exterior Archives - At Home in Arkansas

Outside the Box with D. Keeley: November Update

November 10, 2015 by agill@athomearkansas.com

I don’t know about you, but I always seem to have items lying around that I just don’t know what to do with. They aren’t my favorite things, but at the same time, I just can’t bring myself to throw them away. Such was the case with a concrete fountain my company removed from a client project years ago. The fountain was a gift from the client’s children, and while it is no longer aesthetically appropriate for his garden, it, nevertheless, holds sentimental value. So, i agreed to keep it safe and sound.

The other day (10 years later!) I stumbled across the various pieces of the dismantled water feature and had an idea: why not give this underused, yet meaningful object, a new life? I decided to transform the fountain into a multi-tiered planter and focal point, fit for the fall season, and thought I would share the metamorphosis with you. I hope it will inspire you, perhaps, to rethink some of those items around your garden that are in need of a new life!

I think the photographs probably speak for themselves, but let me tell you a little bit about the details. Here is what the fountain looked like before:

Now I’m no killer, but be forewarned…the cherub and dolphin go to fountain heaven before the end of this story!

Other than ordering these dual deaths, all I did was to fill the tiered bowls of the fountain with quality potting soil and to plant a mixture of variegated ivy, ornamental cabbages and violas. Then, I scattered miniature pumpkins throughout the foliage to give the display a seasonally appropriate ‘cornucopia’ effect.

For good measure I added a heaping pile of pumpkins around the base of the fountain, as much to hide another dolphin I wasn’t able to harpoon as for any other reason!

And that was about it! While I was at it, I placed a lovely, rust-colored mum on either side of the entrance to the cabana, and for sheer amusement’s sake, scattered pumpkins and squashes randomly throughout what was left of the vegetable garden for an instant ‘punkin patch’. Hey, sometimes girls just want to have fun, right?!

And, that’s all folks…a fun and easy project that gave me new appreciation for something that had gone unnoticed for a long time. Take a look around your own garden, and see what you can find that is in need of a makeover. I guarantee something will call out to you.

Have a wonderful autumn and a very happy Thanksgiving! See you next month.

Exterior designer Daniel Keeley is an Arkansas native and founder/principal of DK Design. His work has won numerous awards and accolades and is featured regularly in various publications. For more information visit dkdesignoutdoor.com.

Follow the Outside the Box house through the seasons, by reading Daniel Keeley’s other posts, HERE.

