Rosedale Outdoor Living Space

The Complete Transformation of a Small City Back Yard

The outdoor living room is encapsulated by wrap-around raised planters and an overhead pergola

The pergola beam spans the full width of the yard. The 4X4 rafters matching the scale of the beam.

Green Masters Landscaping Inc/Owen Landscape -Behind the Design -Peter Owen

Nottawa Pool Cabana

Located on an estate property in Nottawa, a hamlet just outside of Collingwood.

The owner's where initially looking to create a pergola structure at the one end of the pool to afford them some some sun protection and a place to create an outdoor living area.

Given the restrictions, I came up with the idea of creating a cabana centred on the length of the pool - an iconic structure that would function as a de facto outdoor living room - with a permanent roof.

The entire family can fit comfortably in the structure. A mock fireplace was a key design element, as it anchors the space. Cabinets where built flanking the fireplace.

Lighting was an important design element

Natural Stone Veneer - not the fake stuff.

Jerry Patten of L, Patten & Sons Ltd did an incredible job building the cabana!

The architect enjoying the space he had envisioned way back in the conceptual stage.

Town of the Blue Mountains Front Entrance

Blue Mountains Front Entry

Owen Landscape Architect discovered this sculptural specimen after having visited a number of nurseries. It is a "Blue Alps Juniper Serpentine"

Rustic planters made from corrugated metal given a rust patina provide an effective grounding for this split level ranch-style home located in the Town of the Blue Mountains. 

Nottawa Pool Cabana

Nottawa Pool Cabana

An iconic structure within the landscape, it's tilted roof beckons you to enter it's cozy realm!

A Country Planting Bed

Tracy and I have finally completed our feature planting bed at our country residence. We decided that a circular bed would be most appropriate - on axis with the front door. There had been an existing overgrown bed at the time we acquired the property, whose purpose was likely to try and disguise the well up stand pipe. As before, we kept the bed mounded to minimize the pipe's presence. Metal edging is a perfect choice to separate the bed from the lawn - a clean, subtle effect. Boxwood forms a semi circle facing the road with Japanese Spurge as the main ground cover. An exotic "Mountain" type variety of Hosta is cluster around the well upstand pipe to perfectly disguise it. The focal point is a wrought iron urn featuring a "Kimono Dragon" Begonia.  The late afternoon sun illuminates the bed just so - a truly amazing effect!

Evolution of a Design

An Explanation of the Process

This is an example of an initial Concept Plan. Based on the client's criteria combined with my particular interpretation of what the space's unique possibilities are. I find that it's best to not be too constrained at this initial stage by a budget, but rather explore the properties full potential!

Once the Initial Concept is approved, a preliminary working budget is prepared based on a more refined plan which allows for quantifiable calculations of materials.

This Presentation shows how I use image typologies to clearly define the design intent for the client and the potential contractor. In this particular design you can see that "Cor-Ten" steel design elements are used. This amazing material will be utilized for the laser-cut garden screens, the "Living Room" patio end table (for a gel fire trough feature), and the planters on the deck.

This is an example of a Detail in sketch form. A package of Details is required for the built form elements to be constructed.