Clark Kent Creations -- Swarthmore, PA. Landscape Design and Construction, Hardscaping, Patios
  • Home
  • Services/Photos
    • Hardscaping >
      • A Flagstone Walkway -- The Process
      • Stone Steps -- The Process
    • Wood Fences
    • Exterior Carpentry
  • About
  • Community

What's Trending? Who Cares!

1/25/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
Remember these octagonal pavers? Hello 1996
I was doing some online research the other day and came across an article highlighting the expected landscape design trends for 2013.

Not that I’m not already somewhat tuned in as to what people are looking for in their yards, but I figured it was a good opportunity to see what’s being pushed for the coming year.  So I clicked over to see what is being pushed.

The article highlighted a couple popular themes and design concepts – romanticism, interplanting, low maintenance designs, and sustainability to name a few.

I greeted this news with a yawn.

Not because I’m against some of these ideas.  Au contraire.  Actually I’m quite on board with pushing sustainability.  Interplanting adds constant interest in nearly every corner of a garden.  And who doesn’t want that elusive “low maintenance” design.

No, my ambivalence towards embracing these “trends” has more to do with defining these principles as trends vs. basic keystone principles of good design.

Trends come and go.  Think back to what some of the popular trends of the past have left us.  Remember the octagonal paver stone design from just a few years back?  10 or 15 years ago it seemed nearly every paver stone job I installed was this popular trendy design.  In fact the term “paver stone” was nearly synonymous with this pattern.  As manufacturers began offering more and more options from which to choose, this shape slowly fell out of favor.  In the last few years I’ve met with quite a few clients who now want to remove this “dated” design.

Exposed aggregate finishes in concrete.  This was a popular trend a few years earlier.  And one quite honestly that is still used on occasion today.  But its also one that has led many homeowners to want to “update” their “70’s” feeling yards.

Wood inlays in concrete.  Another popular “trend” that I’m sure many people felt looked sleek back in the day. But today the wood has rotted out, the slabs have heaved, and what’s left is the remnants of a once-popular trend.

Junipers as a front lawn.  Hey I’m all for reducing lawn areas if possible, but if I had a nickel for every client who wanted to me to rip out those trash-collecting catch-alls … (Actually I probably do have at least a nickel for every juniper we’ve ripped out based on some of the buried treasure we’ve found tangled amongst the branches…)

Picture
Simply Awesome. Next year's trends perhaps?
Think back to some other popular trends.  If I name the trend I’ll bet you can ID the era.  Excessive railroad tie walls.  Topiary shrubs.  Plastic flamingoes.  Stone mulch (Your choice of colors!).  Fiberglass “rocks” (Think Anaheim Angels outfield walls -- Hello Disney!).  Solar landscape lights.  Gazing balls. “Astroturf” carpeting.

Even design principles have changed over time.  Think back to your grandmother’s house with the white picket fence around the yard, the rose beds up against the fence, and the uniform linear beds surrounding the perimeter of the house.

And my personal favorite is when a home is built on a relatively square, level lot, yet the “trendy” features are forced into the yard by building up mounds of imported soil.

That’s not to say that some of these “trends” don’t have their place.

I’ve actually seen some absolutely awesome yards that are going for a theme and make good use of lawn gnomes and plastic flamingoes.

Everyone has different taste.  And everyone has different uses for their yards.  And I’m a firm believer that every design should be custom tailored for the taste and lifestyle of the client.

But good design principles are timeless.  Attempting to incorporate today’s trends into a design simply to be on board with what’s hot today is asking for a dated look in the not-so-distant future.

And certainly some of today’s “trends” aren’t necessarily bad ideas. Built-in outdoor kitchens, for example, probably aren’t going away any time soon.

But when planning an outdoor design, it’s important to focus on what’s really important, namely how YOU want to utilize your yard and what will work for your lifestyle.  Don’t get hung up on what the current trends are, but rather what you want to live with for the foreseeable future.

Because today’s octagonal pavers and juniper yards are most likely tomorrow’s vinyl fencing and tumbled concrete block walls – relics from another era destined to be replaced.

Can you think of any other trends from bygone eras that effectively timestamp a yard?

For a few timeless design ideas, give us a call.

4 Comments
Matt link
1/26/2013 11:52:31 am

I can't stand seeing those gazing balls in any landscape..what an eyesore!! Also, I wouldn't shed a tear if manufactured 'stone' went the way of those octo pavers.

Reply
Anna link
1/29/2013 04:39:04 am

Ouch, Matt! I love my gazing ball! In fact, just for that, you're getting another picture of it up on my blog ;)
I totally agree about the manufactured stone though...and the honeycomb block...white vinyl makes me wince.

Clark- you hit the nail on the head. It all comes down to really good design! It reminds me of something a grower friend said once- there's no such thing as a bad plant, just bad placement.

Reply
Matt link
1/29/2013 06:58:41 am

Umm...sorry about that Anna! Good thing I know you have good taste, otherwise I would have to haze you, and wonder if you don't also have pink flamingos and the 'old lady bent over' yard ornaments in your garden!!

Reply
Clark link
1/30/2013 09:34:46 am

I'll have to forward you guys a picture I have of some gazing balls. I've titled it gazing ball-a-palooza. It's really quite a sight.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Company

    Clark Kent Creations, LLC is a full-service landscape construction company servicing the Pennsylvania communities of Delaware County, Chester County, The Main Line, and the University City, Art Museum, and Manayunk/Roxborough neighborhoods of Philadelphia.  In addition to this blog page, additional information regarding the company and our services can be found on the subsequent pages of the site.
    Picture

    Author

    Clark Linderman is the president of Clark Kent Creations, LLC, a landscape construction company based in Swarthmore, PA.  He is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.  In addition to his passion for all things outdoors, he counts Michigan football, Phillies baseball, Superman memorabilia, Memphis R&B music, and good craft brews among his many interests.  He currently resides in Swarthmore with his wife, Sheila, two sons, his dog Krypto, and a really, really messy garage full of work supplies and toys.

    Picture
    Contact Us:
    Clark Kent Creations, LLC
    Swarthmore, PA
    Design and Construction to Maximize Your Outdoor Experience

    707-290-9410
    clark@clarkkentcreations.com
    Serving Delaware County, PA

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Categories

    All
    Business And The Front Office
    Carpentry
    Environmental Issues
    Fencing
    Guest Posts
    Hardscaping
    Inspiration And Design Ideas
    Places & Local Interest
    Ramblings
    Seasonal
    Snack Break
    Water Features

    Archives

    July 2015
    September 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

    Like my Blog?

    If you like the content of my blog posts, here are a few other blogs that I check in on regularly:

    Stone Soup:  A Master Stone Mason shares his craft.

    Arcadia Gardens:  Plenty of great tips about horticulture and landscape design.  A great blog (even though she's an MSU Spartan!)

    Revolutionary Gardens:  A Virginia-based landscape designer shares his work and ideas.

    Rockin Walls:  A certified dry stone mason from Maryland shares his projects and tricks of the trade

    If you have or know of a blog that you think I might be interested in, just let me know.  If I like it I just may add it to the list!

    RSS Feed

    All content ©2013
    Clark Kent Creations, LLC
Proudly powered by Weebly