Category: Exterior Design

Because it’s summer and many of you are thinking to upgrade your homes not only in terms of interior design, but also regarding the exterior areas, today we’are presenting you a splendid project to inspire you. Specialized in creating beautiful gardens and luxurious outdoor room designs, Australian based company RED (Ritz Exterior Design) was encharged to manage the entire landscape design and outdoor wicker patio furniture that would complement a beautiful single-storey house with seven bedrooms in Applecross, and here’s what they accomplished.

From the lighting, planting and artificial turf, decking, to the water features, pool and spa, the reticulation and brick walls, everything is gorgeous, deserving the owners’ full attention. Modern and luxurious, with a focus on the finer details, it’s the perfect place to spend hot summers and relax sipping lemonade or dipping in the pool on a hot day, or why not in the evening too. Through the overall layout, the designer from RED aim to create a resort-style ambience.

With large verge areas and two entry points of the house, the space wasn’t very easy to be made, but the result woth all the effort. They envisioned a distinct, unique style for each of the entry point, so the front entrance features timber deck stepping-stones, curved lawns and sunken beds, while the other one is improved with a large timber arbour, custom-made from recycled jarrah railway sleepers and their rusted steel feature panels. This creative approach create a beautiful shadow effect with various patterns throughout the day.

Working with Lump design studio in Melbourne, they made astonishing “Bamboo” light boxes, which powerfull illuminates the arbour at night with a scenic impact. The pool was another challenge in this project, because the existing pool shell was settled too high. In this case, they kept the current floor level and used the elevated water level to design a sheer drop into a wrap around water characteristic. Stepping-stones are clad in travertine tiles, which create a footpath around the entire pool. Looking from the appealing lounge room, the pool is almost at eye-level, and yet it blends in amazingly with the rest of the outdoor space. What do you feel about this place?

Photos © Ritz Exterior Design

Known for extremes in concrete and steel, specialized in superlatives and the unexpected, the leader in diverse and cultural tourist attraction, arid Dubai, fascinates visitors with its latest over-the-top attraction, the newly opened Dubai Miracle Garden. Part of DubaiLand Development Project, this absolutely stunning garden can be found in the North West Quadrant of Arabian Ranches interchange along Shiekh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road,  being opened between 9 a.m and 9 p.m.

Just imagine how it would be to walk through 45 million blooming flowers  in amazing designs, splendid patterns, shapes and mosaics, and alluring color combinations achieved through more than 30 different varieties of blooms, including petunias, geraniums and marigolds. It’s unbelievable! The unique 721,000 square foot garden with state of art landscaping features, hardscape features and related facilities (first aid room, prayer rooms, toilet blocks, restaurant, shops, sitting areas, rest areas etc.) was created in 60 days by 400 people and opened this year, on Valentine’s Day.

The authors of this awesome concept are Akar Landscaping Services and Agriculture, who estimated the costs at around $11 million. Their goal was to develop the biggest flower garden in the world, a tourist attraction that actively participates in reducing carbon print globally for a more sustainable environment, and starting with 28 March 2013, this botanical masterpiece called  “piece of Eden” actually achieved the recognition as the “Largest Vertical Garden” in the World in Guinness Book of Records for having the logest flower wall.

The Miracle Garden is indeed one of a kind outdoor recreational destination not only in the region, but also in the world thanks to its size and unique display of natural blooming flowers, which will be changed each season so that repeat visitors will have a new experience each time. A right of colors as far as the eyes can see, this oasis could be a favourite place to visit for those yearning to spend time outside, flowers lovers, even couples and families on a day out. Blooms fashioned into the shapes of hearts, stars, igloos, pyramids and so on will offer sensory delights season after season, making us wonder how it was possible to develop something like this breathtaking garden in a region known for its dry, hot weather.

The answer is that the blooming season in Dubai lasts from mid-October to mid-May, so winter in Dubai is the optimum growth period for flowers. In this way, the Miracle Garden is closed during the hottest period (summer) , thing that will allow organizers to redesign for the next season with other extravagant floral displays. Besides, the park features what it calls an eco-friendly irrigation system and uses water retention materials, like capillary mats and polymers, in order to supply moisture most efficiently.