Outside the Box with D. Keeley: February Update

February 10, 2015 by ark_admin

Hello again; I hope you are having a fantastic February! Although February can be a pretty slow month when it comes to your garden and outdoor living spaces, it is a great time to organize your thoughts, make plans and get inspired for the upcoming spring. To that end, I thought I would share some more photographs from my visit this past summer to Charleston, South Carolina. While there, I took a day trip out to Middleton Place, one of the many historic properties in the area. Middleton place was first settled in the late 17th century and encompasses our nation’s oldest landscaped gardens. The estate has remained under the control of the same family for some 320 years and is well worth a visit! The formerly grand main house was burned during the Civil War. This is the principle structure still standing today…one of two accessory dwellings that flanked the main residence. It is filled with historic artifacts and antiques, and as you can see, is surrounded by wonderful, old trees and plantings. This pile of rubble is all that remains of the old main house. A reminder of a dark chapter in America’s history, it is a bit eerie, but also a moving link to our historical past. Another link to the past is this massive tree base. As someone who loves driftwood and the like, I was captivated by its sculptural qualities, and it is fun to imagine it in its former glory, shading the house with its massive branches. As you approach the house, you pass through this charming garden gate. I love gates and try to incorporate them into designs as much as possible. They are an easy and attractive way to create a sense of arrival and coziness in a garden space. This gate, painted in traditional Charleston green, is visually light and airy and gives the path beyond an intriguing, mysterious appeal. Nearby, this bench is nestled against a centuries-old brick wall. Garden benches are another of my favorite design elements, as they can transform just about any spot into a relaxing destination. The low wall is also a noteworthy design tool. Here, it divides a large lawn from a shady pleasure path, giving both areas a sense of definition and purpose. I just love garden ornaments, so I couldn’t resist the remains of this old urn. It presides over the grand lawn that sweeps past twin lakes, known as the Butterfly Lakes because their design was modeled after the wings of a butterfly. Ornaments, such as urns, sculpture and statuary, offer appealing contrast value to natural plantings and are essential additions to any garden or outdoor space. The Butterfly Lakes also frame a stunning view of the Ashley River, which actually served as the primary mode of transportation to Middleton Place back in the day. So, what you see here was basically the outdoor reception hall! Not bad, huh? The precise alignment of this vista with the bend in the river was a deliberate design decision and exemplifies the expert skill and care that was employed in laying out the property. Having a well-designed plan always pays off! Another garden ornament, this sundial joins a glorious Live Oak in stealing the show in one of the formal garden rooms featuring geometrically arranged paths and clipped boxwood hedging. While you may not be able to recreate the shelter of this unbelievable oak tree, this is also another good example of how a simple garden bench can turn a forgotten corner into a place to stop and smell the roses. The lawn in this garden room may be a little worse for the wear, but the combination of a strong, deliberate design, structured evergreen plantings and central ornamentation makes for a great example of what I call a winter-worthy garden. A well-designed garden should be appealing throughout all four seasons, and winter is the perfect time for assessing the worthiness of a particular space. Even covered in snow, the value of the pathways, hedging and birdbath in this garden could still be appreciated. This is a view across the Rice Mill Pond with the mill, itself, in the distance. The pond is and was a source of irrigation for the gardens of Middleton Place and is a beautiful setting for a garden stroll. A pump house near the Rice Mill Pond is nestled among towering oaks dripping in mood-setting Spanish moss. This marble statue serves as a focal point at the termination of this garden path. Framed by hedges, it is another good example of the value of properly placed garden ornaments. Well there you have it…my version of a garden tour at Middleton Place. I strongly encourage you to experience the real deal, if you are able. Or, at least check out their website to learn more about this enchanting piece of southern history and to garner more inspiration for your own springtime gardening projects!

To see the progress at the “Out of the Box House,” read Daniel Keeley’s past updates!

Living the Good Life with Chris Olsen: Make the Most of Your Hardscapes

February 3, 2015 by ark_admin

Many landscape designs incorporate ‘hardscapes,’ a term that means just what it says: retaining walls, terraces, patios, concrete, rock, and stone—all ‘hard.’ Exterior walls can define spaces, create outdoor rooms, retain slopes, and become lovely extensions of the house itself. Because they can be interesting additions to many landscapes, you should consider them to be not just functional, but also an addition that can make your yard more appealing.

These keystone block walls are actually a replacement for a retaining system of railroad ties that had deteriorated and decayed over the years. Railroad ties are perfect for performing the function: they hold back the soil. But they can’t curve, or loop. In nature there are no straight lines, so railroad ties aren’t always the best choice if you want your walls to be a natural element in your design.

The pairing of slab steps and rock walls gives a bit of serenity and even lightness, even though they are stone. Stone walls are still functional, but are more natural, and can be a reflection of your own personal style.

Walls don’t just retain an upper level; they also can create additional space, as well as define another. It’s like adding an addition to your house. When the walls intersect the ground above, you have an opportunity to create another flowerbed, or sitting area. This area of the yard is no longer just a slope for grass alone. And using keystone walls also means you can create a rounded-out area to showcase and accommodate a unique plant, large piece of glazed pottery, or a sculpture. You can relieve the monotony of a straight wall with just such a design factor. Railroad ties would never permit this kind of serendipity.

Stone walls are wonderful for terraces and patios because they aren’t dark or even heavy. An added benefit to erecting them is that you can delineate shade gardens from sun, and feature your favorite seasonal color. Use of stone walls also means that if you hang a light fixture, it’s as if you already have a room that, in turn, needs to be lit.

