Traditional features blend with a contemporary palette for a delightful outdoor area
A place to relax and to entertain were two top priorities when designer and landscape expert Chris Olsen set out to spruce up Jane and Ben Meade’s Fayetteville courtyard. “I wanted to compose a clean look with stately elegance,” he shares. “I really listen to the client and make sure the landscape is what they want and not just what I envision. Of course, I can be persuasive,” he adds with a chuckle.
The home’s existing patio featured beautiful natural stonework and a charming outdoor fireplace, however it lacked personality. To create an equally chic and inviting space, Olsen packed a punch into the formerly minimalistic landscape and used a cheerful, contemporary palette of orange, black and ivory to add visual interest on the furnishings. “I love the big round chaise. Its crisscross ivory-and-orange design is bold and fashionable, yet so inviting,” shares Olsen. He searched for the perfect pieces of outdoor furniture to complement the space and in the end went with a custom design from Sunset Patio, a line he carries at his Little Rock shop, Botanica Gardens. Contemporary outdoor fabrics in a variety of prints add an air of whimsy to the aesthetic. “I always say that people need to think outside the box and do something that the neighbors are not doing,” says Olsen.
A diverse mix of vegetation also helps to bring both depth and contrast to the backyard space. “The plants flow in drifts of texture and color. White, orange and purple are the staple colors blended with various hues of green,” he explains. White Swan coneflowers, ‘Autumn Joy’ sedums, English boxwoods, a ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud and a sugar maple are just a few plants that embellish the cozy backyard. For an additional pop of color, the round stone beds are planted with a mix of Mexican zinnias and purple summer snapdragons, which both coordinate with the space’s color scheme.
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