Distinctive Digs

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DESIGNER SKETCH

Hometown: Jacksonville, Illinois
Years of experience: 7 years of experience, 4 with LSL
Education/affiliations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Major: Horticulture, Minor: Residential Landscape Design.
Member of Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, Planet, Missouri Landscape and Nursery Association.
With three words, describe your design philosophy or style: Traditional; appealing; and inviting.
Design inspiration comes from: Everywhere! No matter where you are, elements and design details can be imitated to fit the architecture or outdoor room you are trying to create – paying close attention to colors, special compositions, textures, etc.

www.landscapestlouis.com

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How does the landscaping design process evolve at a design/build company?
Creating a new outdoor environment is a thrilling process that should always be exciting and fresh. Using a systematic approach, we create a comprehensive plan for the outdoor space our clients envision that complements the home's interior and exterior architecture, captures the personality and lifestyle of the owners, and achieves an environment that will be more than just a view. Once we have a final design in place, we proceed with the implementation and installation part of the project, many times in phases, and help with long-term landscape maintenance. The time we spend with our clients ensures project success as well as the relationship and friendship we look to embrace.

Can you describe the scope of the outdoor environments?
The basic concept of an outdoor environment is to create a usable space or what most people refer to as an “outdoor room.” Ideally, you try to create a series of outdoor rooms that include different elements, textures, shapes and colors that define the space and draw you in while cohabitating with what exists. Our team is passionate about what we do! We specialize in creating designs for your outdoor spaces that have beauty, functionality and visual interest, no matter the size of the project.

How big a role do plants play in an outdoor environment?
Huge! Installing a patio on the back of the house is only one step in achieving an outdoor space. Plants bring balance and harmony to the spaces that we create. They enhance the experience of outdoor spaces by bringing color, form and texture to settings, as well as help to define a space and provide a passageway from one space to another. Plants also help to establish a sense of style and accentuate the architecture of the structural elements within the outdoor room. Whether you are talking about plants in a garden bed or in a container on the patio, plant life adds visual complexity to complete every unique space we create.

What are the most exciting aspects of your job?
I get great satisfaction in helping clients create an outdoor living space that fits their lifestyle. Being able to see the hard work you put forth as a designer come to life – through the work of our unbelievable crew members – is extremely gratifying. But nothing compares to the feeling when you visit a year or two down the road and see just how much beauty and meaning the outdoor space you designed has brought to the owners. I always enjoy incorporating a fire pit into an entertaining space, for example, and hearing about the evenings spent there with family and friends.