Estate Landscape Design - Elegant Outdoor Living
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by: Allen Quay
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Word Count: 548
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 Time: 10:02 AM
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Elegant Hardscapes
Walkways, drives, and outdoor terraces accommodate guests while enhancing your property. Hardscape designs are also an excellent opportunity to blend your landscaping with the overall appearance of your home. Flowing drives and curving walkways are ideal for Old World styles, while straight lines enhance formal homes and gardens. The materials you choose should also complement your overall theme. Consider bluestone, flagstone, or brick to add elegance. Slate, limestone, and concrete are popular paving materials as well.
A few common estate hardscape features include:
Terraces and patios for entertaining.
Circular driveways to allow easy access.
Motor courts that provide ample parking space.
Drive corridors to direct guests to your home.
Estate Garden Plants
Year-round color is an important part of any landscape design. Besides typical perennial plantings and evergreen hedges, estate landscape designs often feature intriguing planting techniques that use a combination of evergreens and flowers to create patterns. Classic knot gardens and parterres add symmetry and uniqueness to your estate garden, while labyrinths contribute mystery and depth to your design. Topiary can feature fascinating shapes and bring personality to your outdoor space. Several different types of gardens can be integrated into your estate landscape design for variety, fragrance, color, and texture.
Outdoor Accessories and Garden Accents for Estates
From lavish furnishings and picturesque sculptures to tranquil water features and elaborate structures, there are an assortment of additions that can make your estate garden complete. Consider teakwood or wrought iron outdoor furniture for sitting areas, sunken fences, lush lawns, and reflecting ponds, along with statuettes, fountains, and other elegant garden features. Popular structures include:
Open-air patio rooms, or loggias.
Pergolas, or breezeways.
Pavilions, gazebos, or pool houses.
Arbors adorned with fragrant, colorful vines.
An orangery or exotic greenhouse filled with lush blooms and citrus trees.
Creating a Personal Retreat
The primary function of your estate landscape design may be entertaining family and friends, but a private area designed for your personal enjoyment is equally important. Secret gardens, private orchards, and personal vineyards make enchanting hideaways for relaxation. Secluded terraces and hidden patios can be tucked away within your landscape design as well. Tailor your private retreat to your own tastes and interests, including plant life, water features, and seating for complete relaxation.
Planning an estate landscape design requires extreme attention to detail and careful consideration to placement. Installing and constructing your estate garden demands just as much skill. Take the time to consult a professional with expertise in estate landscaping. The Landscape Design Advisor has a network of designers and installers to create luxurious estate landscape designs worldwide.
About the Author
Allen Quay is the author of this article on Tuscan Landscape Design. You can find more valuable landscape design tips and information on Allen's website, the Landscape Design Advisor.
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