Architectural Landscape Design Blog

Archive for the ‘Fire Places and Fire Pits’ Category

Adding Some “Sizzle” With Fireplaces and Fire Pits to Light Up Your Night

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

Does the thought of seeing dancing flames and hearing a fire “sizzle” on a cool night or day warm you up? You can build fires in your backyard in the spring, fall, and winter, and yes even on a cool summer night.

You can add an outdoor fireplace to an exterior wall of your house or place one on the patio. Or you can build a fire pit. You can take the chill off on a spring or fall night and welcome people to your home on a winter night by adding a fire element.

Our MN designers and landscape architects have a lot of experience in designing fireplaces and fire pits with many options. We can check on any local regulations to determine if there are any use restrictions where you live, such as clearance requirements of an open flame from combustible surfaces and structures.

We can build you a fireplace or fire pit from brick or natural stone that either uses wood or gas. A freestanding fire pit built above the ground serves as an informal gathering place with seating even when it’s not “fired up”. You can add a cover so when it’s not in use it functions as a table for entertaining. Or best yet add some “sizzle” to a night and invite family and friends over for marshmallows and s’mores. Or you can build it flush with your patio so you can cover it with a lid once the fire is out. Adding cooking grates for barbecuing is another plus.

Whatever your choice fireplaces and fire pits offer another focal point for your yard year around. They’ll  increase the pleasure you’ll find in your yard and add to the value of your property. Welcome nightfall to your yard with a little “sizzle” contact us on 952-292-7710.

 

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Fire Pit Next To The Pool In Minnesota

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

Imagine a fire pit build right next to the pool. Not one that requires wood and produces ash, but a gas fed fire that burns clean with the flip of a switch. What better way to spend a cool summer evening in your Minnesota home. Reserved for the lucky few years ago, gas burning fire pits have become more popular with the advances in technology, that make outdoor living that much more convenient and affordable. Some things to consider when installing an outdoor fire pit should include the following;

  1. How many people would you like it to accommodate? 1-4 is typical, as this will encourage simple, intimate conversations that create trust and safety. 5 or more people will require 360 degrees of campfire style pleasure for anyone coming or going.
  2. What mood are you trying to create? Cozy and romantic, or a loud family gathering.
  3. Is there a particular view that you want to capitalize on? If you do, then build a pit that is close to the ground, so you can take advantage of it. If not, then feel free to build in an elevated fire pit that will bring the fire up a bit, so the heat will radiate across the center of your body. A hearth, mantle or even a small pizza oven are also favorites in situations like this.
  4. Will this space be impacted by wind? If so, then make sure you have a screen built in. Wind can carry ash and embers for miles, so make sure you are taking this consideration seriously. If wind is not a concern, maybe consider a water source in case your flames get a little too high.
  5. Does smoke bother you? If it does, then opt for a gas burning fire pit. These are very popular these days, and very safe even for youngsters. Gas burning pits are beautiful, clean, efficient, and still provide all the warmth and beauty you would expect from any fire place.

Make sure you talk with an experienced landscaper who knows how to consider all the options. With Minneapolis’ Architectural Landscape Design you will be getting years of design installation experience, as well as the educated knowledge of licensed horticulturalists. If you are going to invest in your home this year, make sure you are working with professionals that can handle everything involved. 952-292-7717

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Cooking Outdoors: Outdoor Summer Kitchens Delight All!

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Everybody loves food cooked outdoors, it tastes better! You can make a space in your backyard for cooking that’s efficient and makes cooking and entertaining outside a real pleasure!

It’s like buying a house; it’s location, location, and location. When planning an outdoor kitchen you get to pick the perfect location for you. Locating grills and workstations out of the traffic patterns and access routes to your house makes a big difference. You also get a chance to determine where you want the smoke to go, instead of into having to shut the windows to your house when grilling!

An outdoor kitchen can be as big and expansive as you want it or it can be right-sized for you. You can build a summer kitchen with outdoor cook tops, ovens, refrigerators, ice machines, bread baking ovens, fireplaces, fire pits, outdoor lighting,  etc. There are endless options. Our landscape designers and architects delight in helping people plan their vision of an outdoor kitchen.

We can build patios, decks, gazebos, arbors, and pergolas to accompany your kitchen. The best outdoor kitchens have plenty of weatherproof storage as well as enough counter space to prepare and serve meals. Arranging your outside kitchen is a lot like arranging one indoors. If your family and friends like to cook together you may need some extra countertops to accommodate everyone cooking together outdoors. In addition, to weatherproof storage, we can help you look at the different options for weather resistant countertops like marble, concrete, metal or tile. We’ll also plan if you want it to build your countertop big enough to have a 15-inch plus overhang so you can use it for a buffet or a bar also. Working to insure there is the necessary gas and electric lines and that all zoning requirements are met is another benefit.

Your outdoor kitchen will become a favorite outside dining room, let our Minneapolis, St. Paul landscape design team help you call 952-292-7717 today

 

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ALD Featured Exhibitor at Minneapolis Home and Garden Show February 29-March 4, 2012

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Stop by Booth #750 and talk to us about your bringing your landscaping dreams to life! ALD is a featured exhibitor at the biggest show, the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show. Come to the show to find out what’s new in home, garden, landscaping, remodeling and much more!