By having the walls level off and create more space, you also will be able to put your plantings even closer to eye level. If you have a corner, or small space, use of walls means two display areas—one above, one below–which means creating another dimension to your plantings. Translation: Your plantings will look full and lush, and you’ve made optimum use of limited space.

And isn’t there something serene and comforting about stone slab steps? These look as if they were carved out by nature, not lifted from a quarry.

Finally, stone provides texture, which can be a good counterpoint to greenery or even smooth concrete. The nooks and crannies can be home to mosses and even the occasional lizard. Your walls become part of the landscape, not just something to keep it at bay. Using stone won’t make you a rock star, but it will make your landscape so inviting that you’ll want to spend more time in it, and savor the seasons.

Chris Olsen is a nationally known home and garden guru, designer, author, TV personality and public speaker. In his book, Chris shares his landscape and gardening knowledge along with his unique flair for home decor and design.He is also a member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. Learn more about Chris and all of his work at chrisholsen.com.

Living the Good Life With Chris Olsen: Simple Elements Mean Strong Impact

January 6, 2015 by ark_admin

You may not be thinking about your landscape today, but you should. The depth of winter is the best time to site, plan, and design any aspect of your landscape’s ‘hard’ features. A hardscape is just that: the portion of your landscape that requires pre-planning, is semi-permanent, manmade, and involves natural elements, such as stone, rock, and also in this case, water. Winter is a great time to figure out a new design—and install it—because trees and beds are bare, typography stands out, and you can figure out placement easily. Installing a fountain is perfect during this time of year! It can be one of the best uses of corners, or a space close to the house. Don’t let the word ‘install’ scare you. You won’t need a building permit to a create a beautiful water feature that is understated in its elegance, and that incorporates nothing more than cheerful water flow and rock selected for color and shape.

We used natural rock for the fountain; in this case, ‘Baltic Stone.’ It was drilled so that the water pipe could easily be inserted. We didn’t want anything fussy, we also wanted to eliminate that “splashing” sound, so a group of three (The Magic Number) upended vertical stones would do the trick. The water simply needed to burble over the top and cascade down the sides. Select a basin for the water, thinking about how many rocks you want to surround it. You’ll want a generous amount of rock to frame your pool, so measure your area well. Dig a hole slightly larger than the plastic water basin. The larger the pool, the more water it can contain. Here, we buried a four-foot square basin purchased at a pond supply store, and surrounded it with metal grating that supports and contains the river rock that frames the basin.

Shop for a pump that will give you enough power to push your water up and over, but you aren’t installing a dam, so you won’t need something extraordinary. Water pressure is part of your design, so contemplate flow. You’re incorporating sound into this design, and more water being pushed faster means a louder water feature, so your pump selection really does matter.

In keeping with the vertical style of this water feature, we used flagstones buried on their sides to create a sort of retaining outer wall, and planted just inside. We chose plants for hardiness, as well as compact growth, to complete the design. ‘Lime’ sweet flag grass, Dwarf Mondo, ‘Wintergreen’ boxwood, ‘Blood good’ Japanese maple, and golden euonymus completed our design elements.

You can find many of these components online or at aquatic stores, and shopping for rock can be a fun adventure. Just remember to keep it simple. You aren’t erecting a public fountain, so you want the water to trickle more than gush. The gushing can come from your guests as they round the corner and see your new landscape addition. It stands out in its simple design, yet is striking in its use of rock, water, and basic planting elements. It will require an afternoon of work, but will be a focal point in your landscape for a long time to come, literally calling out to you.

outside the box with daniel keeley: exterior renovation

February 26, 2014 by ark_admin

Hello again and happy summer! I hope all of you are enjoying the season and staying cool. In terms of temperatures, things have actually been relatively mild around here. And, although we are in desparate need of some rain, the dry weather has really allowed us to make a lot of progress on the exterior portions of my home remodel. So, no complaints here!

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Outside the Box with D. Keeley: November Update

Outside the Box with D. Keeley: February Update

Living the Good Life with Chris Olsen: Make the Most of Your Hardscapes

Living the Good Life With Chris Olsen: Simple Elements Mean Strong Impact

outside the box with daniel keeley: exterior renovation

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