During its 1^st Phase, the Miracle Garden provides visitors state of the art services and facilities like VIP parking, sitting areas, prayer room, toilet blocks, ablution facility, security room, first aid room, carts for handicapped visitors, retails and commercial kiosk, following the 2nd phase in October this year with the addition of the Butterfly Garden and Aromatic Garden. By March 2014, Dubai’s Miracle Garden will be expanded with golf course, entertainment and recreational facilities too. Akar Landscaping Services and Agriculture have future plans to cover most of the Miracle Garden by a glass dome, so it will become a year-long destination with more than 1 million visitors per year. Check out some beautiful images and the video on the end of this post.

 Photos © Dubai Miracle Garden

 Dubai’s Miracle Garden

As the summer months draw nearer, many people’s attention will turn to the state of their garden. Providing the perfect setting to socialise, relax and host your summer memories, you will want your garden looking as delightful and inviting as possible.

As the nights get warmer, you will unsurprisingly want to spend more time admiring your garden.  As the sun sets across the horizon, there’s no need to move indoors as homeowners open their minds to a whole new realm of possibilities with the help of LED’s.

Illuminating

Cost-effective, flexible and boundless, LED’s are fast becoming the most popular way to light up and enhance the look and function of your garden. With a whole line of products available, attaining the advice and guidance of a reputable LED supplier will allow you to see the benefits for yourself.

With so many uses, colours and effects available to transform your garden, knowing what to do with each product can be a daunting prospect. Have no fear; check out our design ideas below!

Photo © Harold Leidner Landscape Architects

#1 – Light Up Your Pathways

Why not highlight your quaint pathway or paving stones with LED’s to really emphasise the design of your garden. As simple as aligning with current paving stone, you can weave your design around your walkways, illuminating the way and allowing people to explore your garden.

#2 – Flood Lights

No one wants to be left sitting in the dark. Exterior LED flood lights draw at least 80% less power than standard flood lights and bulkhead lights and with a life equal to at least 35 Halogen tubes, meaning replacing the bulb will be a thing of the past. Allowing you to save energy as well as proficiently light up your garden, many LED flood lights are available in 10, 30 and 50 watts.

#3 – Flexible Fibre Optics & LED Tape

Many people are discovering the benefits of using fibre optics to illuminate their garden, more specifically their decking. A flexible and highly inexpensive investment, you can run fibre optics on as little as £9 a year, allowing you to light up your garden all year round.

Fibre optics and LED Tape can be controlled by you creating seamless colour changes at whatever speed you desire, allowing you to create an exterior lighting design that is unique to your garden.

Photo ©  LuAnn Development, Inc.

#4 – Set The Mood Colour-changing

The real beauty of LED’s however, is their ability to capture the mood, whatever the occasion. Some LED lighting systems, such as LED Tape are capable of creating over 2 million colours which you can control. Fitted with sophisticated RGB colour-changing technology, you can choose from a single colour, to interspersing colours, to colours of your choice. Lighting has never been limitless!

The benefits are there for all to see. LED’s offer an affordable, long-lasting and hardwearing solution to garden lighting design and it’s no surprise that demand is high. With expert guidance from some a specialist LED supplier and installer, you can have a garden that is as beautiful and inviting as it is practical.

With garden design an ever-changing concept, Phil Warrington offers his expert guidance on how LED’s can be used to enhance your garden. He recommend Litewave; a distinguished and recognised LED supplier who stock a whole host of LED products, such as LED Tape & LED Down lights, that won’t fail to transform your garden.

Photo © Tim Turner Photography; C.O.S Design

Outdoor fireplaces are great aesthetic statements, transforming an ordinary patio or backyard into a true extension of your home. Since the hot summer days are finally here for many of us, it’s time to take the party outside. And what better way to do this than getting our outdoor living spaces ready in order to enjoy the beautiful weather while entertaining and gather with your family or friends. From rooftop terraces to backyard sanctuaries, the possibilities to create your personal outdoor space are practically endless as our imagination, the outcome depending largely on the project we have and on the money invested.

But one design element that should be always part of your exterior décor is the fireplace. Why? Because an exterior heater besides the fact that will provide structure and definition to our outdoor living space, will create a visual and physical warmth to the space, adding as well a dramatic light that will make our longer evenings magical. So, here we show you an original looking outdoor fireplace to complement your outdoor décor perfectly.

