Incorporating Landscape Elements Into Your Patio Space
Continuing our design series,
We immediately thought of this project in Boulder, Colorado. It was designed by one of our favorite designers, Kristen Whitehead, at Helios Landscape Design. We frequently work with Kristen and this project has many design aspects that we absolutely love and would like others to find inspiration in:
1. The Garden and landscape is incorporated into the patio space
Our build, partnered with Helios’ design, incorporated a large patio dining and entertaining area along with a garden planter box space. The seamless transition between the patio and planter boxes, that will hold fragrant herbs that will make their way onto the oversized picnic table, is simply breathtaking. During large gatherings, the planter box sides may even double as benches as guests move about and sit amongst the small garden.
2. The design breaks down typical disparate designs of the past
Typically, many of the aspects Kristen designed would be placed outside, such as a patio and surrounding wall space, but the way she incorporated them into the space is spectacular. Kristen designed the flagstone to be placed along with surrounding fine granite rock and Totem Spruce trees, Dwarf Globe Spruce bushes, and Lilac. These make the installation look modern and natural as if the patio were designed around them. Placement of Sage, Rosemary, Wholly Thyme, and Hyssop in the gravel next to the flagstone finishes off the look of bringing nature in to the space rather than attempting to keep it out.
3. The Wall Encloses the Space and Gives it An Elegant Feel
Enclosing the space with a wall and an elegant old world gate, created by Wes Nassar at Flight Fabrication, also makes it feel cozy and warm. The hard lines of the rectangular pavers and surrounding rectangular wall are broken up by the diagonal table and landscaping. The space feels open and guests are easily able to leave the area, but the wall serves as a decorative partition and keeps them included in whatever event is occurring.
What we’d like people to take from this design
No longer should people think of patios as finite spaces that are separate from the landscape without trees, plants, bushes, and flowers. These design elements look far more natural and cohesive when they are incorporated together into the design, as Kristen so elegantly did here. As many restaurants incorporate small garden boxes into their outdoor seating, we love how she used that same idea here. It will make for many meals that use the vegetables grown and will serve as discussion topics for green thumbs during get-togethers.
Special thanks to:
Kristen Whitehead at Helios Landscape Design for taking the time to talk with us and her landscape design images.
Wes Nassar at Flight Fabrication for the Metal Gate Door and metal accents.