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Serving the Naperville Community
 Do you ever feel lost in your large landscape? While having plenty of elbow room is a bonus, large spaces can feel impersonal, and they can lack the cozy intimacy of smaller properties. Check out these landscape design ideas for large Naperville, IL properties and get inspired to create your own backyard retreat that’s the perfect mix of spaciousness and intimacy!
Related: Landscaping With Spring in Mind in Wheaton, IL Avoid the Parking Lot Look A very large patio can easily start to look like a parking lot. It’s a hot, exposed, and somewhat unwelcoming space, but it can be broken up into outdoor “rooms” for a more human scale. This will give you a chance to create zones for “doing” and zones for “being.” Both are important! Someone may want to knock out a couple of hours of work outdoors, while other family members are getting some exercise and play time. Use vertical elements to divide up a large patio using seat walls that surround a raised planter (perfect for herbs, or fragrant flowers) or arbors and trellises with colorful climbing vines. Other vertical features that break up a large patio can include a reflecting pool or a fire table. A centrally-located kitchen with a pergola cover, or a central fire pit area surrounded by high-backed masonry seating can break up a huge space into more intimate areas. Ensure Easy Traffic Flow Getting from here to there in a large landscape can be just as challenging as in a small space. Place activity hubs like an outdoor kitchen where you have clear access from the house (no detours around features or furniture). Less frequently used spaces, such as a meditation nook or play area, can be located farther away. Make sure that the way to get to these more remote spots is a pleasant journey. The walkways don’t have to be razor-straight, but they should flow organically. People will always create shortcuts if they perceive that the shortcut is a better way than “around.” Meandering walkways are beautiful; just avoid right angles. Create Islands A huge expanse of lawn is great if you have kids or dogs that need plenty of space to run, or if you enjoy the look of a large, stately lawn. If you want a more natural setting, you can create beautiful islands in the “sea of green” to visually break up the space without taking away from its natural feel. In nature, islands are common. In nature, you’ll encounter a clearing within a deep forest; or an island in the middle of a lake or ocean; or even a small grove of trees in the middle of a wildflower meadow. These islands can also be usable space: add a tiny paver patio just big enough for a comfortable bench and a small coffee table to create a beautiful retreat or “secret” play space for the kids. Create Focal Points Drawing the eye to a focal point can make a large space seem more intimate. The focal point could be an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, gazebo, water feature, or even a dramatic paver pattern. For example, a transition between the patio and the lawn could be accomplished beautifully by placing large, individual pavers 6-10” inches apart and filling the space between them with grass or a low ground cover such as creeping thyme. Use Scale Use furniture and design elements that are scaled for large spaces. A small fire pit might look lost on a large patio, while a more substantial fireplace honors the scale of your outdoor space without feeling too imposing. Related: A Brick Patio and Other Characterful Additions to Hinsdale IL Landscapes
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 In spring, we are all eager to enjoy the first blooms of the year. Traditionally, spring has been associated with rebirth and great promise. Here are our tips for landscaping with spring in mind for Wheaton, IL.
Related: A Brick Patio and Other Characterful Additions to Hinsdale IL Landscapes Spring brings fragrant and colorful flowers. The spectacular display offers a delightful contrast against green leaves and needles; add to that some flowering perennials and flowering trees… and you have a true feast for the eyes! But how do you create this perfect mix of plants so that your landscape is gorgeous only in spring? You don’t want to have all of your flowers, trees and shrubs blooming at the same time, so use the rule of thirds: one-third of your plants should bloom in spring; one-third in summer; and one-third in fall. This doesn’t mean “all” of your plants need to be flowering. In fact, it’s the contrast between seasonal pops of color against the more steady display of evergreen trees and shrubs, non-flowering deciduous trees, and your lawn. However, when you’re choosing plants for spring blooms, don’t purchase only those that bloom in spring. Enjoy the gradual shift in color as the seasons change, by choosing one-third of your blooming plants to showcase their full glory in spring; and two-thirds that will grace your landscape with color in summer and fall. You can take several approaches with this seasonally-layered strategy. One is to devote an entire flower bed to spring bloomers. Then, you can enjoy a spectacular riot of color as these plants bloom at the same time, and then relax into a softer, more relaxed green state during the remainder of the growing season. Once spring bloomers are spent, your eye will be drawn to your summer and