Behind the Scenes: Developing a Suburban Oasis in Lisle
Do you love those behind the scenes shows where you get to follow along as a renovation takes place? We’ve got the next best thing – join Carlos as he walks us through the creation of a suburban oasis in Lisle for our clients Scott and Claudine. As an added bonus, hear from Scott and Claudine themselves regarding what they were looking for, how they use the space, and their experience working with Montano’s Landscaping.
Related: Renovating Your Patio? Here are 6 Reasons to Include a Fire Pit in Naperville, IL
No Problems, Only Opportunities
Each project starts with the homeowner giving us their vision for their outdoor living space, immediately followed by a thorough analysis of the site. Here at Montano’s, we take pride in viewing what some may say are “problems” as opportunities to create something amazing. We may live in the flat Midwest, but we still have our fair share of elevation changes. When designing Scott and Claudine’s outdoor living space, we had a rather significant elevation change that needed to be considered and addressed.
What came out of that evaluation of the site combined with Scott and Claudine’s goals was a gorgeous two-tier patio that naturally lent itself to distinct spaces that flow seamlessly together.
Marrying Existing Elements with New
Scott and Claudine had an existing wood deck and pergola just outside the patio door that they wanted to keep. One of the most important parts of marrying existing elements with new ones is cohesion. Carlos’s design included darker patio pavers lining the deck – an element he continued around the entire perimeter of the new patio – both to tie in the wood deck with the new design and also to create a color variation to demarcate the step down. The pavers chosen for the patio are rich gray and natural tones, complementing the neutral gray color of the deck and pergola.
Related: Customize a Wheaton, IL Patio Project with Custom Brick Patio Pavers in Versatile Styles
Distinct Spaces Increase Functionality
When you love to spend time outside, it’s important to think about how your space will be used. Scott and Claudine wanted a patio they could enjoy just the two of them on a weeknight with a glass of wine but also easily entertain a large group of family and friends.
Carlos achieved these unique spaces by creating zones – a dining space, cooking space, and entertainment space. The cooking space is adjacent to the back of the house, making it quick and easy to grill a couple burgers while preparing other food inside the house. The dining space is on the same tier of the patio as the cooking space, set apart just a bit, but still close enough for those sitting at the table to chat with the person grilling.
One of Scott and Claudine’s favorite parts of their patio is stepping down to the entertainment space after dinner and sitting around the fire pit with family and friends.
Related: 3 Patio Designs Best for Entertaining in Hinsdale, IL
Custom Features Make All the Difference
Knowing that Scott and Claudine would use the entertainment space a lot, Carlos dreamed up a custom water feature to add visual interest to the back wall of the cooking space. The water feature recirculates the water, making it maintenance-free. It features blue lighting so it is a showstopper both during the day and at night.
He also knew Scott and Claudine were big football fans and wanted to use their outdoor space to watch games. When designing the cooking space, he ensured the counter next to the grill was large enough that a television could easily be placed on it for game day parties.
Landscape Lighting Finishes the Design
A beautiful outdoor living space becomes exceptional when landscape lighting is incorporated into the design. No one wants to head inside to finish watching the game when the sun goes down, and by including plenty of landscape lighting, Scott and Claudine’s patio can be enjoyed all evening. It also adds a safety element to ensure guests note the changes in elevation and don’t miss a step up or down.
Related: Set the Tone All Evening with Outdoor Lighting in the Naperville and Wheaton, IL Areas
Creating Designs as Unique as Each Home
No two homes are exactly the same, and no two homeowners have the same wants and needs for their spaces. That’s why Carlos works so closely with each client to understand their goals for the design and his recommendations to enhance their overall vision. Watch as Carlos shares how he worked with Scott and Claudine to bring their outdoor haven to fruition.
If your outdoor living space isn’t quite what you want it to be, we are here to help. Give us a call to discuss how we can help you bring your dream to life.