Prairie Tree Landscape Center

Elegant Connections

The design for this residence blended the elegance of the home’s interior with the natural features on the exterior. An addition to the existing home prompted the homeowners to update and expand on the existing landscaping. The homeowners wanted the interior and exterior to blend to create continuous living spaces. It was also important that the landscaping on the property blend with neighboring the property to create the feeling of one estate.

A meandering path, utilizing Unilock ‘Brussels’ Pavers, transforms a grass lawn into a welcoming entry for visitors to the renovated home. Some new plants and a few of the homeowner’s prize hosta flank the front entryway.

This pathway creates a connection to the adjacent property and other amenities on the site. The plantings between the two properties were removed to create a lush lawn that sweeps across both properties.
Multiple outdoor rooms were created for entertaining. This patio is a great spot for grilling and outdoor dining. The seat wall expands the seating in the area, as well as provides a good spot to house an electric outlet.
The lakeside of the property presented a few more challenges, due to the grade change. We utilized natural lannon stone to terrace the slope, as well as create a stairway to bring people down to the lower patios. Flagstone steppers were used to create a more informal connection between the stairs and patio spaces.

	The two lower patios are an extension of the screened porch, creating a continuous space as you move from the inside to the outside. The plantings selected focused on blue tones to create a cool feeling when sitting on the lower patio.
	A deck boardwalk connects the two lower patios on the exterior. A boulder wall was needed below to hold up the deck posts. Plantings were utilized to give a soft edge to the hardscapes and add seasonal color.

The second lower patio was elevated to accommodate for the foundation of the existing structure. Block stairs bring you up to the patio level. This patio is a great spot to sit and take in the view of the lake.