Comentarios
|
Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors
|
Contenido patrocinado
Pro Spotlight: 3 Tips for Outdoor Spaces That Grow With You
A Chicago-area landscape architect shares how to get a landscape that continues to meet your needs
Contenido patrocinado
Who: Bob Hursthouse of Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors
Where: Bolingbrook, Illinois
In his own words: “Landscaping is the one thing in home improvement that gets better over time.”
A great outdoor space should reflect how you want to live, both now and in the future. It should fit your family and pastimes, whether you want to relax around a fire pit, build tree forts with the kids or have a movie night under the stars. “The exciting thing about what I do is creating spaces where memories are made over a lifetime,” says landscape architect Bob Hursthouse. He owns Hursthouse Landscape and Contractors in Bolingbrook, helping homeowners cultivate long-lasting outdoor spaces.
Where: Bolingbrook, Illinois
In his own words: “Landscaping is the one thing in home improvement that gets better over time.”
A great outdoor space should reflect how you want to live, both now and in the future. It should fit your family and pastimes, whether you want to relax around a fire pit, build tree forts with the kids or have a movie night under the stars. “The exciting thing about what I do is creating spaces where memories are made over a lifetime,” says landscape architect Bob Hursthouse. He owns Hursthouse Landscape and Contractors in Bolingbrook, helping homeowners cultivate long-lasting outdoor spaces.
A passion taking root. A horticulture class in high school jump-started Hursthouse’s interest in plants. A landscape design course in college spurred him to become a landscape architect. “I always was an outdoors guy,” he says. “It was the perfect fit.” After working for others, Hursthouse started his own business in 1990.
Thinking of the future. Hursthouse encourages you to look ahead when planning your landscape design. In a few years, you might want an empty-nester retreat or a family compound for children or grandchildren. “Think about what’s important now and what will be important in the next five years,” he says.
Want a landscape you can enjoy for years to come? Hursthouse offers three tips to get you started.
Want a landscape you can enjoy for years to come? Hursthouse offers three tips to get you started.
1. Make It Personal
Tailor your landscape to fit your wish list. Base it on what inspires you and how you want to live, Hursthouse says. An active Elmhurst family, for instance, wanted a comprehensive outdoor living space they could use for most of the year.
The team expanded the original undersize patio to make room for seating around a fire pit, a dining area and a full outdoor kitchen along the back of the house. There is also a cozy spot for watching TV, complete with cushy furniture, infrared lamps and a privacy wall. “They wanted to be able to host a Super Bowl party in their backyard, even in February in Illinois,” Hursthouse says.
See more of this project
Tailor your landscape to fit your wish list. Base it on what inspires you and how you want to live, Hursthouse says. An active Elmhurst family, for instance, wanted a comprehensive outdoor living space they could use for most of the year.
The team expanded the original undersize patio to make room for seating around a fire pit, a dining area and a full outdoor kitchen along the back of the house. There is also a cozy spot for watching TV, complete with cushy furniture, infrared lamps and a privacy wall. “They wanted to be able to host a Super Bowl party in their backyard, even in February in Illinois,” Hursthouse says.
See more of this project
2. Go With the Flow
Work with, not against, your site conditions. “Don’t try to force a solution,” Hursthouse says. Instead, he recommends a design that takes advantage of the existing terrain and plants that suit the soil and available light.
Homeowners in Millbrook asked Hursthouse for an organic look for the steep, dry, south-facing slope that dropped to a drainage swale near their street. “They wanted to provide a foreground for their home and a habitat for nature and wildlife,” Hursthouse says. He installed tough native plants to return the site to its original tall-grass prairie roots. “Bluebirds are nesting and wintering on the property and it received the designation as a monarch butterfly waystation,” Hursthouse says.
Work with, not against, your site conditions. “Don’t try to force a solution,” Hursthouse says. Instead, he recommends a design that takes advantage of the existing terrain and plants that suit the soil and available light.
Homeowners in Millbrook asked Hursthouse for an organic look for the steep, dry, south-facing slope that dropped to a drainage swale near their street. “They wanted to provide a foreground for their home and a habitat for nature and wildlife,” Hursthouse says. He installed tough native plants to return the site to its original tall-grass prairie roots. “Bluebirds are nesting and wintering on the property and it received the designation as a monarch butterfly waystation,” Hursthouse says.
3. Play Up Your Home’s Style
Match your landscape to your home’s architecture. “Choosing elements and building materials that go with that style will fit in better and feel more cohesive,” Hursthouse says. He used this strategy when landscaping for a couple in Glen Ellyn. The clients wanted a welcoming front entry to their 1928 cottage-style home for their three school-age children.
Hursthouse expanded the bluestone walkway, and then added rock-faced bluestone steps and a generously sized terrace. Its walls match the stonework on the chimney and around the front door, providing a nice contrast to the home’s stucco walls. Ipe wood shutters and a window box were oiled to match the front door, and hammered rustic metal hinges and shutter dogs match the home’s original hardware. The soft natural planting is in keeping with the home’s casual vibe.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Bob Hursthouse and examples of his work, visit Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors’ Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Match your landscape to your home’s architecture. “Choosing elements and building materials that go with that style will fit in better and feel more cohesive,” Hursthouse says. He used this strategy when landscaping for a couple in Glen Ellyn. The clients wanted a welcoming front entry to their 1928 cottage-style home for their three school-age children.
Hursthouse expanded the bluestone walkway, and then added rock-faced bluestone steps and a generously sized terrace. Its walls match the stonework on the chimney and around the front door, providing a nice contrast to the home’s stucco walls. Ipe wood shutters and a window box were oiled to match the front door, and hammered rustic metal hinges and shutter dogs match the home’s original hardware. The soft natural planting is in keeping with the home’s casual vibe.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Bob Hursthouse and examples of his work, visit Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors’ Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Since 1990, Hursthouse has created enduring outdoor spaces all over Chicago. We’ve built for more than 2600... Leer más
Tu vídeo de perfil
Valoración de Marianne Torres:
We have done several landscaping projects with Hursthouse and have nothing but glowing reviews for both the team and the workmanship. We have had hardscaping (installation of stone patio, fire pit, a...Más
Valoración de Kipnis Architecture + Planning:
We have used Hursthouse for several projects now. As an architect I am always impressed how they integrate their landscape design into the architectural aspects of the project. They do an excellent j...Más
Valoración de Usuario de Houzz-783141633:
Not your cheapest option - but you get what you pay for and the quality is undeniable. Super happy with the final product!!!