The 5 Rules of Fabulous Landscape Design

Rule 1: Continuity is Key. Your new landscape should tie into your house seamlessly – after all, they’re both part of the same home. But tying into your house does not mean matching it exactly. “Too little continuity is called ‘chaos,’” Bob Hursthouse says, “but too much is called ‘monotony’.” To walk a line between […]

What Determines the Cost of My Outdoor Kitchen?

Outdoor living includes outdoor eating. Sometimes, it’s as simple as stepping outside with a morning cup of coffee or a favorite snack while you take in your landscape. Other times, you’d like a little more. If you’re into cooking out, Hursthouse can always add a grill (and plumb its gas connection) as part of your […]

How Does My Patio’s Construction Method Affect its Cost?

When you budget for a patio, there are three factors to consider. The first two are obvious: What is your patio’s design, and what’s it made of? Larger patios cost more. And different patio materials have different costs as well. But the third factor in your patio’s landscaping cost is underneath the surface – literally. […]

How do Different Patio Surfaces Affect My Landscaping Budget?

There’s more than one way to patio. And if you’re considering an outdoor living space, your landscape architect will have a lot of options for your patio materials. What’s the difference? A good landscape designer will consider three big factors for your patio surface: There’s the feel and function of the material, which factors into […]

How Will an Outdoor Fireplace Affect My Landscape and Budget?

You don’t have to be inside to curl up by the fireplace. In fact, outdoor fireplaces are a wonderful way to define an “outdoor living room” – they provide heat and light, and there’s a feeling of permanence and comfort you might not get from another type of fire feature. We always build outdoor fireplaces […]

How Will a Campfire Ring Affect my Landscape and Budget?

You don’t have to camp to build a campfire. In fact, campfire rings are a less temporary way to enjoy gathering around a fire year-round – and at a fraction of the impact to your budget that a larger feature like a fire pit or outdoor fireplace might make. So is a campfire ring for […]

What Do Outdoor Fireplaces and Firepits Cost?

Fire brings folks together. It’s one of humanity’s most powerful discoveries – and one of the most effective choices you can make for your landscaping project. There are a lot of ways to choose fire, from free-standing masonry fireplaces to small pits and campfire rings. Each option feels and works a little differently – and […]

What Should I Bring to My First Landscape Design Meeting?

This is how your dreams take shape. Your first connection with a Hursthouse landscape architect is critical – and it’s usually a lot of fun! We’ll meet you at your home and get to know your family’s needs and vision. We’ll also look at your home and property to learn what sort of landscaping might […]

What’s a Conceptual Landscape Design?

If you’re designing and building your landscape with Hursthouse, we’ll typically present you two Conceptual Landscape Designs for discussion and feedback. This usually happens several weeks after your first meeting when we’ve done the research, crafted the vision and put drawings together to show you. But even though they take a lot of work, these Conceptual […]

The Design Process: How great gardens go from the drawing board to the landscape

Like each client, every one of our landscapes is distinctive—a “custom fit” for a specific lifestyle. Our approach is simple. Each outdoor space is a living and livable canvas. As landscape architects, we “paint” the setting based on our clients’ needs, desires and budget. Your interests and how you use your home helps determine the […]