Architectural Landscape Design Blog

Posts Tagged ‘minneapolis patios’

Building an Outdoor Office on Your Deck or Patio; A Spring, Summer, Fall Office

Thursday, May 31st, 2012

Have you ever been working inside and thought about how great it would be to do your work outdoors? Do you have a space that just calls to you to come outside when you should be working inside? Why not build an outdoor office on a deck or a patio?

Set up your office headquarters on a deck or patio outside. We can help you bring your work outside by installing a deck or patio for the foundation of your office. Topping the office with a 4” by 10” feet pergola or arbor overhead can provide partial shade and give the sense of an enclosed area. A work surface or desk can be made out of either wood or stone. Adding waterproof connections for electricity and lighting rounds out the basics of what is needed for setting up your work outside. If you like we can make “outside” walls with fences and retaining walls that will afford you partial or complete privacy.

In addition our landscape architects and designers can also plan and install koi ponds, waterfalls, and year round interest plantings to further mix business with pleasure. We can round it out with outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, grills for entertainment and business pleasure.

Spring, Summer, and Fall your office can be headquartered on the deck. When the office is closed for the day or the winter the deck can be available for other deck activities. The desk can serve as the place to set a buffet, bar, or add pots of greenery to view throughout the winter complete with lights from the waterproof electric connections.

It’s the coordination of the elements of the arbor or pergola, the desk, the patio or deck, and waterproof electrical connections that can transition space into a practical and attractive outdoor office headquarters.

We can help you develop your outdoor office call 952-292-7712 for a free one hour no commitment consultation.

 

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Garden Floors: Stone, Wood, Concrete…What to Pick?

Thursday, May 31st, 2012

There is an ever-increasing choice of materials available for use on garden floor surfaces. Those surfaces include decks, driveways, patios, walkways, sidewalks, fireplaces, and retaining walls to name a few garden features. You can add texture and color to the fabric of your garden by selecting the right materials.  ut, all of these choices can make it complicated.

Knowing their applications and how they look, and work best individually, or together in our climate is something that we can do to help you. At Architectural Landscape Design our experienced landscape designers can help you with your choice. We know what these materials look like, how they can be used to make patterns and add to your total landscape plan.

Natural Stone continues to be the crème de la crème of paving materials.Sandstone and limestone are popular because the stone can be split into flat pieces. They also develop a weathered patina since algae, moss, and lichens grow on it. Bluestone is also very popular. Slate paving glistens after a rain, and can be used by itself or in panels around brick or granite setts. Granite is the most hardwearing stone, but the cost makes its use sometimes limited to areas of detail only.

Wood or timber is a great option because as part of nature it blends with plants or trees around it. Timber can be laid in a variety of ways to create interesting effects and patterns. In addition to decks and patios, timber can also be used for creating wooden platforms or boardwalks to create or access outdoor living spaces.

Concrete is the most versatile material. It can be used for sidewalks, steps, driveways, and patios. It can have the look of brick, slate, block paving and be colored to name a few finishes. It can be inlaid with bricks and pebbles to create patterns. It can also come in concrete paving slabs.

Pavers (Setts) range from concrete cast pavers to natural stone granite pavers or setts as they are also called.

In order to build any of these garden surfaces whether they are be brick or stone pathways,  retaining walls, or  terraces it requires the skill of experienced people, plus the equipment. We have all experience in all of these surfaces, just contact us at Architectural Landscape Design today to discuss your plans. Call 952-292-7717.

 

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Patios A Hundred Different Ways

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

It used to be that a patio was a grey concrete slab with some folding metal chairs. Obviously, those days are gone! Today, there are hundreds of ways to design patios and countless materials to choose from to create a patio. You can use brick, concrete, brick pavers, cobblestones, stamped concrete, natural stone, marble, tile, and the list goes on.

How is the best way to choose what will work with your house, fences, driveway, and paths and fit in your neighborhood? Our landscape designers and architect can help you design the right patio or patios for your space. They’ll help you narrow down the choices of materials to one or a combination of materials that complements your yard’s design. Another benefit is they know the natural stones quarried in this area that is another option to consider.

The shape, style and placement of the patio you choose is very personal. It has to do with what your expected uses are of that space. A patio is typically no more than a well-drained area that is somewhere to sit and play. But when you add on your personal expectations it takes it to the next level.

You may like the look and feel of the very basic rectangular patio. That is always a good option for a small garden space. But geometric combinations of circles and rectangular spaces together are very dynamic. They can be used very effectively to create separate patio outdoor living rooms. We can easily design those to be on different levels to increase the visual interest of your yard also.

