Architectural Landscape Design Blog

Posts Tagged ‘fire pits and pools’

A Quiet Corner: Outdoor Living Spaces

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

There was a time in many parts of America, where using the outdoors for the dual purposes of dining and entertaining just wasn’t done. In rural America many people working on farms often stopped for a mid day “dinner” under the shade of the trees. But it was more for gaining the sustenance needed for the rest of the day’s work, not entertainment. You worked outdoors and you rested and lived indoors.

Now the garden can mean more than a vegetable or flower garden. It is a place or space to spend time on patios, pools, and decks, too. Now the term “Outdoor Rooms” has come to mean spaces that people use as outdoor living rooms.

If you have a good sized yard or a small suburban backyard it can be absolutely delightful to find a little nook and make it in to an outdoor living space. Our MN landscape designers and architects can help with a little landscaping to make a place for you to wander, reflect and gather for quiet chats or full scale entertaining.

Is there a space in your yard that you find yourself drawn to? We can create an outdoor “room” by enclosing a lawn with plantings, and adding some hardscapes; like pavers and patios, or stone retaining wall built into a bank, to gain more level space. If a European-style water garden or fountain is one of your ideas we can incorporate it and your other ideas into the plan.  Soon, it’s a table and chairs for dining or reclining, a built-in stone barbecue or fireplace and fire pit, for easy cooking, and a gazebo to sit and listen to the rain on the roof. You can add stone or brick walkways that lead to the different areas. Or add paths that direct you to more rooms with a pool, a birdbath, an arbor, or a rock or flower garden.

Call ALDMN today on 952-292-7712 to plan a pleasant backyard refuge.

 

 

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The Best Laid Plans; Why Work With A Design Landscaper in Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer?

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

Why would you want to work with a landscaper in designing your yard in any of the four seasons? Your yard offers different views in all seasons that help in the planning process and much of the physical part of landscaping can be done in from spring through late fall. In developing a landscape plan at Architectural Landscape Design our designers and architects begin with a carefully thought out plan based on your needs and wants that includes a step-by-step process. Well review it’s:

Boundaries-We’ll establish the boundaries of your property with you. Looking at boundaries we determine whether we should install fences, hedges, stone walls. We want to be considerate of the views that you have and your neighbors currently have considering the different seasons.

Ground levels-We’ll review your ground levels and drainage. Are there any areas where we want to change the ground levels? We may want to build and install retaining walls, level ground areas, or maybe even dig and install fire pits water ponds or reflecting pools, stream beds, or waterfalls.

Primary infrastructures-Is there a need to plan to build up primary retraining walls to hold back soil, is there a need for walls to create raised beds. What paths, driveways, sidewalks, edges of flower beds, gate posts, foundations for potting sheds, steps, or any other hardscapes we should plan to build?

Features and details- We’ll put in or build the main features, or the “fun features” like install liners for water ponds, lay patios, erect sheds, build gateposts, hang gates, erect pergolas, arbors, and trellis, and build walls.

Lawns- We’ll add the topsoil and finally roll the ground. Than either laying down sod or seeding the lawn we’ll finish the ground.

Planting-We’ll review our planting plan one more time and start by planting the main feature trees and shrubs, and than the subsequent plantings. And if we put in a pool or a pond we’ll fill it.

Let us help you plan your landscape any season of the year, call Architectural Landscape Design Minneapolis at 952-292-7717.

 

 

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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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Free Admission: Apple Valley Chamber Home &Garden Expo ~March 31, 9 am-3 pm

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Come and talk to us about your landscaping dreams at the Apple Valley Home & Garden Show! It’s easy to attend because there is FREE parking and admission. In addition, there are things for children to do as they are featuring Minnesota Zoo animals and free children’s arts and crafts.

ALD is a featured landscape design exhibitor at the show that covers the latest in home, garden, landscaping, remodeling and much more! It’s a great time to plan any landscaping or garden project you have in mind. We are a multi-speciality landscape company. Our licensed and educated landscape designers and architects will be happy to discuss any ideas, dreams or needs that you may have.  We offer a full range of offerings that includes: pools and spas, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, landscape design and installation, low voltage lighting, waterscaping, outdoor living spaces and kitchens, unique garden plantings, children’s recreation areas, landscape design and installation, low voltage lighting, custom boulder/stone work, holiday lighting installation services, and excavation.

We involve our clients in the entire process and project. But the degree you want to be involved is left up to you. We will listen to what you want and create a plan on your specific needs. Our landscape designers and architects work meticulously to create efficient, exceptional landscape work. All of our landscape team members are educated and licensed. Whether your landscape project is small or large we’re interested. We can offer you the very best combination of nature, science and art.

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. Call us 952-292-7717 today! We bring your dreams to life!

The Expo is being held at:

Apple Valley Western Service Center

14955 Galaxie Avenue

Apple Valley, MN 55124

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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 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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