Your Calgary yard is your personal sanctuary, but how do you even begin to think of backyard landscaping ideas that will optimize your space?

Here’s a quote you have probably already seen elsewhere on our website, but I’ll write it again:

“What is it about the landscape that awakens the deepest response in us?

Surely it is the very unity of existence.

The sense of the sublime of something far more deeply infused, whose dwelling is the light of the setting suns, and the round ocean, and the living air, and the blue sky, and the mind of man;

a motion and a spirit that impels all thinking things, and objects, and all thoughts, and rolls through all things.

We cannot be anything other than related, for every atom that makes up our constantly changing bodily form comes from the same source as the mountain, lake, bird, and fish.”

– LEATHERS, 1980

One of the things I learned during my landscape design training was the importance of connecting our senses to our natural surroundings.

Designing for residential home-owners is always a challenge. Seeking to evoke primary human senses such as sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste in someone’s Calgary yard isn’t an easy task.

In years of doing this, I’ve come to realize that by letting budgets hold me back, I tend to lack creativity. I become yet another landscaper who installs a 12’ circle patio and fire pit and hopes clients will bite.

How ridiculously boring.

In successfully running my own Calgary landscaping company, I’ve learned that I have to let my creativity run. Instead, I focus on presenting what I call the “Maserati” of designs to the client and let them tell me they’d rather have a Toyota.

Don’t get me wrong; I understand that no one would say no to a Maserati if they could afford it. But at the same time, ask yourself how many times you bought something you really couldn’t afford but just had to have it.

Exactly. Striking a primordial cord into my client’s emotions is critical. I hope to show them what they can have in their own Calgary yard every single day and, why they don’t need to travel miles and miles away on vacation every year.

Instead, they can invest that money into their own personal sanctuary.

I initially got this concept stuck in my psyche when I first moved to Calgary about five years ago. A high-end client told me that she and her husband sold their multi-million dollar business and retired.

Her husband told her she had two choices:

He can buy her a house in Palm Springs, and they can go there for six months out of the year to avoid the cold Calgary winters.
They can develop their 5 acres or 2-acre backyard.

Her response to him was: “I don’t like to travel.”

Here are a few examples of creative, “Maserati” landscape designs we at Tazscapes have proposed to our clients. We wanted to show them that the possibilities are endless if they genuinely wish to make their Calgary yard their own personal island:

Project #1: Decked Out Calgary Yard

Located in Aspen Woods, Calgary, our clients had an existing pressure-treated deck that they used quite often. It was a 12’ x 24’ deck, but it wasn’t big enough to entertain some of their high-end business associates.

They also didn’t have any room for a hot-tub they were hoping to install. So, they contacted us to propose backyard landscaping ideas that would accomplish all of their needs.

I followed my foundational design concept of ideal destination points: cooking, dining and lounging. Having these focal points at different levels, I suspended the beam structure overhead and connected each element. This was the most efficient way to bring coziness to the space.

I also made sure that they would have all their requirements fulfilled. There was an area for an outdoor kitchen, a central space for dining and a grand area for lounging and entertaining.

By bringing in the overhead pergola structure, I not only connected each area but allowed for an experiential transition between each space. I accentuated it by adding a plexiglass bridge that would let visitors walk over a dry creek bed to get to the grand lounging deck.

Project #2: The Garden Bar

Located in Bearspaw, Calgary, the clients of this residence had an existing gazeebo they wanted to be refurbished. During a consultation, I learned that they wanted more than a gazeebo – they hoped to create an outdoor retreat. At the end of our conversation, I suggested that they essentially want a living room outside, and they agreed.

As a Calgary landscaping expert, I always ensure that my game is in tip-top shape so I can impress my clients with a unique and custom landscape design.

I designed a gazebo structure that had everything they would ever need right inside. A central fire pit featuring a built-in chimney to release smoke would give the space a hint of primal nature that would evoke their senses.

We also installed a bar/kitchen top that surrounded them, along with two TVs so they could sit back and enjoy an evening around the fire.

And yes, the client used to work as an executive at Shaw Cable – the salesman in me had to throw that in there!

Project #3: The Subtle Picturesque Garden

This one was one of Tazscapes’ more lucrative projects.

When I met the client, she was extremely frustrated with the space she originally had. It was small and – sorry to say – it was ugly.

She mentioned her inability to come up with decent patio and landscaping ideas for such a small space.

In the past, she had a couple of landscape contractors and “trained” landscape designers in Calgary come into her Calgary yard to give her some ideas. She even paid a landscape designer to draft a detailed drawing for her.

When she showed me the design, I shook my head in disbelief. It just didn’t make any sense.

