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November 1, 2009
Excellent Landscape Designer!
I would like to recommend Ann Brooke (see:http://www.annbrookedesign.com), the Landscape Designer who redesigned my back-yard garden. The hardscaping part of the project is installed, with planting and additional work to recommence in the spring, including installation of a watering system, tree pruning to let in more light, and installation of additional brick in a herringbone pattern for the area under a hammock with stand (for back left of yard).
Ann had to deal with many design problems and certain limitations in creating the garden plan. I requested that an existing small back patio directly outside the door to the garden be kept, as well as the raised flower beds on each side of the yard. An additional problem was how to deal with the multitude of shallow tree roots running throughout the yard. Ann's solution was to extend the brick a bit, using an antique brick that complemented the existing brick, and that angled out to begin the movement and flow of the rest of the design. Creating three separate garden rooms by installing two sets of stairs, no higher than 6", helped avoid the problem of digging down and destroying tree roots. The stone selected for the stairs is phenomenal, and I'm told that each piece weighs about 400 pounds. Needless to add, the men who installed the stone, by first carrying each piece through the narrow hallway of my garden floor are heroes.
Another request I made was for a circular area to accommodate a set of table and chairs. I thought the off-set of the slate circular area was a wonderful design solution, with the brick path hugging round the circle to appear again on the other side of the steps and lead you into the rest of the garden. You may envision the three types of ground cover that you will find growing around the circular stones in the back, when you arrive to that space.
Ann works with closely with a hardscaping contractor, and has had a long relationship with him and his crew. As a result, they know her design style and under Ann's guidance, are able to implement the work without error. Ann is always present during the installation.
Ms. Brooke has been a pleasure to work with during the entire process. We set a limit to the budget at the outset and she kept to that limit. I highly recommend her. I think the photos allow the garden design to speak for itself.
Comments
Thanks for the reference.
I'm wondering, since it looks like you have a cedar fence around the perimeter, how did you avoid the code requirement for non-combustable materials within three feet of a property line?
Ed Kopel Architects, PC
Posted by: edkopel at November 2, 2009 6:24 AM
Ed...most of the gardens I've seen posted on the main page (we need more folks!!!!) have wood fences, including mine. My landscapers never said anything about fences & code. My deck builders said that nothing combustible can be used within the structure of the deck 3' from the line but decorative wood can be added to it. I assume a fence is a decorative addition and not a structural one. Nor is it attached to the house.
Can you clarify on this code issue.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 2, 2009 7:30 AM
Also, I don't see an area for vegetables and tomatoes. :) Maybe you don't subscribe to the view by some that the world was supposed to end in October (and didn't) and we'd all have to fend for ourselves to survive.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 2, 2009 7:37 AM
Ms. Brooke was not responsible for the installation of the fence. It was already there and remained as it was.
Posted by: BB at November 2, 2009 7:47 AM
Imagine that - a wood fence in Brooklyn! Next you will be telling me you plan to barbeque as well. Seriously looks great...
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at November 2, 2009 10:34 AM
Wood is fine on a property line it just needs to be a non-combustible species such as ipe. In my experience filing projects as such with the buildnig department, there is no differentiation for structural or non-structural wood within the three feet. Ed Kopel ARchitects
Posted by: edkopel at November 2, 2009 12:27 PM
Never heard this about wood fences before. That would make about half of brownstone Brooklyn out of code -- including my own back yard!
Posted by: grand army at November 2, 2009 5:58 PM
And btw, the garden looks great. The brick is beautifully laid. Post again next year, BB, once you've done your planting!
Posted by: grand army at November 2, 2009 5:59 PM
Thank you Grand Army! I will post again in the Spring when the planting is done.
Posted by: BB at November 2, 2009 6:28 PM
Um. There are no plants or flowers? Am I missing something?
Posted by: grilledsardine at November 3, 2009 11:19 AM
Grilledsardine-Planting will be done in the Spring.
Posted by: BB at November 3, 2009 2:27 PM
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