Portfolio

Northfield, IL Residence- 2011 ILCA & 2010 PLANET Award Winner

a Family Garden

For maintaining this Northfield residence, we have earned a 2011 Illinois Landscape Contractor’s Association Excellence in Landscape Gold & Heritage Award in Residential Maintenance, as well as, a 2010 Professional Landcare Network Grand Environmental Improvement Award in Residential Landscape Management.

Our involvement on this 1.22 acre Northfield residence began five years ago with the client’s desire to give her landscape better care.  While the client loved her newly developed family-friendly landscape, there were issues with the lawn being too wet and the lack of proper landscape maintenance was starting to show.

Now, five years later, our client simply enjoys her landscape and trusts our commitment to managing it.

Long Grove Residence

a Study in White

This Long Grove residence is a study in white that blends formal garden spaces within a setting of natural conservancy.

In order to marry the grand scale of this large home with the relatively small size of the site, we extended built elements out into the landscape that match the architecture of the home perfectly. The new architectural features include driveway entry columns, a raised outdoor foyer, and a spacious deck. The new foyer welcomes guests with beautiful limestone planters, a raised bluestone landing, detailed brick columns, and ornate iron railings. In the rear of the home, the shallow backyard is maximized by an expansive deck that extends the living space for large family gatherings. Formal boxwood hedges and well defined lawn panels throughout the site define the cultivated landscape while the loose plantings within relate back to the surrounding natural areas.

Our client loves the resulting gardens and says that every time she pulls up to her home she is reminded of a beautiful white wedding.

Lake Bluff Residence

a Well-Crafted Setting

This Lake Bluff residence is a beautifully designed woodland setting for the client’s new Arts and Crafts inspired home.

While this home, driveway, and patio were newly constructed, we were brought into the project to unify the natural and manmade elements while improving the curb appeal, functionality, and flow of the site. In the front we visually expanded the space and made it more welcoming by incorporating a well defined lawn panel that unifies the circular drive and front entry. In the back we focused on preserving the naturally wooded areas while selectively removing undesirable trees and subtly regrading the lawn. With more light and better drainage, the healthy lawn and beautifully underplanted woodland borders provide the perfect setting.

Our client appreciates the blending of natural and manmade elements within the setting of her new home that makes it look like it has been there for years.

Winnetka Residence

a Poolside Retreat

This Winnetka residence incorporates a colorful and relaxing poolside retreat within an already well established landscape.

In order to preserve the integrity of the existing landscape we took inspiration from it and used it as a backdrop for the new space. We designed a generous pool deck with plenty of room for relaxing and entertaining while making sure that it also had a strong relationship with the house and garden. We also addressed the significant grade changes and drainage issues that resulted from the pool construction. By enveloping the pool deck with a lush perennial garden, the poolside retreat is a colorful oasis within a mature park-like setting.

Our client loves the brightly colored flowers and relaxed atmosphere of her poolside retreat that fits in perfectly with the rest of her garden.