Every project we do is unique since it starts with a review with our customer of their project ideas, needs and desires. Each customer gets want they want as they work with our talented licensed design staff. Our desire is to have your home and surroundings express your unique taste and personality. We’ll work with you to plan great outdoor space at your house!

ALD, a multi-speciality landscape company offers a full range of offerings:

  • Pools & Spas
  • Outdoor Fire Places andFire Pits
  • Landscape Design and Installation
  • Low Voltage Lighting
  • Waterscaping Excavating & Grading
  • Custom Boulder/Stone Work
  • Outdoor Living Spaces and Kitchens
  • Unique Garden Plantings
  • Hardscapes Stone and Rock Work
  • Holiday Lighting Installation Services

Landscaping services, when done well, are an integral part of maintaining your investment. Our passionate dedication to our clients’ needs as well as professionalism, creativity, and craftsmanship.

We make your vision a reality with your crucial input. Our promise is to provide efficient, exceptional landscape work done meticulously for you and your home. We pride ourselves on our ability to listen and cater to each client’s specific needs.

Ask about the Ten Star Guarantee we offer; it is unprecedented in the landscape industry. We’re known as Minnesota landscape design and installation contractor that provides unique plans and a superior experience to our customer. Stop by Booth #750 and share your dreams or call us 952-292-7717 today! We bring your dreams to life!

The Home and Garden show hours are:

Wednesday, February 29, 12:00 pm-9:00 pm

Thursday, March 1, 10:00 am-9:00 pm

Friday, March 2, 10:00 am-9:00 pm

Saturday, March 3 9:00 am-9:00 pm

Sunday, March 4 9:00-6:00 pm

 

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Extend Your Outdoor Seasons with Heat

Friday, November 18th, 2011

When the temperature starts going down in the evening that is no reason to shorten a meal or go inside. You want your guests to be comfortable so aside from passing out blankets what can you do? There are several options to consider that our MN landscape designers and architects would be happy to review and make a plan that meet’s your needs.

You can install an outdoor fireplace so your alfresco dining and outdoor living can continue into the night and the next season. You can locate it on the edge of a patio, against a wall, or even in a corner to make it cozy. These can be used year around: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer! You can add areas for wood storage underneath so in the winter you don’t have to trek out to some remote woodpile to stoke the fire. You can also add stone ledges or mantels to the fireplace. This provides the opportunity for outdoor seasonal decorations and holiday lighting, plus a good place to put drinks.

Fire pits with a pile of logs burning in the middle are simply mesmerizing. It takes you back to roasting marshmallows, campfires, and camping. Fire pits can be sunk totally in the ground or built half way out of the ground with a retaining wall structure built from natural stones. You can have some fun and break away from the traditional round shape and go oblong to make it bigger allowing for more people to sit around it. If you want to go a step further have some stone built furniture, like sofas and chairs around the fire pit that you can add cushions and blankets to for that cozy campfire sleeping bag feel.

A fireplace or fire pit can add a fantastically fiery focal point to your yard call 95292-7717 to add some more warmth to your yard.

 

 

 

 

 

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Water and Fire Can Coexist in Minneapolis

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

If you live in MN, then you probably have a lake not very far from your home. MN is known as the land of 10,000 lakes, so most homes will take water into consideration when it comes to their landscaping plans.

Building a pond or small waterfall to help channel ground water will not only create a beautiful space on your property, but if combined with an outdoor fire pit, it can raise the value of your home and its sale-ability quite nicely.

Ponds and waterfalls have become common place in the landscaping industry now, and can be assembled with materials that are designed to be zero maintenance, and last for decades. Other than a little water treatment, your backyard pond can add a depth and ambiance that will benefit both you and the environment in many ways.

Surrounding this pond with a stone patio will make the space more stable, and provide a landing for you to set up a fire pit that you can enjoy all year long. Fire pits often serve many purposes. They are the perfect place to get rid of all those branches and twigs that show up in the fall and their burn ashes will provide a great base for your compost pile.

Bringing fire and water together can establish a certain tranquility that most people can enjoy for hours on end. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, or even complicated, simply having these 2 elements in close proximity is enough to touch the soul of most people who take the time to enjoy it. These spaces can be designed and delivered in just a few short months, and when built by experienced professionals like Minnesota’s Architectural Landscape Design, you can be sure that you will not have any ‘unexpected problems’ when the cold weather sets in. We have years of experience, and use only the best business practices to ensure that your landscape design will work perfectly for  years to come. Give us a call, 952-292-7717 to learn more about what we can design for you.

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Patio Sitting Areas: A Place To Sit, Eat Al Fresco, Relax, Entertain and a SANDBOX?

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Eating Al Fresco is one of the simple pleasures whether it’s summer or fall. Being outdoors just seems to make everything better.

