We recently were awarded the people’s choice of Houzz Best of Design 2020. This is a tremendous award and we are so thankful to be the winners!
Houzz is such a fun platform to display our work on, and to help others gain inspiration for their dream outdoor spaces. If you’re looking to have an award winning space of your own, don’t hesitate to contact us to get your project started today!
We are honored to announce that we recently won an award from the Southwest Pool & Spa show. Our very own Ross Burke won the Award of Merit for Hot Tub/Spa/Water Features. The project that he designed and AquaTerra built has a very unique feature that won the recognition.
Front yards and porches are historically simple. Landscaping and pavers usually round out the front displaying beautiful curb appeal. This project, however, surprises guests and onlookers. The homeowner wanted an outdoor space to serve as an extension of their formal dining room, as well as, a semi private front courtyard space to for the family to enjoy. They wanted a space to enjoy their front yard and interact with neighbors, while feeling comfortable and not exposed to the street. The layered, overlapping elements of the design are intended to blend with architectural design of the home. Additionally, we wanted to continue the use of stucco, steel, and ipe wood as seen on the home’s façade.
We didn’t stop there with the creativity and scope of the project. The backyard design was intended to be a modern pool with outdoor fire pit space where the family could gather. The landscaping is kept minimal to allow room for young kids to play. Trees along the back fence screen the view of neighboring properties, and lime green Sunshine Ligustrum offer a pop of color. Synthetic turf was selected to provide a clean play surface for kids, while allowing evergreen color.
Written by: Emma Bishop
The temperatures are finally cooling down enough for us to get outside and enjoy our patios and decks. The autumn weather is also perfect for sprucing up the landscape. Now’s the time to install that firepit or outdoor kitchen you’ve always wanted.
Fall is also the ideal time to plant trees in Texas. New trees do well when the soil temperature is above 40 degrees, which is year-round in much of the state. The root systems of balled and burlapped trees can recover from transplanting in the fall. They also have time to develop roots before beginning growth in the spring.
But there are some things you should consider before heading to the nursery. The most important consideration is where you intend to plant your tree. On a residential lot, trees should be planted at least 10 feet from any foundation to allow the trunks and root systems to grow. Be aware of any overhead obstructions, such as utility lines and the boughs of other trees.
Next, consider what kind of tree you want — shade, fruit-bearing, or ornamental.
For shade trees, the live oak is bough and branches above all others. It is the most commonly planted tree in Texas because it grows well virtually anywhere in the state. But live oaks need a lot of space. They can grow up to 40 feet tall and spread their branches 75 feet.
Know your needs before you buy. Is the area where you intend to plant shady or sunny? What kind of soil do you have? Any well-established, reputable nursery will have people who can help you make the right choice of tree. And nearly every Texas county has an Extension Service office.
You should also be aware of what trees to avoid. The black walnut tree secretes a toxin that will kill nearby plants and flowers. It’s also incredibly messy. Other messy trees that will drop leaves and junk all over your hardscapes? Cottonwoods and mimosas. Both of these are also brittle with weak root systems.
The right trees are a long-term investment that can enhance the beauty and value of your home. Care for them wisely, and they will return your investment many times over.
Need some help with your landscape design? Here at AquaTerra we strive to be a single source solution for our client’s outdoor needs. Contact us, we’re here to help you have the most beautiful landscape on the block.
Emma Bishop is a lifestyle and design writer, and mother of two beautiful girls. She is a social butterfly and loves to entertain guests at home with beautifully decorated spaces for any occasion.
At AquaTerra, we’re always looking for ways to maximize beauty, utility, and comfort when designing your outdoor environments. Here in Texas, the summer sun is unforgiving, often lasting well beyond the season. Without adequate protection, what would be an otherwise perfect outdoor memory becomes downright miserable! Don’t let the sun’s harsh rays get in the way of any outdoor fun. Choose one of these outdoor shade solutions to create an inviting, pleasant outdoor space.
Whether you’re dining al fresco with the family or entertaining a large crowd, the late-afternoon and evening hours are prime times to enjoy the outdoors. Heat from the sun can remain extremely intense well into the early evening. To make matters worse, the low angle of the setting sun can leave your patio roof or trellis completely useless. When choosing the location and layout of your outdoor space, be mindful of the sun’s angle and position throughout the day. If you’re short on space planning options, bring in shade-producing solutions instead. Roll down shades are a great option to ensure protection from the sun at any hour.
