At Blanchford Landscape Group, our landscape design and build process has three tenets, the final of which takes the finished project and seamlessly transitions it into the upkeep phase. These are:
Let’s look at a brief overview of each so that you can know what to anticipate.
During the landscape design process, we are connecting with clients to determine their needs and their outdoors. We’re then meeting to discuss solutions, your specific property, and your landscape budget. For any project that we’re designing, we are aiming to respond to three primary elements.
We believe that when all three of these factors are weighted equally, we are able to create an authentic outdoor living experience.
Once we’ve created that landscape design, we’ll go through a review process. We’ll develop and go over a detailed plan and the final pricing of your project.
Once the landscape design is approved, it’s time for your dream to begin to physically take shape. You’ll have a chance to meet the expert team who will be building your project. It will be exciting to watch as our creative experts transform your property. When the build is complete, you’ll have the opportunity to review your finished project for complete satisfaction.
The final element of what comes full-circle as a complete process is moving into the landscape maintenance phase. After all, a landscape is a living and evolving thing. Therefore, in order to truly continue to get the most out of your new outdoor living space, you want someone to help sustain it as well.
Patio Design & Hardscaping Options
There’s no question that the patio design is likely at the heart of your outdoor living area. A patio is the foundation of most outdoor living spaces. This will be the place where you set up an entertaining area, enjoy outdoor dining, and ultimately make the outdoors an extension of your home. The key benefit of a patio is that it makes your outdoor space more functional.
Making Important Patio Design Decisions
Given the importance of your patio, you want to feel confident that you are making wise choices during the patio design process. It will help to ask yourself the following patio questions to get a better sense of what you truly want.
- What is the purpose of this space?
- What inspired me/us to add a patio in the first place?
- Will I/we entertain on the patio? How many people will use the space?
- What outdoor amenities would help me use a patio even more?
Spending some time envisioning how you plan to use the space will go a long way in helping you make decisions that will allow you to maximize time on the patio.
Choosing Patio Materials
Among the decisions that you’ll be faced with for your patio design is the type of material used to build it. You’ll likely be comparing natural stone versus pavers. There are various pros/cons to weigh which you can read about in more depth in the linked article.
At Blanchford Landscape Group, our preference is generally toward natural stone because of the aesthetic difference. When you’re talking about blending a landscaped space with nature, natural stone fits in beautifully. However, we understand that there are reasons it may not always be the appropriate choice for a project. Whether it be budget-related or even style-related, we do also build paver patios for clients who would prefer this choice.
Some homeowners even ask us about concrete patios. Ultimately, it boils down to the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to patios and you must weigh the options.
Adding Patio Features
Finally, as you think about your patio design, you might also be considering the various amenities that can enhance that space. The idea is to want to use your patio as much as possible and the amenities and features that you add will play a big role in that.
Some of the features that will enhance your patio include:
Adding Outdoor Fire Features to Your Landscape
Outdoor fire features are another appealing addition to consider in your new outdoor living space. As humans, we are intrinsically drawn to the light and the heat that fires produce, which is why they are such a welcome addition to many projects. They help create a special sense of ambiance.
As with any outdoor landscaping decision, the key is to narrow down what outdoor fire features might make the most sense for you. Some of the choices include an outdoor fireplace, fire pit, fire bowl, or fire table. This is a highly personalized decision and the choice that’s right for you might be incredibly different from another Montana homeowner. But generally speaking, we tend to do a lot more outdoor fire pits than fireplaces.
One of the main reasons is that an outdoor fireplace can potentially be obstructive to the view. Due to their height and size, an outdoor fireplace can also attract all of the attention when what you really want to showcase is likely your view. But there are some projects where an outdoor fireplace makes sense or where that’s what the homeowner prefers and that certainly works, too.
Another decision that you’ll have to make with your fire feature is wood-burning versus gas. There are pros and cons to each and you’ll have to determine which makes the most sense for you and your Southwest Montana landscape.
Incorporating a Landscape Lighting Design
Landscape lighting is another important consideration in your landscape design and build project. When it comes to getting the most out of your new outdoor area, landscape lighting is critical. The right lighting will give you the opportunity to enjoy your space after the sun goes down. It also adds visual appeal, safety, and security.
While you can read much more about landscape lighting design considerations in the article linked above, we’ll sum up a few key points as you think about this important element.
Less is More
One of the most important things to remember with landscape lighting is that “less is more.” You want to be able to safely navigate your space in the evening hours but you should do everything you can to avoid excessive light pollution with too many lights. One of the most special things about having a home or vacation home in Southwest Montana is the gorgeous night sky. Excessive lighting can take away from the natural beauty of the stars.
Utilize Downlighting
One way that we can achieve the “less is more” objective is with a lot of “downlighting.” This type of landscape lighting simulates the light of the moon by having the lights shine down on your space from up above (such as in trees). It’s a lot more subtle than spotlights! But this kind of lighting takes an eye for design.
Choose LED for Your Landscape Lighting Design
Outdoor lighting technology has come an incredibly long way. At Blanchford Landscape Group, we have moved to exclusively offer LED lights, which are far superior to older technology. LED bulbs last longer, are more durable, and are more energy-efficient.
Choosing Landscaping Plants
The plants that you choose for your landscape design are also a major consideration as they’ll not only enhance the beauty of the space but can also serve functional value. Certain plant selections might be made to increase privacy or to deter wildlife, just as examples.
