Custom fence fabricators such as Cedar Coast Fence will construct each fence panel to the designer’s specifications. Details such as the fence height, post dimensions and even stain are predetermined.

There is a vast array of materials that can be used for a custom fence, including cedar, bamboo, acrylic and glass. Below are just a few examples to spark your imagination for your own custom fence.  I love fences covered with vines such as grapevines or evergreen clematis, and this is a way to make it your own.

The first step is to identify the intended purpose of the fence.  Then draw on materials and colours that inspire you and fit into the existing environment, keeping in-mind the scale of the surrounding architecture.  Large, historical homes lend themselves to a solid fence, such as this one, where I used 6″x6″s for the posts.  Even the panels, lattice and gate are chunky, stained to complement the home’s wood trim features.

Links:
Cedar Coast Fence (http://www.cedarcoastfence.ca)
Coolite Bamboo (http://www.coolitebamboo.com)

The UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden is situated in the Bel-Air community of Los Angeles.  Inspired by the gardens of Kyoto, it was originally designed in 1959 by Landscape Architect Nagao Sakurai and Garden Designer Kazuo Nakamura.  A reconstruction was required after the garden suffered damages from heavy rains in 1969; UCLA Professor of Art and Campus Architect Koichi Kawana led the re-design.

This spectacular garden is a must-see if you are in the Los Angeles area.

According to the Garden Guide:
“The complex aesthetic values of traditional Japanese gardens stem mainly from Zen Buddhism.  Among Zen concepts expressed in garden design are asymmetry and a preference for the imperfect and for odd numbers;  naturalness and an avoidance of the forced and artificial; hiding part of the whole to achieve profundity with mystery; a quality of maturity and mellowness that comes with age and time; tranquility, simplicity, and austerity.”

One of the most amazing artifacts in the garden is a stone carved more than 1,000 years ago.  It features Buddha seated in 16 different positions of worship!

For more information and to book a reservation (which is required) go to http://www.japanesegarden.ucla.edu/

Imagine sitting quietly outdoors…  in a outdoor meditation room where you can escape and empty your mind… a breathing space from the chaos of the day. Increasingly, many of my clients want their outdoor space to be a place where they can decompress.

As you begin to envision your meditation room, take some time to consider both the function and how each element will create harmony with your environment.

In my experience, here are the top 5 considerations in the design:

• Noise – What can you hear as you sit quietly?  If you hear the overwhelming noise of traffic,  consider adding additional plants  to buffer noise or include outdoor speakers for you iPod.
• Decor – How can you bring soothing elements into the space?  Water fountain, natural wood and cushions create calm in any space .
• Colour – What colour(s) would you like to be in you space?  Color as a psychological tool is very powerful. Consider the effects of your favorite colours on your mood.  Build a palette of calming and soothing foliage and textiles.
• Location – How does the sun and wind impact your space?  Would you like to meditate in or out of the sun? What is the best layout for the space?
• Privacy – How private is your space?  Enclose your outdoor meditation room and use sheer curtains to create privacy.

In terms of functionality, plan for storage of cushions and blankets to ensure they stay dry in inclement weather.

Regardless of the size of your outdoor meditation room, your design should be as unique as you – unlike any place else.

The opening roof allows you to adjust the amount of sun that is filtered to your deck or you can close it completely to protect the space from rain or snow.

There are many design options and material choices available when considering the Opening Roof Structural Frame. Often an existing pergola structure can be easily modified to receive an Opening Roof.

For further information, visit the Louvretec site: http://www.louvretecusa.com/

An outdoor kitchen is an outdoor cooking space with a built-in grill, refrigerator, sink, prep area and storage.

Homeowners who have completed an outdoor kitchen installation consider the ideal skill set to be a combination landscape design and kitchen designer.

So exactly why are outdoor kitchens so popular?  My clients tell me that it adds enjoyment, luxury and relaxation.  It’s a lifestyle thing!  Cooking in an outdoor kitchen creates a sense of occassion for each meal, and the outdoor kitchen area becomes a gathering point (just as all great parties end-up in the kitchen!).

Creating an outdoor kitchen requires an assessment of your individual needs as well as a site assessment to evaluate all your property’s options.

The way you cook will vary from that of your friends and neighbours. Today’s outdoor kitchens make it easy to grill, make pizzas, boil lobsters and incorporate a bar!  A designer will help you incorporate your preferred use of the space.

We will also evaluate the scale of outdoor living you anticipate:  some of my clients need to accommodate a large gathering of family each summer while others have maximum dinner parties of 4-6.  We’re all different!

There are two types of outdoor kitchens:

• Satellite kitchens – the bulk of the food preparation is done inside
• Fully-independent kitchens – the bulk of the food preparation is done outside, increasing the need for refrigeration and food storage, counter space and work surfaces, storage of dishes and linens, and a larger sink.

Obviously the proximity of the outdoor dining area to the outdoor kitchen is very important!  As part of the site assessment, we will explore all of these options and look at outdoor dining furniture.

The trend in outdoor dining is moving away from dining around a formal dining table (although many of my clients still prefer this). I'm seeing more and more options for cocktail table height firepits which provide a heat source in the center, and room for a dinner setting or glass on the perimeter of the fire pit! I recommend a fire pit that is a minimum 42" square; this will accommodate two people on each side (or eight people total).

Click here for my post on outdoor dining furniture options!

This new fence installation was built by Cedar Bay Fence Company.  I call it a fence, but it’s really a privacy panel which screens the neighbour’s view of my clients’ garden.

The classic trellis panels are supported between 6″x6″ posts, and a top arbour will support Akebia quinata, which will soon green up these handsome panels.

When I was asked to be involved with the project, my client had already commissioned a very talented faux stone artist to design an outdoor entertainment area featuring a patio, hot tub, wading pool and outdoor kitchen. Splashes of colour and texture were created by scattering planters extensively throughout the area and planting small mini-gardens into the crevices of a man-made stone structure.

A tapestry of groundcovers filled in the ground beneath fruit trees in an orchard where shade had prevented grass from growing.  A full outdoor kitchen and shower are perched on top of the new installation.