Structures

Entries

Cedar, copper, bronze, concrete and simple plantings create this modern Asian inspired courtyard entry.

Inside the courtyard the same motif is continued but now as a private space.

Dyed and stamped concrete and boulders assist in navigation of a steep entry.

Basalt stepping stones cross a dry stream bed that mitigates a disconnected downspout. A restful spot awaits.

For this English Tudor home, concrete aggregate steps meander to the front door past curving basalt walls.

Basalt stone risers create a meanering informal staircase.

An arbor gives interest to this previously uninspired front porch.

Previously an asphalt parking pad, this Modern style entry is transformed with pavers, artfully placed boulders, river cobbles, aggregate steps and an Asian planting style.

A new entrance courtyard, in the Arts and Crafts style, provides an up-lift for a once un-inspiring Ranch style home. After 25 years, the homeowners' were ready for a change.

Patios

This family was in need of a new deck and a backyard makeover. A useless muddy lawn was just wasted space.

A new re-configured deck off the kitchen offers an immediate dining space while a covered pergola provides a dry and more intimate setting

Pavers spill out from the deck area into the back yard where a concrete and stone fireplace entice guests to gather, visit and relax.

Surrounded by dense plantings a variegated dimensional bluestone patio offers a restful place.

Brick facing on the arbor steps reflects the high brick wall surrounding this yard.

Plantings and a vegetable garden area surround this sunken courtyard.

An elevated patio embedded with boulders is surrounded by plantings.

A wall fountain and ferns soften a new back porch created to match the extsting Tudor style home. Applied stone and antiqued bricks mimic an old masonary style used on the home's front walls.

Hillside

In a sloped area that was previously wasted space, stone wall terracing retains a flagstone patio, planting beds and steps.

A steep hillside can provide an opportunity for visual interest, a place to display your favorite plants.

Water

The owner’s selected this Green Man for spouting water into a cooling basin. The Green man is a symbol of rebirth, the cycle of growth being re-born each spring. The fountain back mimics the lines of the home’s unusual windows.

This front entrance fountain provides a welcoming surprise to birds and other visitors and a pleasant sound for passersby.

In a dry pond a stone fountain provides the sound of water.

A stone bench within the grotto furnishes a retreat. For children, a pirate's den. For frogs, a sanctuary.

Fences, Walls and Gates

A pergola with rolling gates camoflage a storage container and large van from view but provide access when needed.

A glass paneled screen creates night-time color and focus.

A circular element in a contemporary wood gate is counterpoint to the vertical structure of the surrounding fence and as such becomes a focal point.

A wall topped by a fence and arbor utilize a variety of design elements to create interest.

At the boundary of a steeply sloping yard a stepped fence follows the contour. An open mesh of heavy wire defines the space while retaining a sense of openess.

A wrought iron gate is in keeping with the Spanish style wall.

In a detail of the Spanish wall note that not only do the sections have a pleasing curve but the tile surface also slopes inward to reflect the general curve of the wall around the yard.

Our native cedar lends itself well to Japanese design elements.

What was once just the side area of a house becomes a focal point with the addition of a custom fence and gate.

Donna Giguere,  APLD

Portland, OR

503.777.1177