fall plant beds, livening up various areas of the landscape while the others play a supporting background role. The other approach is to mix spring bloomers in with plants that bloom later in the season, so the specific plant bed (or large-scale garden) always has something in bloom. Taking blooming seasons into consideration when choosing plant material is a key element for a successful landscape design. This way something is always in bloom and your landscape is beautiful and interesting in all seasons. Popular spring bloomers are crocuses and daffodils (the flowers that truly signal, “spring is here!”); daisies; hyacinths; tulips; Spring Beauty; rockcress; bluebells; columbines; and wild geranium are just a few spring bloomers that will make your spring landscape cheerful and uplifting. But don’t just focus on annuals and perennials! Ground covers that bloom in spring help green up a landscape that is emerging from its winter slumber. Thyme, for example, offers a fragrant and soft transition between a walkway and a plant bed. Spring-blooming shrubs include azaleas and lilacs. Spring blooming trees include magnolia, cherry, and crabapple. Use evergreens and non-flowering shrubs, trees, and perennials as a beautiful backdrop to blooming flowers. Evergreens are the mainstays of the garden, the steady and reliable greenery that offers a beautiful contrast to colorful flowers and in winter, a reminder that your landscape will once again be lush and green come springtime. In the fall, when all the flowers are spent, you may enjoy spectacular shows of color from trees and shrubs that are otherwise happy to play a supporting role to flowering plants. Related: How to Avoid These Common Hazards in Your Wheaton, IL, Landscape Design  If your landscape is in need of freshening up — especially now that everyone is spending so much time at home — a few special touches can make all the difference and transform an ordinary space into one you are happy to spend your time in. Here’s how a brick patio and other characterful additions to Hinsdale IL landscapes can put a smile on your face.
Related: How to Avoid These Common Hazards in Your Wheaton, IL, Landscape Design Brick is a top choice for adding beauty, expanding your outdoor living space, and making the walk from one part of your landscape to another enjoyable. Brick is durable and beautiful. It works well with nearly any architectural style, either as a complementary or a contrasting material. Whether you choose authentic clay brick or a concrete alternative, you can be sure that your outdoor space will be filled with historic charm and character. The classic brick patterns include running bond, basket weave, or herringbone. The most dramatic is herringbone, which creates amazing visual texture. This laying pattern is extremely strong, making it perfect for driveways as well as pedestrian spaces. If you want to get fancy, a fan-shaped or circular laying pattern adds even more interest and says “You’ve arrived” in style. Bricks are nearly the perfect material for use in walkways. Their slender profiles and small sizes lend themselves to curves; and what’s more romantic than a sweet brick walkway that meanders through the landscape? If you want to recreate a cozy cottage look in your backyard, consider a collection of smaller brick patios: one for cooking, dining and lounging; one for quiet contemplation or one-on-one conversation; and another, centered around a fireplace or fire pit, to create a gathering spot you’ll enjoy in any season. Link these spaces with meandering brick paths. If you’re not a fan of so much “brick red” you may want to go with concrete pavers made to resemble brick. You will have significantly more color choices including dramatic blended colors, and some flexibility in dimensions as well. Another character-filled material is bluestone. Quarried in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, bluestone is a type of flagstone with a dramatic bluish tint. It also often features other colors within each stone, including bronze, chocolate, buff, green, and purple. This makes each stone completely unique. Brick and bluestone pair exceptionally well. For an elegant yet relaxed look that works with nearly any style of home, use brick as a border for a bluestone patio. How can you finish the look of a brick or bluestone patio and walkway? Masonry walls! Masonry walls can be comfortably low — serving as overflow seating — and serve as a wonderful bridge between the man made shapes of the home and the bricks, and the surrounding landscape. Walls give your landscape vertical dimension. A neutral-toned stacked-flagstone veneer will add texture and interest to the patio, and this style works very well with both brick and bluestone. Incorporate landscape lighting into the wall construction (just under the lip of the cap stone) for a subtle yet dramatic lighting scheme. The rich details of a brick or bluestone patio and a masonry wall make any space feel cozy and welcoming. The timeless look of these three character-filled materials is sure to be a hit. All three will add value to your home, too! Take this opportunity to plan a few landscape upgrades, so that once the warm weather is here to stay, you’ll have a stylish and appealing space to hang out in! Related: Landscaping Ideas for Rustic Backyards in Hinsdale, IL |
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