It consisted of a lot of decking for such a small space, especially since the clients were a young couple looking for a low-maintenance, classic garden feel.

The client wanted a Calgary yard in which she could spend hours enjoying the sun. She also hoped to gain something aesthetically pleasing that she could see from her existing concrete patio, and from her kitchen inside. As a landscape design expert, I heard this as, “I want to be able to simulate my senses after a long day at work.”

I knew there was little to no space for grass. With the square footage being so small, I suggested artificial turf (fake grass landscaping). I also knew we needed a feature piece. She already had a concrete patio, and judging from my consultation, she didn’t need anything elaborate to entertain lots of guests.

Clearly, she wanted a personal oasis. I proposed a water feature bubbler so that the calming sounds can give her the tranquillity she was looking for. With vivid green grass (albeit, synthetic) in conjunction with the surrounding plant material, we were able to fill her small space with life and serenity. It couldn’t have been more of a personal sanctuary.

Project #4: Backyard Beach Resort

Clients in Priddis, Calgary came to me when they acquired this new home. With a lake backing their yard, they asked how they can create a personal retreat. They mentioned that they wanted to take advantage of the water by incorporating a beach for their kids. The clients also said that they had many people push acreage landscaping ideas that they weren’t particularly happy about.

As a reputable company, we take pride in ensuring that each client gets the most thought-out landscape design proposal possible. We went right to work on this project to come up with truly custom and unique landscaping ideas.

I proposed to create a beach resort in their backyard that was so serene; it would lead them to believe that they could enjoy an all-inclusive vacation anytime they wanted. I also strived to make sure they had everything they would need – from dining with the family to entertaining a large group of friends – all while taking advantage of the lakeside view.

Since the family had a passion for fishing, I designed a custom dock that gave them ample space for various activities. The final result imitated the amenities of an all-inclusive resort.

Having a vision for spaces is critical when designing. It doesn’t need to be highly complex or extravagantly expensive. Rather, it needs to serve a function for your everyday life.

Landscaping companies in Calgary often conform to the same things over and over again. Thus, it’s critical for anyone willing to invest their hard-earned dollars to demand a detailed and creative landscape design proposal from their landscaping contractor.

Contact Tazscapes Inc today and find out how we can make your Calgary yard your own personal island!

Water is as natural as it gets. There is something about the sound and look of a beautiful water feature that captivates many Calgary home-owners.

Installing an outdoor water feature for your Calgary residential landscaping can be as simple as a ‘rock bubbling water fountain,’ or as intricate as a grand waterfall spilling into a rushing stream. Don’t forget the live fish!

Yep, it’s all possible in a backyard water feature.

There are many options to choose from, and each has their weight in gold.

Maintenance and budget are usually the top concerns when it comes to considering an outdoor water feature.

These may be mitigated depending on what kind of outdoor water feature ideas your landscape designer proposes. Nonetheless, it’s imperative that your detailed landscape design can implement it well with the overall concept of your backyard.

I encourage outdoor water feature ideas, especially in bigger backyards. However, I always make sure that the type and style of ideas I propose make sense. This is not only so I can comply with what client desires, but also so it fits in with the overall scale and elements of the property.

Outdoor Waterfalls

A waterfall is a fantastic focal point that can bring a sense of tranquillity to your yard. The sound enhances the yard’s overall serenity and can add value to the backyard escape.

By altering the layout of the stones, you can set up multiple levels of falls giving it a cascading effect. Thus, you enhance the visual aspect of the feature in your landscape.

Ponds

Ponds add value to your property and tend to give you an escape from the everyday rat-race. They do require regular maintenance to thrive, but don’t worry! The service is often be provided by the Calgary landscaping company for a recurring fee.

They can be a real undertaking, but when done correctly, ponds can create a great visual masterpiece in your backyard.

Pondless

There’s an option for those still aiming for a waterfall but not interested in having to deal with regular maintenance of a full-sized pond. Many of our Calgary residents tend to choose a pondless water feature.

Essentially, in a pondless outdoor water feature, you have a reservoir in which the water spills. It’s then redirected (or pumped) to cycle back up to the top so it can fall again and recycle water.

Rock Bubblers or Fountains

A rock bubbling fountain is something I often recommend to clients who aren’t big on water features because I know it would enhance the look and feel of their yard. These are also great for small backyards or small gardens.

Sometimes, during the landscape design process, I like to put statement features in certain areas. One great feature is water – but when I get pushback from my clients, it’s mainly because of maintenance and budget. Then, I lean towards the rock bubbling water fountain.

It’s a simple concept. I am taking a natural rock, drilling a hole, feeding a pump through it and having a small catch basin underneath (similar to a pondless reservoir).

