Architectural Landscape Design Blog

Posts Tagged ‘outdoor lighting’

Atriums Add Captivating Space and Light to A House

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

Atriums are a popular addition to houses or a design feature because they add “a feeling of space and light.” An atrium typically is a large open space, sometimes several stories high that has a glazed roof. There are large windows also. They are either located right outside main entrance doors to a house or they are in the center of the house. They allow a homeowner to feel like they are outdoors all yearlong!

The famous Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina has one of the best examples of a wonderful atrium. While they are great additions to one’s house, there can be some issues if the initial assessment of the space’s needs isn’t performed correctly. The two main areas to review have to do with light and drainage.

The ALDM landscape designers and architects are experienced at building atriums. They work in the design phase to determine what rooms will face the atrium. They will incorporate the home’s architecture and the homeowner’s wish list of how the space will be used. In the planning step they investigate the light and drainage conditions that will affect construction.

What the atrium is used for can run the gamut; you may choose to fill yours with loose gravel, and a couple of favorite sculptures and a bench for meditation or serious thinking and enjoyment. Atriums can be quite formal paved with brick in a formal manner, or they can be informal. Atriums can be paved to create a courtyard, as long as drainage is provided. Plants can thrive in an atrium. The ALDM landscape designers will work with you. If you want to have “living” sculptures installing topiary frames and training climbing shade-loving vines over them.

The uses for atriums abound. You can use it for raising Japanese bonsai, running a model train, or simply using it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We can plan and install indoor and outdoor lighting that makes your atrium light up the night and your yard. Call us on 952-292-7717 today!

 

Share

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Designing Minnesota Gardens, Landscape Design Minnesota, Minneapolis Landscaping, Outdoor Lighting Contractor MN, Outdoor Lighting Minneapolis MN, Outdoor Living Spaces | No Comments »

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.

 

Share

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in All, Fire Places and Fire Pits, Outdoor Living Spaces, Patio Decks | No Comments »

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.

 

 

 

Share

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Designing Minnesota Gardens, Hardscapes Minnesota, Landscape Design Minnesota, Minneapolis Landscaping, Outdoor Living Spaces | No Comments »

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

 

Share

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Designing Minnesota Gardens, Fire Places and Fire Pits, Landscape Design Minnesota, Minneapolis Landscaping, Minnesota Garden Plantings, Outdoor Lighting Minneapolis MN, Outdoor Living Spaces | No Comments »

Outdoor Landscape Lighting Minneapolis Style

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

 Night time lighting is one of those garden features that few people pay attention to, but once they see a good display, everyone wants one. Why do we have to wait until Christmas to light up our yards? Properly placed spot lights, up-lights, and floods will illuminate all of nature’s beauty, each their own unique way.

 The dew in the morning will take on a personality of its own; an evening shower will perform a chorus and dance that you would otherwise never see. Animals that you knew were out there will not become part of your family. By utilizing the simply addition of lighting in your landscaping, you will find that your house will take on a whole new dimension.

 The issue with light is that it is best used to highlight something and make it stand out. Floodlights are fine for a wooded edge, a patio or deck, but they should be used sparingly. Too much of this type of lighting just makes your yard look like a football field.

 Spot lights and up-lighting work well most everywhere else. Spots that shine up the side of the house work well to give your home a natural looking glow that will make it look welcome to everyone except intruders. Spots can also be used to highlight a magnificent tree. A large tree with far reaching limbs will come alive with 3-4 small spot light shining up into the branches at night. You may find that you will want to go outside and sit under it more often, leading to other additions to your home as well.

Landscape Silhouette lighting is another interesting way to accent something in particular. This is spotlighting from behind, to bring out interesting shapes; a trellis, or gazebo perhaps. Silhouette lighting also makes a good impression when shone from above, to mimic the moonlight. This type of lighting, coupled with strings of small, soft tree lights is a beautiful effect to any home.

 There are so many ways to utilize lighting other than to guide a walkway, or guard the front door. All the various forms of lighting can be used to accent your home in ways that you never thought possible. Speaking with one of our trained and experienced experts will help give you some ideas about how our Minneapolis Landscape Design Company can make this happen for you. It doesn’t have to cost a small fortune, and typically won’t tear up the yard either, so why wait for Christmas? 952-292-7717

Share

Tags: , ,
Posted in Minneapolis Landscaping, Minnesota Garden Plantings, Outdoor Lighting Contractor MN, Outdoor Lighting Minneapolis MN | No Comments »