Wood arbors are beautiful outdoor shade solutions but can limit design options and tend to weather quickly. You can dramatically increase your shaded area by mixing metal with wood. This industrial look allows you to take advantage of larger spans and cantilevers only possible with steel beams. For a light and airy feel opt for a durable, solid metal shade structure.
Designed and built by AquaTerra Outdoors, photo by Wade Griffith
We’ve all had bad experiences with the “big box” store umbrella. They blow over in a light breeze. The fabric tears easily and parts rust out quickly. After one season of use, most of those umbrellas end up in the trash. Consider investing in a custom-made umbrella with high-end metals and fabrics tailored to fit your space perfectly. These umbrellas can be designed to span 12-15′ in diameter and can be adjusted easily to accommodate the sun’s changing position. The cost for this type of product ranges from $3k-$10k, but given their durability and design flexibility, a custom umbrella may be the perfect outdoor shade solution.
Stumped with how to shade your space without adding more metal, wood and plastic to your view? Consider planting a mature canopy tree in a strategic location. Trees are nature’s solution for shade and offer many benefits. They soften any outdoor space with natural elements, as opposed to man-made materials. Trees also provide a natural habitat for wildlife in your nature scape while increasing the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. As if creating a beautiful source of shade and clean air weren’t enough, trees also cool the air by a process known as “’transpiration cooling”. Tree leaves release water into the atmosphere, cooling the surrounding air as the water transforms from liquid into a vapor. Pretty neat, right?!
Often times, many designers struggle working together, but for Randy Angell of Randy Angell Designs and Tal Thevenot, CEO and designer here at AquaTerra, it couldn’t be a better working relationship. The Dallas-based outdoor design executives have more than made a name for themselves working solo in the industry. Thriving on high expectations and innovative design, Randy and Tal challenge each other in a fun, healthy way. As you can see, together they continue to make waves and the final results are nothing short of breathtaking!
Designed by Randy Angell Designs, built by AquaTerra Outdoors, photograph by Wade Griffith.
Tal managed AquaTerra’s flawless buildout of Randy’s innovative design for this McKinney estate. Working side by side, the vision was to create a family paradise with minimal boundaries from the indoors out! The modern outdoor design includes a large pool with a lap lane, spa and water features, an outdoor living room with fireplace and tv, and an outdoor kitchen and bar with surrounding seating terraces. When designing the space, RAD was strategic in showcasing the home’s spanning greenbelt views. The stunning 6ft tall rain curtain further marries the two spaces by anchoring the surrounding structure and framing the landscape.
Photograph by Wade Griffith. design by Randy Angell, build by AquaTerra Outdoors, as featured in Pool and Spa Magazine.
Attention to design and quality is what earned this project the cover of Pool and Spa News, and is a promise delivered upon with every project we embark on. Congratulations on a well-deserved cover feature, Randy and Tal! We’re counting down the days to share the outdoor design duo’s latest project currently underway in the North Dallas suburb, Lakes on Legacy. Follow us on Instagram to catch a glimpse of this upcoming modern beauty’s progress and final reveal! Read the full PSN story, here.
Modern outdoor environment designed by Randy Angell Designs, built by AquaTerra Outdoors. Photograph by Wade Griffith.
Gold Medal
Euclid
Karen & Dan Doore had a great challenge for AquaTerra: they wanted to create a fun and functional backyard space for their children and grandchildren to use, despite some significant structural and configural limitations.
Structure and Permitting Challenges
The main hurdle we faced was the 20’ gabion embankment that abuts the Doore’s yard. The embankment was created to prevent erosion into adjacent Cottonwood Creek and presented a plethora of permitting issues with regard to installing a new pool and decking. After months of work and numerous meetings with the City of Richardson, we were finally able to achieve a great design that was acceptable to the permitting department and delightful to our clients. AquaTerra overcame the challenge by designing the pool to sit just outside the drainage easement and building the patio decking on a floating concrete base rather than drilled piers so as to not disturb the gabion structure below.
Lead designer Ross Burke illustrates some of the design challenges we faced.
Pool & Outdoor Features
The configuration of the space also presented some interesting design challenges, which inspired our team creatively. Creating continuity and maximizing functionality in this unusually shaped space was achieved by creating two separate play spaces, one in the north yard and one in the south yards, with the pool and decking situated in between.
