design ideas
'With a busy schedule,' wrote Stephanie Rose to open her March 2005 Natural Companions column, 'it's too easy to use the same tools repeatedly in project designs. 'Yes, you can mitigate the repetition to a certain extent by using those tools differently each time, but the fact remains that many of us tend to design over and over again with the same plants, hardscape materials and structural approaches because it's
I can't begin to count the number of times our watershaping writers have explored the topic of travel, either as the source of clearer thinking or for the inspirational value of seeing how others have addressed specific design, engineering or construction challenges - or how Mother Nature
10 Amazing Swimming Pools In July of last year, Zillow published “10 Amazing Swimming Pools” on www.zillow.com, spotlighting the outdoor pools that came with 10 sumptuous homes. All the properties were
This past April, my wife Gina and I spent two wonderful weeks in Hawaii. As is true of most of those who visit our 50th state, we were mainly there to relax and enjoy warm weather, tropical Pacific waters, breathtaking scenery, fine cuisine and laid-back Hawaiian culture. As has been the case for countless others who’ve been there, we were not disappointed: Hawaii is everything people have said it is and much, much more. As a watershape designer, I had the added pleasure of being able to study a huge number of waterfalls and streams that mark many of the islands’ most appealing landscapes, particularly on Maui and Kauai. It was one of those happy situations where
You don’t have to be a physician to know that watershapes offer profound benefits when it comes to health, fitness and wellness. Indeed, most people know that swimming and other forms of activity in water are, along with hydrotherapy, among the healthiest of all activities known to us mere mortals. Unfortunately, and for reasons that escape me, promoting the value of that connection has never spent much time on our industry’s front burner. My own curiosity about the topic recently led me to seek published resources, and I’m sad to say that my search hasn’t yielded much. It reminds me of my early days in this industry and a time long ago when I craved books that would inspire my design work: For a long time, there wasn’t much to find – but that’s all changed now. My hope is that the case with water-related health and wellness is the same and that it will soon become a
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with hot rods. I suspect this resulted from my dad's subscriptions to magazines such as Road & Track and Street Rod: I was mesmerized by
One of the most critical moments in the life of any watershaper occurs when he or she meets prospective clients face to face for the first time. This is when jobs are won or lost - and, more significant, the point at which watershaper and clients begin what can become a long and fruitful relationship. I'll state right up front that I do not approach my initial customer meetings with the idea of walking out with a signed contract and a check. Instead, I go in trying to do what I can to help clients realize their dream of becoming owners of a quality watershape. Whether I end up
Purposeful Travel