IT WILL NOT be long until the leaves turn shades of auburn and chestnut. The fall is the perfect time of the year to transform your plain, green lawn into a livable outdoor space. Today’s design-build firms are capable of installing everything from a gorgeous new flowerbed to a custom, outdoor kitchen and living room.
There is a lot more to landscaping than putting in a few extra plants. Elite landscape designers have an extensive design process. The process begins with an on-site consultation. During this meeting a designer will evaluate your wants and needs, budget and current property conditions.
During this meeting, check out the firm’s credentials, especially if it touts itself as a “design/build,” company. True design/build companies are the highest quality landscapers in the profession, and should be backed up with certifications like membership in the exclusive EP Henry Authorized Landscaping Contractor Program. All EP Henry Authorized contractors are pre-screened professionals who are monitored by the company on a regular basis to ensure their work is of the utmost quality. A designer should also have Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institution (ICPI) certification. Members of ICPI have access to a shared wealth of resources that provide customers with the most current information and techniques available, including landscape-imaging software – a technology that helps create a photo realistic picture of a product before construction even starts.
After the initial meeting, a design proposal will be given to you. Upon approval, a designer will begin conceptual drawings of your potential planting beds, plantings, hardscape features such as patios and any other more detailed item.
The final stage of the design process is to produce working drawings that would include details that help aid in the actual construction of design elements. This will ensure your envisioned outdoor space will be constructed in an accurate professional manor.
Anything is possible with a professional, including single or double level decks, elegant Tuscan-style outdoor kitchens, flagstone patios with firepits for entertaining family and friends, or a resort worthy pool for the ultimate at-home recreation. Whether you are starting from scratch or just want to breathe some new life into your existing property, professionals have all the tools and techniques to get you going.
To get started on a beautiful new landscape for your home, contact B. DeMichele, Inc. of Media, Pennsylvania. The area’s leading design/build contracting firm, DeMichele features both ICPI certification and membership in the EP Henry Authorized Landscaping Contractor Program. They specialize in all aspects of landscape design, including hardscaping, horticulture, nightscaping and even specialty waterscapes and irrigation. For more information, contact owner and chief and landscape design artist Blasé DeMichele himself at (610) 361- 7832, or visit DeMicheleInc.com for more information and to see beautiful before and after examples from their portfolio.