Designed by Amsterdam-based designer Frederik Roijé and introduced at Milan Design Week 2013, ‘SmokeStack‘ feature a simple, minimalist style but interesting enough to draw attention to your guests thanks to shape inspired by the archetypical factory chimney of those traditional times. The wood-burning SmokeStack’s design evokes nostalgia, memories from the past, being presented as a symbol of industrial progress and a landmark in the same time. Made in Holland from Corten steel, a weathered metal that ensures a protective layer around the fireplace, the fireplace will create a strong vertical focal point that anchors beautifully any outdoor room.

Looking for an out-of-the-box solution this summer that brings in a minute the holiday vibe? Well, in today’s post we’re presenting you FARO, an extremely versatile fireplace that will transform your home ambience, creating a warm and inviting place. Even though many of us love grand fireplaces that create an impressive statement in our houses and apartments, portable fireplaces are a great alternative, becoming very popular in recent years. You can let them in a permanent location or move them wherever you want, even in the most tiny spaces.

This interesting fireplace concept is created by Japanese designer Ryosuke Fukusada in collaboration with Rui Pereira and Eco Smart Inc., being developed around the idea of bringing people together in a society where high-technology is expanding fast and people are becoming more individualistic. The element of fire have been throughout history a sacred symbol which have, among other meanings, a role in connecting people, to reignite the flame of face-to-face communication between them.

Small and compact, FARO is a as lovely as it’s functional. It’s playful and eye-catching design allows you to enjoy the mesmerizing flame in a matter of minutes both in ourdoors and indoors, through the use of an ethanol burner. Unlike other  fireplaces, FARO was modeled after the traditional woodstove, this feature giving  you the possibility to load it with firewood when you move it outdoors. It is made from clay screens, a hammered base and an iron stand. Relocate it with ease and create a unique atmosphere for gardens, courtyards, terraces, patios, pool decks, or  for any indoor area.

Photos © Ryosuke Fukusada

Public spaces improvement projects envisioned by architects and designers manage to create a comfortable image and a strong sense of community, transforming them into great and vibrant places more connected to the activities going on in the these spaces. They need and deserve as much attention as we give to our interior designs, and we’re excited to see more innovative design solutions for the public sphere. Paris-based designers Dan Yeffet and Lucie Koldová designed this new Urban Islands product line for the leading producer of urban furniture, MMcite, showcased at Paris Design Week in 2012.

Flexible, with unexpected colors and great forms, Urban Islands shows a unique seating system which looks original and introduce a fresh design in our urban landscape. Thanks to its innovative modular solution, the different seating elements allow for various surprising combinations suitable for public spaces from pedestrian zones, parks, squares to exterior and interiors of public buildings. Their wooden top or HPL smooth surfaces together with beautiful, bright colors ensures an updated, modern look for these places.

This new Vondom furniture item for outdoor we show you today makes us want to come summer as soon as possible. We do miss those hot summer days when all you want is to relax and bathe in a swimming pool all day long. Well known for their passion for design and great collaboration with major worlwide designers, Vondom is a Spanish premium brand dedicate to make new forms of understanding the world of indoor and outdoor decoration, and their gorgeous furniture collections cannot be overlooked since their innovative designs featuring pure Mediterranean style come to create a unique and exclusive ambient to your homes. Elegant and modern Faz Daybed belongs to FAZ Collection and is designed by Spanish architect Ramon Esteve.

Equipped with built-in speakers and LED lighting, Faz Daybed is a versatile relaxation platform with a remarkable design inspired by the polygonal shape of minerals found in nature, that promises a unique outdoor experience. Unlike other outdoor lounge chairs, this one allows you to enjoy beautiful weather, while protects you from harmful sun rays thanks to it’s shell-like form featuring a light top translucent fabric that acts as a large protective umbrella. It has an open-close mechanism and wheels which enable a 360° rotation to change its position to different places in order to get an optimum amount of sunlight. What we love most about this ultra-contemporary furniture piece is that it incorporates a sound system especially designed for outdoor which allows you to listen to your favourite music by simply connecting smartphone, tablet and bluetooth technology to the built-in surround speakers. See more from the video at the end of the post.

Photos © Vondom

 Vondom Outdoor Furniture: Faz Daybed