Tag Archives: landscape designer Denver

How to Turn an Outdoor ‘Space’ into an Outdoor ‘Room’

Outdoor living is all about creating spaces where you can enjoy your beautiful landscape and the great outdoors in complete comfort. This means making sure your space not only has the necessary furniture and features but also the ambiance to create an inspiring and relaxing environment. Let’s explore some ways to turn an ordinary space into a beautiful outdoor room.

Take advantage of a corner. If you have a corner space, turn it into a cozy seating arrangement.

Photo via Houzz

Take cover. Whether you want to go all out with a full covered patio or you want to simply add a pergola or canopy, add some type of protection to escape the elements.

Photo via Houzz

Paint surrounding exterior walls. A warm, bright color on an exterior wall can add aesthetic value to outdoor living spaces while complementing greenery and plantings.

Photo via Houzz

Throw some fabrics into the mix. Soften up the space by laying down a rug, adding pillows, and hanging curtains.

Photo via Houzz

Let function drive the furniture selection. Make sure you have furniture for every occasion that you intend to use this space for. Don’t be afraid to use indoor furniture, especially if your outdoor living space is covered.

Photo via Houzz

Add a little pizzazz. Treat your outdoor living space just as you would an interior space by decorating it with interesting shapes, colors, and textures. Ectlectic hanging lanterns or sparkling string lights, for example, add a decorative element by day and ambiance by night.

Photo via Houzz

Need help achieving your dream outdoor living space for your Denver home? Call on the landscaping and outdoor living experts at Lifescape Associates in Denver at (303) 831-8310.

Planting Borders for your Landscape

Frame your landscape with a beautiful border of plantings that will enhance its beauty. When it comes to borders for your yard and your gardens, plants are a great softscape alternative.

You want your border plants to stay low to the ground because these low growing shrubs and flowering plants allow you to bring in color as well as keep your beautiful yard clearly visible. Planting a variety of both creeping shrubs and flowering plants as your border creates diversity. It’s a good idea to anchor the corners of your yard with evergreen shrubs and fill in the betweens with flowering annuals or perennials.

Also, your border’s design does not have to be “boxy”. You can create curves and other designs depending on the style of your yard and your preferences. However, before you plant, use a rope or hose to test out possible outlines for your border.

Contact a designer at Lifescape if you want professional help designing and planting a border for your Denver area landscape.

Source: www.ehow.com

2012 Colorado Landscaping Trends

Just in case you missed it, Colorado Homes & Lifestyles wrote a blog post this summer that summed up 2012′s top 10 landscaping trends. Whether you are a gardener or love to entertain in your outdoor living spaces, these trends are a great way to spruce up your home’s outdoor environment and improve your home lifestyle and your health! Take a look at 3 trends from the list:

3. Accessorizing with outdoor art.

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You put art inside of your home, why not outside? There are a variety of art pieces that would enhance the aesthetics of your landscape like sculptures, glass, stone, architectural elements and more.

5. Living al fresco.

Your own outdoor kitchen allows you to watch the game, grill a few burgers, and grab a few cool beverages from the fridge all without taking a step inside!

7. Investing in curb appeal.

Since “landscaping yields an average 109-percent return on every dollar spent”, everything from pruning the bushes to adding fresh seasonal color with annuals or perennials enhance your home’s curb appeal and return real dollar value.

To view the entire list of trends, visit blog.coloradohomesmag.co m. If you are ready to get your Denver area landscape up to date, contact a designer at Lifescape.

Thinking Ahead to Pool Pleasures

Has all this cold weather got you thinking ahead to sunny days out by the pool and taking a plunge in the cool waters? We don’t blame you. Now is the time many homeowners start thinking about pool pleasures. If you are looking into having a pool built or installed in your backyard, that’s a great idea! Now is the best time to contact a designer at Lifescape Associates to get your backyard renovation started. You want your pool to be ready come summer time for all those fabulous barbecues, pool parties and get-togethers.

The trend today is that more people are spending money on making their home environment more of an entertaining space, both inside and out. Many people are choosing to spend more time entertaining and relaxing at home instead of traveling and spending money outside of their home.

Creating your own poolside patio with seating, outdoor fireplace, jacuzzi or a swim spa is an added luxury that brings more value to your home. Instead of spending money on a week long luxury vacation, invest money into your landscape and create an all year round vacation spot in your backyard!

Making a new Landscape Look Aged

A new landscape can take anywhere from 2-5 years to mature in the Denver area. Speeding up the process is possible and Lifescape has discovered a few ideas to help with the process.

Decorations and furnishings you choose to incorporate will help define your theme and blend the landscape with the architecture. Material selection is crucial. Mixing different materials help give it an old look. Equal importance to material selection is choosing your plant material. Below are a few additional ideas to help your landscape look aged.

Propose reclaimed materials (for example, used reclaimed barn timbers for a fireplace hearth or your next arbor)
Keeping some of the formality but blending it with informal materials (using reclaimed brick – in situations that allow — from a nearby source and irregular flagstone pieces can be used to create an informal look)
Make pools and water features look more like natural ponds or creeks (adding in different sized boulders and cobbles imitate nature and leave planting pockets to soften the stone)
Wall fountains, aged wood furniture, and wrought iron are all elements that make a landscape feel aged and rustic
Creating structure using trees and shrubs, then softening with ground covers and flowers will give it a rustic, elegant flair

There are other techniques, but these are a few Lifescape is using to help age a landscape quickly.

Lifescape is using 3D imagery to help clients visualize projects. Contact a designer at Lifescape at 303-831-8310 and we will help bring your vision to reality.