In the world of high-end properties, what surrounds the house should be an extension of the richness inside the home. That luxury is defined by the amenities brought into the landscape, the scale and scope of those elements, and the minute details that make it all special.
“In today’s luxury landscapes, homeowners are looking to take the features they have seen while on vacation at resorts and bring them into their own backyard,” said Ken Muellers, Senior Landscape Designer for Hicks Landscapes in Westbury, New York. “Not only are homeowners looking for a swimming pool, they want an in-pool sundeck, an infinity edge and a built-in spa. Instead of a wide-open lawn they want sport specific play areas with game courts and putting greens.”
Many of the luxuries Hicks Landscapes incorporates into their designs are created to provide the homeowner with convenience. Radiant heated pavements provide snow-free driveways and walks in the winter months. Refrigerators and icemakers in the outdoor kitchen mean not having to go inside to freshen a drink on a hot summer day. Outdoor lighting throughout the landscape allows festivities to continue into the night unimpeded.
And of course, as with any extravagance, the devil is in the detail. Selections of rich materials such as natural stone and exotic hardwoods not only provide attractive solutions, they are also durable and offer a timeless look. Paving patterns, material combinations, border treatments, and other details can be the difference between an ordinary patio and an elegant entertaining space.
The scale of these landscape features needs to be spacious enough to accommodate large gatherings without seeming overcrowded, while still feeling cozy. This can be achieved by separating large spaces into individual ‘garden rooms’ that make the space more intimate.
When it comes to gardens, luxury can mean installing larger plant material for instant gratification. Although mature plant material costs more to grow and install, a fully-grown, finished landscape is the ultimate extravagance.
Bringing all these elements together in a cohesive manner is the difference between a well-designed landscape and a disjointed batch of stuff in the yard. This is where the skills of a professional landscape design firm like Hicks Landscapes comes into play. Not only does a designer have to fit all these amenities, they need to make sure they function well and look great together. Design professionals also need to be well versed in the local codes and know what is allowable in a particular village or town, as many municipalities have restrictions on setbacks from property lines and limits on percentage of lot occupied by development. So be sure to do your homework before starting your project.
Hicks Nurseries is Long Island’s largest and premier garden center, family owned and operated since 1853. Dedicated to helping its customers achieve their goals, Hicks Nurseries provides an exceptional selection of quality products including indoor and outdoor plants, patio furniture, garden accents and planters, bird supplies and more. They also offer complete landscape design/build services and expert advice to make gardening success easy and enjoyable for everyone. Hicks Nurseries is located at 100 Jericho Turnpike in Westbury, NY.