like everything else in the world, landscape materials, plants, trees, and labor are in short… Continue reading Time to Consider Landscaping
The Perfect Patio
Are you looking to create the perfect patio? Well, why not? Patios are an extension of the house and living space so it is worth the time, energy, and funds to invest in research and design. As an example, I’ll use the York Cape Expansion project to show you my process when designing a patio.… Continue reading The Perfect Patio
Favorite Cutting Flowers for Your Garden
I thought it might be of interest to share with you my favorite plants that can go from your garden to your table. These are florist favorites as well as gardeners. We don’t always think about cut flowers, but wow do they pack a punch so why not plant and cut? -Allium -Anemone -Aster… Continue reading Favorite Cutting Flowers for Your Garden
Perfect Plantings for Top Performance
Plants, shrubs, and trees can provide much more than just beauty to enjoy; they can also create visual screens that provide you with much-needed privacy. I live in downtown Portsmouth, NH and each of my neighbors’ houses is about 20’ from my house with driveways in-between. It is a typical old neighborhood built between 1900… Continue reading Perfect Plantings for Top Performance
New Englander Renovation Gets its Landscaping Plan
When the end of construction is in site and my clients inquire about a landscaping plan, I simply can’t resist but to put a rough sketch and plan together as a “Housewarming Gift”. If you have been watching the New Englander Renovation, you know that the last month is when all the “pretty” things… Continue reading New Englander Renovation Gets its Landscaping Plan
How Landscape Design Impacts Architecture
Are you clear on how your landscape design impact architecture and vice-versa? Before I start a project with a client, we discuss their goals and lifestyle for how the house will function for them. As part of the architectural design, I also consider the landscape design. How will people walk into the house? How… Continue reading How Landscape Design Impacts Architecture
It’s time to plant your annuals! YAY!
While perennials are great because they come back every year getting larger and larger until you divide them, annuals are just going to last for one season and enter the garden with a bang! Annuals add height variations, color, and texture. My favorites annuals are: Ascot Rainbow (Spurge) Salvia Farinacea ‘Victoria Blue’ Angel’s Trumpet… Continue reading It’s time to plant your annuals! YAY!
North Mill Pond View
CLIENT PROFILE The homeowner is an engineer and worked in framing during college, so he is more than capable and very thoughtful about the construction process acting as the GC. He and his wife bought the 1900 2.5 stories, New Englander, with 1,534sf in 2012 mostly for the large, beautiful lot located right on North… Continue reading North Mill Pond View
Are you Prepared to Think Outside of the Box?
Every custom home brings with it the possibility of thinking outside of the box and the Steel Farmhouse is no exception. As a matter of fact, it’s a nice blend of typical elements that make a home functional with a custom twist. Here are some of the features that are creative, functional, and outside of… Continue reading Are you Prepared to Think Outside of the Box?