Another option is to consider adding built-in furniture. It’s a great time and space saver when you don’t have to take the time and plan at the end of each season how and where to store garden furniture. We can build stone bench seats and stone-slab coffee and dining tables that are available for year around use, summer dining and winter prep areas for cross country skiing. Call our MN landscape company today on 952-292-7717.

 

 

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Night lighting: Light your Yard for the Pleasure of Increased Outdoor Entertaining and Family Time

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

A light above the door and a post lantern in the front yard with a floodlight in the back yard used define outdoor lighting. Now there is no limit to the types of lighting for yards. The best systems for lighting your house at night provide three things: safety, security, and ambiance or mood.

Take an inventory with these three requirements in mind. Our MN landscape designers and architects at Alternative Landscape Design can offer advice and show you how they have incorporated night lighting plans in multiple landscapes.

Safety is critical, look at both your hardscapes and yard. Whether you are entertaining or just stepping outside you need to be able to see well enough to avoid injuries. Start by walking from the street up to your front entry, walk around to the back of the yard. Try any stairs; look for blind spots, any uneven or broken walkways. Is there any place on your landscape where someone could run into an object or possibly due to the drop offs take a tumble? We can light up stairs, retaining walls, fences, patios, decks,and sidewalks by installing low-voltage fixtures such as path lights, or riser lights. This type of lighting also directs traffic keeping people in lit places increases safety.

A well lit yard discourages burglars and intruders increasing security. We can help install lighting that is well shielded so it doesn’t disturb your neighbors or you.

Mood lighting through up-lighting, down-lighting, and side-lighting can add a magical relaxing feel to your yard. It also increases the time you’re able to use your backyard and makes it safer.

Install points of light that provide security and safe passage in your yard while protecting the mood. If you are interested in night lighting don’t hesitate to call us today on 952-292-7717.

 

 

 

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Landscaping to Reduce Your Heating Bill and Heat Up Your House

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

We’ll work with you to create a plan that maximizes the potential to help you have a warmer house and a lower heating bill. At Architectural MN Landscape Design we have the knowledge and experience.

These 6 things can help you “heat up” your house. We can design, install, and implement them all. We can:

  1. Plant evergreens to block cold northwest winter winds. Building a tall fence will help to cut down the wind’s force. These two actions could cut your winter heating bills by 25 percent.
  2. Create berms, place walls, and planting near your house, not directly against it. Creating a space between the house and the berm, wall or plantings will allow for dead space. This dead space will act as an insulator, which will slow down the heat escaping from your house.
  3. Plant deciduous trees, like maples around your house. They are able to screen 70 to 90 percent of a hot summer sun. They also allow for winter sun to come through when all their leaves have dropped.
  4. Install wooden arched trellis over some of your windows and plant deciduous vines like bittersweet. They will create shade and privacy during the summer and allow sun in the winter.
  5. Plant grassy lawn areas on the south side of your house, so as to provide an area for snow to accumulate. These snow mounds will allow for light to be reflected off of the snow and onto your house. That will offer an effect like radiant heating.
  6. Install stone and concrete surfaces around your house to soak up heat during the day like patios, stone planting beds, sidewalks, and driveways.
  7. We’ll do the first six if you do the 7th and call us today on 952-292-7712.
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Minneapolis Patios Conjure Up Hundreds Of Ideas

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

For most, a patio is a flat, paved area behind the house that keeps mud from forming. For Minnesotans, it is much, much more. The patio has evolved into a social gathering point that allows some of our greatest thoughts to transpire. For some, it is a safe haven for the little ones while mom is busy with something else. For others, it is their own private kitchen, where they can change hats at the end of the day.

To start with, the patio design in Minneapolis must be something that fits the homeowner’s life style, and brings out the best in your Minneapolis landscaping.  Next, it should reflect the style and dimension of the people using it. For instance, you would never put tiers of potted plants there is you had grandkids playing kickball there every time they came over. Likewise, you wouldn’t put an outdoor kitchen if you hate to cook.

Finding your own personal space hiding within the confines of your property lines is something that takes real skill and talent; not to mention experience. To actually build this dream come true is something even more spectacular, unless you work with Architectural Landscape Design. We are capable of designing and building all the structural and aesthetic portions of any outdoor space, and transform it into the one you always wanted. Once we come together on a vision, our professional team will go to work to present you with a blueprint that will help this dream become a reality.

We are able to build in stages, so that you can move at a comfortable pace until you are completely satisfied with this added space within your home.Just because it is outside, doesn’t mean it has to stay there. We can make this part of your home the most special place on the lot. Contact us to find out more about how to create your perfect patio. 952-292-7717

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