Design Aesthetic
From the beginning, our client Karen had a vision for her backyard space. She used the term “modern prairie” to convey an overall aesthetic and guiding principle for our design team.
Challenges such as these present a wonderful opportunity for creative solutions that both satisfy and fosters the artistic and logistical growth that we strive for at AquaTerra. We are proud of our work at the Doore home and are happy to have fulfilled our client’s expectations.
With nearly 20 years of experience in Design + Build + Management, AquaTerra passionately believes that a team who covers all three bases is the best and most effective choice for any project. Here are our top 6 reasons why selecting a one-stop shop is a great way to go.
Given the benefits of working with a Design + Build + Management firm, why would anyone approach an important project in a piecemeal approach?
Whether you live in the city or out in the suburbs with a little more outdoor space, there are so many fun ways to create a personal garden to suit any setting! Using Metal Garden Beds, AquaTerra can help clients create a cool, artistic approach to their own garden – and it’s easier to set up than you may think.
Ready to dig in and start your own garden? We’ve partnered with Metal Garden Beds to giveaway ONE Sendero raised bed! Just head to our facebook page for details.
AIA Dallas 2017 tour of homes back yard
Our team worked closely with Robert Bellamy to create a landscape design that complemented this M-Gray Architecture home design. The front yard of this Dallas home features a unique vertical steel pipe fence that sets the tone of the aesthetic. The home is accented beautifully with floor to ceiling windows throughout, but the focal point of the home is certainly the slightly elevated box-like feature that is accentuated with a contrasting color and hovers subtly over the landscape. As you approach, the windows allow you to see directly through to the backyard, framing a tree. The dry creek bed carries your eye to the far portion of the landscape, which is kept earthy in order to complement the natural materials in the architecture. You can’t help but feel one with nature in this serene setting.
Front yard fence
Dry creek bed
Back yard water feature
Make sure you Save the Date for October 28-29th. For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, visit AIA Dallas. We hope to see you there!
Back yard water feature
Sustainable design trends are working their way down South. At AquaTerra, we are all about responsible design, so we can’t help but get excited when we have a client who wants to implement a sustainable solution. Below is a short clip showcasing a chic steel water feature that we created in North Texas, which uses pond plants to naturally and beautifully purify the water.
Pond plants naturally remove decaying debris, minerals from stone, etc and leave the water clean and clear. Floating plants, such as the waterlilies we used, provide a lush and serene aesthetic, while also cleaning the water as effectively as many man-made filters.
As you will see in the following clip, water overflows into a biologically sustainable filtration system for a modern, farmhouse look. Green, clean and modern – who could ask for more!
There are 5 major benefits to using Texas natives in your upcoming landscape renovation:
With so many beautiful options and obvious benefits, the choice is clear. Honoring local horticulture in our designs is not only the practical choice, it is aesthetically pleasing as well. There’s more to Texas than just tumbleweeds, so get out there and plant a native y’all!
This Starwood home, located in Frisco, TX, was originally designed in the Mediterranean-Tuscan style, typical of the late 90’s and early 2k period. Over the past few years, the home’s interior had been fully renovated to reflect a more clean-transitional look. Aquaterra’s goal for this landscape, pool and outdoor living renovation project was to harmonize the exterior with the interior by creating that same timeless feel. Defining new gathering spots, enhancing flow and maximizing space, with a balance of form and function, was our top priority.
After meeting with the client to get a sense of their needs, as well as review our process, program and scope, we sent them a proposal for creative services. After presenting our vision of transforming their former look into a clean, fresh “Santa Barbara” style, the clients gave us permission to proceed with a new pool and outdoor kitchen design, as well as a new fire pit, additional landscaping and enhanced lighting. Additionally, Aquaterra updated the outdoor appliances, fans, security light fixtures and re-routed some ugly electrical lines.
In order to give the entire residence a beachy, California feel, we recommended painting the home white. To complete the look, Aquaterra was entrusted to have custom light fixtures made, as well as design and provide all the pottery and outdoor furniture required to put the finishing touches on this beautiful project!
Beautiful Transformation
As we near final stages of this project, you can see the dramatic change to the exterior of this home. The before, during, and after photos show just how much work goes into a project like this, and the transformation is incredible!
4252 MARSH RIDGE RD.
CARROLLTON, TX 75010
(214) 387-8333
© 2019 AQUATERRA