With a push of a button, my clients can increase/decrease the flow, or turn it on and off as they please.

Rock bubblers or natural water fountains are cost-effective, require almost no maintenance and enhance small backyards and gardens immensely.

Outdoor water feature installation

Outdoor water features can be labour-intensive and require precise landscape planning and detailed execution by your Calgary landscaping company. You must ensure you have installed something that will work for years to come – especially given the Calgary weather.

Excavation needs to happen accurately to make sure that a reputable pond builder in Calgary correctly installs the pond liner and pump.

At Tazscapes, we design and install outdoor water features of all sizes and make sure our clients’ needs are fulfilled. Our detailed landscape design proposal and excellent-quality construction are unparalleled in Calgary.

Give us a call today if you are thinking about bringing some sights and sounds of tranquillity to your Calgary backyard!

When proposing backyard landscaping ideas for your Calgary landscape design, you have to first establish what your ideal destination point is.

What will that perfect space help you accomplish? Will you be cooking there, lounging, or using it as a dining area? What about all three?

I spoke about the importance of establishing your destination points in earlier blogs, but it needs to be known from the onset otherwise everything else won’t make sense!

Patio spaces are often built out of manufactured stones and recommended for outdoor residential landscaping. This is because of its multi-use functionality and aesthetic quality that most home-owners appreciate.

We compiled 6 tips to achieve picture-perfect patio and landscaping ideas that you can use to amp up your Calgary yard today!

Tip #1: Location

Think about where you want your new patio space. More often than not, you should keep it close to the house. This makes for easy access in case you’re going to be using it for barbequing or outdoor dining.

After all, there’s no need to force yourself to walk long distances to bring dishes or drinks out– especially if you barbeque during the winter.

If your patio will be a lounging area or, for example, you want to build a small fire-pit for parties with friends; it should be further away from the house. Design an exciting transition space for the way there, i.e. create an experiential journey to your destination.

Pay attention to where you are placing this patio because it will speak profoundly to the functionality of your overall backyard landscaping design.

Tip #2: Scale

Think about the size of the patio in conjunction with the scale of your house and property. Then answer the vital question: How many people are going to be using the space at any given time?

Pace it out, stake it out or paint it out. Do what you have to so you can visualize the space and understand the scale of the proposed patio.

The last thing you want is to have the patio constructed and realize it’s too small. This includes considering both its functionality and aesthetic, (i.e. a 10’ diameter patio on a 4-acre lot – don’t laugh, I’ve seen it before).

This is where experienced deck builders in Calgary can help you visualize the patio you don’t just want, but the one your lot needs.

Tip #3: Form

There are mainly two foundational forms (or shapes) you can tailor your backyard patio ideas to: rectilinear or curvilinear.

I always recommend the clients to assess what look they are going for. Take a glance at your house- is it a contemporary or modern home? If so, you should probably stay rectilinear – it’ll match the style a lot better. If it’s traditional, then a curvilinear form would look a lot nicer.

You can also combine the two, though that requires some careful design lines for the blend to look flawless. Yes, lines matter: there is a whole book dedicated to it called, you guessed it, Lines by Tim Ingold.

Tip #4: Transition

How do you establish these destination points (assuming your patio has multiple facets)? Your patio can have levels or elevation changes.

You can surround your patio with softscaping, so it doesn’t feature an abrupt start or end. Adding retaining walls to separate different destination points also works well.

A transition between different focal points will make a big difference in the overall perspective of the space.

Tip #5: Material

Choose your stone, including the colour and the pattern of the stone, with immense thought behind it. Don’t just choose the stone your landscaper tells you to. Chances are they’re thinking about keeping their costs low and time fast, so trust your preferences.

Explore your options and select wisely because attention to detail will set your backyard landscaping apart from others. Go through stone manufacturer websites and catalogues to see ones that stand out at you. Then, visit a landscape supply store near you and look at samples.

Choosing the right stone for your patio will ensure that you paid attention to detail when coming up with your backyard patio idea.

Tip #6: Backyard Landscaping Features

In Calgary, when you select the location of your patio, you have to see how the sun will move around that space. For example, if your backyard landscaping is south facing, you will have the sun most of the day. On some days, however, it may get unbearable to sit in the heat.

Consider feature structures, like a privacy screen or a pergola, when coming up with a backyard patio design. They can give you some shade and add character to the patio. By doing this, you are also enhancing the experience of that space during use as the eye will immediately be drawn to it.

It’s always good to have a professional landscape designer ensure all these points are met when proposing patio design ideas for your Calgary backyard. By integrating these principals, you can rest assured your patio is one that will be not only aesthetically pleasing but functionally enjoyable to use, too.

Tag: landscaping design ideas