Monthly Archives: October 2008

Design Examples, Work in Progress

Current Project- Fireplace & Outdoor Kitchen

Here is a current project in Napa for an outdoor fireplace and kitchen that is in construction. The design for this project really opened up a small backyard and brought the detailing and richness that was present inside the house to the landscape for a great outdoor living space.

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The outdoor kitchen countertop partially completed- angle iron steel reinforces the countertop to be installed.

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Layout of the outdoor kitchen counters and integrated Rumford Fireplace. The color coat of stucco and finish detailing have yet to be installed. See below for the design development details for the fireplace.
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Materials Information

Great Energy Saving LED options for Low Voltage Lights

As energy conservation and efficiency become more and more prominent issues, there are increasingly alternatives for low voltage landscape lighting. Vista Professional Lighting, one of the widely available low voltage landscape lighting manufacturers we use, has a great variety of options for lamp types, including LED bulb options. LED are a great alternative to halogen, xenon or other bulb types. Like the more and more common compact florescent bulbs (CFL) used indoors to replace the standard filament light bulb, an LED fixture can use 75-90% less energy than a conventional lamp for the same light output. LEDs also have the advantage of a much longer lifespan, 5-10x longer than other lamp options. These fixtures can be more expensive, but the benefits of increased life span and reduced energy consumption help mitigate the initial cost of the fixtures.

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For more:
-Vista’s LED options

Work in Progress

Current Project- Mill Valley

Here is some current work on concrete paths and retaining wills for a project in Mill Valley. We are working on the garden for this recently remodeled modern home.

mvc3.JPGRetaining curb wall and concrete rebar before concrete has been poured

mvc2.JPGWalkway and retaining curb wall poured. The color of new concrete starts out dark and rich and fades as it cures.

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Layout of concrete walkways and stairs in context with the house. We used a colored concrete here to contrast with the house stucco color and coordinate with the Ipe wood accents.