What changes if you have a poorly designed sitting area? Lots of newly built houses often have a patio or deck at the back of the house. However, many times they merely are a “token” patio or deck. There may be a couple of concrete slabs, but a lot of times it isn’t a big enough space to accommodate the needs of even a small family.

Choosing the right spaces and the right light is key to a good patio or sitting area. A spot with morning light would be lovely for that early morning cup of coffee or breakfast. Lunch might be best in dappled shade on a patio under a pergola with vines and climbing flowers. The end of your day might be when you want to catch the last of the sun’s rays and watch the sun go down.

We can help you track the sun’s progress around your yard, and help you design the best patios and sitting areas to meet your needs. At Minnesota’s Architectural Landscape Design we’re used to picking the best locations for patios that help you relocate throughout the day to get the sun exposure you desire.

The size of these patios can be just large enough for one bench or a single chair nestled among some plants, or a table and chairs, with space for a barbecue and even an outdoor kitchen or fire pit. Or you can extend the children’s play areas by sinking a sandbox in a patio with a removable cover, that allows for dual purposes and uses.

Choosing the right hardscapes: floors, pavers, retaining walls, or materials for a fire pit or outdoor kitchen will help establish the look and feel of the outdoor room. Call us today on 952-292-7712.

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Water Management & Landscape Design for Minneapolis

Monday, July 18th, 2011

Water can be both a blessing and a curse depending on what time of year it is. In the winter it freezes and causes all kinds of hazards and extra work to move it out of the way; and in summer it can flood and undermine an entire community. However, if your property was properly designed, with contemporary water management systems in place, water can be your well spring of life all year long.

Water management systems can be anything from a sump pump, to a sophisticated waterfall that will channel water to an elaborate garden. Instead of tolerating water until it dries up, consider using it by creating a garden that will grow into a lifetime of pleasures, or produce an abundant crop of whatever greenery you like.

The key to water management is to grab the water at the water table underground. By placing pumps and pipes here, you will be able to control the water before it reaches the surface and gets out of control. This is done by excavating the surface and planting a carefully engineered design of PVC pipes and pumps so that the water can be maneuvered in whatever direction desired. When the water table rises, it hits this underground system, and comes to the surface the way you planned it, not just pooling at whatever low spot it can find.

By managing water at its source, you can transform your yard into the paradise you always wanted it to be. Let Architectural Landscape Design show you how it’s done. 952-292-7717

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Time To Tame The MN Yard With Design

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

 Year after year homeowners will go outside and rake the leaves, cut the grass, trim the trees, clean up after a big storm; but how many of us Minnesotans actually go outside just to enjoy being outside? Most people won’t sit out there and enjoy nature because they don’t have a designated place to do it. The only time they really spend outside is the time they spend cleaning it up.

This should be the year to change all that. With Minneapolis Architectural landscape and Design we can help you design a backyard that will allow nature to do a fair amount of maintenance, and provide you with a place to simply go out and watch it unfold.

A strategically built trellis with thick woven vines will catch many of the leaves that fall late in the year, and provide a place for you to sit and watch the colors change. A few retaining walls can be built to channel the blown debris into a recycling pit, while providing seating arrangements along the way. Why bag your leaves, when you can turn them into mulch for later use in the spring?

Water can also be earmarked for special projects. Decorative barrels or troughs can be placed at the bottom of gutters, catching this valuable resource for later use. These barrels come in innumerable sizes, shapes and colors; some with spigots; some ready to be chlorinated. A little extra effort can be added to have a small pump that will move water to your potted plants so you won’t have to water them every day when it gets hot.

A little planning will transform your backyard into a virtual showplace of ideas. Taking advantage of Architectural landscape and Design’s team of horticulturalists will open up ideas that you can enjoy for the rest of your time on that home. Not to mention how it will raise the property value.

Give us a call at 952-292-7717 to find out more about what we can do for you.

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Landscape with Fire and Water Gazebos | Serving Edina MN

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Combining these 2 basic elements into the same living space has always been fundamental to mankind. Bringing them together is style, is fundamental to Minnesotans. The design possibilities of building a fire pit, with or without water are beautiful enough, but by adding an element of water and covering it with a gazebo will convert what was a relatively nice view, into a private Eden for you and your family’s pleasure.

Design building can be a complicated business. It takes the skills of an engineer, construction worker, stone mason, horticulturist- all of the skills that we have ready at Architectural Landscape Design. We are able to work with you to help you come up with a plan that is tailor made for your property, something that you can take full artistic control in. Once the vision is created, ALD will produce a professional set of blueprints to scale the finished product. From here we are able to begin transforming your yard into whatever your imagination and your budget will allow.

We understand that these things can take time, so if the budget is not as big as your dreams, we are willing to work with you by taking this journey in stages. If you want to just jump in and complete your project in record time, we can do that, too. The important thing is that it is done right so that you will be able to enjoy this space all 4 seasons of the year.

Consider a fire pit with a shallow water channel surrounding it covered by a stone and cedar gazebo; or a fireplace with traditional pizza oven over it- whatever you can dream, we can create. At our Landscaping Company we have the man power and the skills to see any size project through, from beginning to end, and it all starts with a phone call. 952-292-7717

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