Christiane Holmquist Landscape Design

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Weathered Steel Fountains, Troughs and Shade Sails – how cool can you get?

November 3, 2010 By Christiane Holmquist

As a designer, I don’t meet clients at every project whose taste and dreams I can “read” immediately and who are open to my ideas. For this project I developed a concept of rather unusual materials and layouts, and I was thrilled when the clients received my suggestions with lively interest and reciprocated with creativity and  lots of stimulating ideas of their own.

Rusted steel planters

Controlled-rusted steel troughs maximize planting space in the pool garden

In this relatively small garden, it seemed as though the spaces needed for dining, lounging and just hanging out would leave us with lots of paved areas with no room left for softening and interesting plants. We therefore opted for raised planters as they not only make use of the smallest spaces by “going vertical” but also create dividers and add “weight” to the landscape. Since  in a small landscape they are exposed to close scrutiny, it is important that they be made from a good-looking material. We found that controlled-rusted (or “weathered”) steel would work well with the house’s architecture and the existing copper accents used as end caps on roof beams and fence posts.

Residential application of shade sails

Shade sails protect the dining area from the hot noon sun

Now that weathered steel was introduced in a “cubist” way, we not only used it for the planter troughs, but also for several gas-fired lights and a low-volume fountain, as well as for the edging of lawn, of the raised sitting area and of the pebble-filled French drain around the pool.  And from here the other “hardscape” materials seemed to flow seamlessly:  Glass tiles for the pool; bamboo for the outdoor kitchen cabinets, and synthetic fabric for the shade sails.

Fountain Troughs

Water in the fountain adds sounds and movement

As we went from conceptual design to reality, creative solutions were worked out, from unexpected finger-prints on the weathered steel and the inner workings of the fountain troughs, to the finishes of concrete and stone. With the collaboration of all parties involved and the contractor’s meticulous attention to detail (Schenck Building Company in La Jolla at http://www.schenckbuildingcompany.com  ) this project was well and timely executed.

Filed Under: Landscape Design, Water Features for Gardens and Yards Tagged With: controlled-rusted steel in the landscape, entertainment space in the landscape, french drain around pool, garden design, gas-lights in the garden, landscape design, landscape design expert in San Diego, landscape design with shade sails, landscape lighting, landscaping in San Diego County, low-volume water features in the landscape, naturally rusted steel, outdoor kitchen in the landscape, outdoor kitchen with bamboo facing, pool landscape, raised planters, rusted steel in the landscape, Shade sails, shade structures, steel edging of French drain, steel troughs as planters, sustainable water features, weathered steel in the lands

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Christiane, your design is beautiful. Viewers love the design and color. Thank you so much for all your support while the project was being developed. It would have been more stressful for me had you not held my hand regularly.

Rachel Michel

CHRISTIANE HOLMQUIST LANDSCAPE DESIGN


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Phone: 406-246-6065

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