The Art of Dry Stone Walling
Once again we’ve had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with award-winning landscape architect Paul Brydges, owner of Brydges Landscape Architecture Inc, on this occasion to discuss a very old and very timeless way of constructing beautiful stone creations that leave a lasting impression. So exactly what is “Dry Stone Walling” or “Dry Stacking”? Dry stone, sometimes called dry stacking or in Scotland, dry stane, is a building...
Shangri-La in Your Own Backyard
Picture yourself luxuriating in the pool at an exotic resort. The soothing water permeates through your flesh as it melodiously courses through exquisite rock formations illuminated by an array of sparkling lights. When it’s finally time to leave this Shangri-La, there is no need to pack up your bags, go through the checkout procedures and make your way to the airport. Instead, you simply hop out of the pool, open the back door and...
Ask The Landscape Architect Expert, Part Three: The Tendering (Pricing) Process
When we last spent time with Paul Brydges, owner of Brydges Landscape Architecture Inc, the topic of discussion focused on budget, and was part two of our four-part series “Ask the Expert”. As we enter “Part Three: The Tendering Process”, Paul teaches us that both timing and economics are key essential outcomes when making some crucial decisions. “The beauty of working with a landscape designer is that they act as a support contact...
Exploring the Practicality of Equipment Rental
In the construction and renovations business, acquiring and maintaining the proper tools and equipment is a huge capital investment. Not only can the machinery be costly, it may not be used enough to justify purchasing it. Therefore, it often makes sense to rent tools and equipment, rather than buy them. First of all, the initial purchase costs are avoided when one opts to rent. As well, depreciation in the machine’s value is not a...
Thinking of Investing in a Pool this Summer?
Ask a residential pool owner why he or she has one, and chances are you will hear a lot of different reasons. Some will say the backyard pool is the perfect spot for family recreation and bonding. Others will point out that swimming is one of the best forms of exercise there is. Then there will be people who find it more practical to take the thirty steps to get to their landscaped pool area, rather than drive hundreds of miles to a...
Creating Winter Interest. Work with Mother Nature.
So, it’s summer, and just why are we talking about planning for a winter landscape? Simple – we have to think about it now! When else are you going to do those plantings and move that earth than in the next few months! Think back to gardening magazines or books you may have read on stately English homes, those that you envy or admire. Many of them feature beautiful outdoor vistas with attractively arranged plant and garden features,...
A Stunning Entertaining Space
In this digital age of marketing and advertising, a business can choose from many media vehicles to promote their company. But for Ryan VanGerven and his team at New Stone Landscaping, their best strategy to bring in new business is the one that has worked for them for years…word of mouth. When you see one of New Stone’s landscape transformations, it’s easy to see why so many of their projects come from clients who have experienced...
Summer Entertaining
We think it’s safe to say that the team here at LivingSpaces and LifeStyles Magazine enjoy many aspects of entertaining. There are just so many things to celebrate, and the upcoming summer season is no exception! The lazy days of summer should be just that; laid-back and stress-free. So, we’ve come up with a few ideas to make your summertime parties, simple, easy and fun. The great thing about backyard parties is that your natural...
