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Sizing Transitions Between Outdoor Living Spaces

5/30/2015

Different types of transitions demand different widths. As with all other aspects of landscape design, this part of the planning process drills down to a question of function. What is the purpose of the transition? Does it lead to the front entrance of the house, through a backyard wooded area or to a crawlspace used as storage?

Unfortunately, most front entrance walks are standard builder-grade and too narrow. They should be wide enough for you and your guest to walk comfortably side by side, not single file. Shoulder width is about 24-inches, so the front walk should be at least 4' wide. To widen an existing walk, consider adding flush pavers or brick on both sides. This not only improves function, but can add a beautiful detail to an otherwise plain landscape element.

Fence gates and deck steps are usually 4-feet wide. If the budget allows, consider increasing these entrances to 5-feet or greater to provide a grand welcoming appearance.

A path through a garden or wooded area should be no less than 2.5' to 3' wide. This enables one person to stroll comfortably without feeling as if they might stumble off the path.

I frequently draw sweeping lawn lines without breaking for a gate, door, or steps. This provides the opportunity for large stepping stones and passage through the garden.

Along with the sizing of patios and decks, bigger is almost always better. So err on the side of wider when planning for transitions between outdoor spaces.

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Still More on Landscape Structure

5/7/2015

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The landscape design and installation process can be overwhelming. I encourage you to take plenty of time to plan the structure of the landscape and not rush this part of the process. The hardscapes, lawn lines, bed prep, and trees are expensive, time-consuming to implement, and permanent elements of the project. We want to get it right the first time. Today, I'm providing a few tips on the sizing of outdoor living spaces, specifically, patios and decks.

The sizing of a deck or patio starts with function, in other words, how will the space be used. Let's ask a few questions: will we have an eating and grilling area, a conversation area with loveseat and chairs, a standing area for entertaining large groups or a napping area with 7-foot long lounge chairs? Keep in mind, furniture chews up lots of space quickly and there must be enough room between certain pieces and edges to move comfortably.

Patterned Bluestone

Sometimes choosing a cool design with multi-levels or curves can be problematic. Steps between levels will consume lots of space, and the area along the top of the steps is known as a dead space for obvious safety reasons. A curved outer edge can render an area useless given the angular shape of furniture. Multi-levels and curves can be difficult to accommodate unless the space is exceptionally large. Function should be the priority.

The process of correctly sizing a patio or deck continues with using the house as a guide. Use your mind's eye to extend lines from the lower corners of doors and windows to the foundation or ground level and then perpendicular out into the yard. The placement of the patio or deck along the back of the house should end up between any of these lines. This process of aligning the patio or deck with corners, windows and doors visually connects the new outdoor space to the house.

I prefer to keep the overall shape of hardscape surfaces simple, which means I tend to work with rectangles and squares. Since most houses are made up of recs and squares, working with these shapes helps to visually tie the space to the house. I then suggest dressing up the new patio or deck with more expensive building materials, furniture, and large containers. This process is similar to that of developing lawn lines, which ultimately function as bed lines. The lines are simple and the beauty comes from within (i.e. plant combinations).

Next, we will continue with the sizing of transitions between spaces. Until then, enjoy your time outside.

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Sizing Transitions Between Outdoor Living Spaces

Still More on Landscape Structure

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