Landscape Design & Installation Advice

What we do at K & D with our landscape design is usually applied and installed in suburban locations but we enjoy a creative stretch in a small scale garden when those opportunities arise.

Recently we had the opportunity to design for a Peterson Park (Chicago) residence.  Our staff responded with a team effort that grasped the opportunity and developed a landscape plan to meet the needs of the client while developing a space that was both exciting and functional.

Our garden and landscape lexicon continues to evolve year by year and sometimes day by day. A few years ago, the terms ‘sustainable’, ‘outdoor room’ and ‘low-impact design’ were just mentioned in a whisper.

But of all the newer landscape terminology, perhaps none is more well-known today than ‘hardscape’. It is mainstream to the point that most homeowners understand its broad meaning immediately when discussing their own gardens with contractors or neighbors.

The definition of hardscaping may extend to containers, armillary, sculpture or anything in the landscape that is not a plant. However, it is most widely referenced when discussing patios, walls, fireplaces, fire pits, and larger wood structures such as pergolas and arbors.

Brick patios define our landscapes and gardens.

It is a pretty bold statement.   But when you reflect on the ambiance, serenity and utility of a brick paver patio the statement becomes less bold and more accurate.   A brick paver patio is an extension of the home and a reflection of lifestyle for the homeowner.

Brick paver patios are frequently viewed as a commodity and pricing is sought and sometimes quoted based on that assumption. While the brick itself is a commodity the final product is all about the labor and the prep work.

There are “best practices” that apply to brick paver installations as there are to both technical and artistic functions. In the end it’s all about the skilled labor and the prep involved.