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5.5.06

d*s reader recs [thaniya needs your help!]

garden1

d*s reader thaniya needs our help! here are the details:

"hi grace! i finally have a project i'm actually working on (as oppose to drooling over everyone else's) i'm wondering if you and the sponge community can help out. i have this fantastic 550 sqft rooftop patio that i've been meaning to do something cool to it. i'm not a big fan of the run-the-mill sears patio furnitures, but i can't exactly afford a lot either (unfortunately).. recently a friend pointed me to a free 3D rendering tool that is super easy to use from google so i decided to take a stab at it. below are 2 (of many) options im considering. since it is a patio, weight of materials were a big consideration. also, being from NYC i don't exactly know a lot about plants/trees. i want to see which of the 2 people feel is going to be better/nicer and if there are any recommendation on what else i can do with the space. the first one (a) uses: artificial grass, 2 big dogwood trees and white fiberglass planters with a sandblast cement-like finish. the second option (b) uses: a custom wood structure that serves as planter, bench and wall and 1 big dogwood tree."
so, what do you guys think? weigh in and if you have any other ideas, let thaniya know below!

garden 2

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12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Domino magazine has a great article this month about landscaping an outdoor patio.

I would pick any option without artificial grass.

10:12 AM  
Blogger Sexy Lexi said...

I like option B the best. The wood and stone pavers are more natural materials and will give your patio a more comfortable feel.

And as a landscape architect who's been using Sketchup for a while I applaud your models--they look GREAT!

10:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i like option B better :)

10:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Option B, natural all the way!

11:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dogwood might not be the best choice for a tree, they tend to like shade and might get fried in the summer surrounded by concrete and in a container. You might want to think about a variety of grasses, they are low-maintenance, drought tolerant and have a nice struture in the winter. Or bamboo looks great in containers...

2:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i like option b also.

2:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would research into green roofs which might gives you one, a rocking rooftop and also make you save on heating bills. SketchUp rocks. I would go for option C, real grass, bamboo furniture and some suspended plants from the wall, a couple of trees here and there.

3:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

definitely option B

4:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

option B, as the fake grass just looks bad and it holds water after the rain. the layout in b looks much more comfortable.

have you looked at the outdoor furniture at westelm? there is a lot of great furniture and even wood patio squares, which are really beautiful.

good luck! i'm jealous!

8:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Me too, option B
Great models in Sketchup, you're a natural. I was going to point D*S readers there, but you beat me to it.

2:19 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wouldn't put a dogwood in a planter; it won't be happy. you might consider evergreen, that gives you something to look at in the winter when you can't use your terrace...

10:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

thanks everyone! i'm now exploring grass bushes, bamboo, and a few other trees (non dogwood) for varieties.. bamboo is looking quite promising - there is a local nursery in NJ that looks pretty good. too bad real grass is not a viable option (weight of dirt and possible roof damage) :-(

the chaise lounges from west elm just came in yesterday. thanks for the tip! they look fantastic, but the cushion durability is questionable.

1:10 PM  

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