With 2016 (and the start of Carex Design Group’s third year in business) fast approaching, it’s a great time to look back on 2015. Here’s the scoop on 5 landscape design projects (and a bonus one!) to help spark new outdoor project ideas for a new year:

1. Artistic Hardscapes

This landscape design project for a home in the Sequoyah Hills neighborhood of Knoxville, Tenn. was especially fun for me this year. The homeowner is an interior designer who really understood the value that a landscape architect or landscape designer such as Carex Design Group could bring to the process. The collaboration was extremely fun, and that came out in the design.

For this client we created a detailed package of material with visuals in mind. In this case, we provided not only the landscape design plans with scale drawings, materials lists and information on selected plants and possible construction phases, but also photo renderings and 3-D digital models to help showcase the design in the most visual way.

The landscape construction of this project is set to begin in January 2016. The first phase of the construction will include building part of the retaining walls, constructing portions of the patios and walkways, installing the initial landscape lighting and planting some shrubs, trees and other plants.

2. Moving In With New Landscaping

Many of our clients at Carex Design Group have recently purchased a new home, which is a great time to consider big changes to your landscaping. That was the case for homeowners in the Lyons Bend area of Knoxville. Because we were charged with evaluating the existing landscape and incorporating new elements within that, this project was was a fun challenge as we worked around existing obstacles and solved problems while adding functionality and beauty to the space.

For this project, we decided to showcase the design in a very classic way with hand-drawn renderings to illustrate the landscape design plans. Check out this short video of that process in action:

We expect to be seeing this project come to fruition in early 2016.

3. Outdoor Living Addition

When Carex Design Group was exhibiting at the Dogwood Arts House and Garden Show in February 2015 (we’ll be there again in 2016!), we caught up with a former client who I first worked with in 2009 on a paver patio project in Farragut, Tenn.

The homeowners had been using the original space more than they thought they would and wanted to expand on the original design. Our goal was to ensure that the two elements — old and new — merged to create one complete space rather than separate spaces. The original design was a unique one that included a seat wall, a fire pit and a paver walkway. To increase the usable space, we added a raised patio, an additional lower patio, a pergola with columns for a swing, planting beds and LED lighting. For the construction of this project we recruited the help of our friends at The Lawn Bulter to install the new Belgard Dublin Cobble pavers, Belgard Country Manor wall block and a solid cedar pergola. Carex Design Group installed the Kichler landscape lighting.

4. Mountain-Top Masterplan

For this project in Sevierville, Tenn., we were brought on to create the master landscape design plan and manage the construction of the project from start to finish (two of our specialties!). This massive project included two retaining walls, 64 LED landscape lighting fixtures with bluetooth-enabled lighting controls, and two natural stone water features including a creek that meanders through a flagstone patio and a waterfall that appears to bust through a stone wall.

With the help of a project team that included Carex Design Group, The Lawn Butler, Creekside Nursery and Hardscapes, and Parrish Landscaping and Lawn Care, this giant masterplan landscape design installation is nearing completion in the coming days (if it’ll ever stop raining in East Tennessee!).

Check out these videos of the progress so far:

5. Family-Sized Outdoor Kitchen

This wasn’t your average outdoor kitchen. We supersized the design on this natural stone eat-at bar to ensure there was plenty of space for this client’s entire family. We also incorporated a Plexiglas shield over the pergola so that the family could enjoy the space rain or shine. To learn about other ways you can cover your outdoor space, check out this blog post: “4 Ways to Cover Your Outdoor Living Space on Any Budget”

In addition to the pergola, this landscape design, which was installed by by Creekside Nursery and Hardscapes, included a fire pit and small seating area adjacent to an existing patio.

+1 Bonus Project to Spotlight

A Knoxville landscaping contractor brought us on to help with this project that included a site-designed landscape lighting plan based on a list of lighting fixtures that had already been purchased with a partial design in place. From there, we designed the system in the field and completed the installation, which included more than 120 Kichler path lights and spotlights, Unique Designs tiki torch path lights, Copper Moon well lights, Vista landscape lighting transformers and miles of landscape lighting wire. There were also 12 tree-mounted moon lights to cast light down onto pathways, steps and nearby water.

During the on-site work, we added four new lighting zones to the property to adequately carry the electrical load and used heat-shrink connections for all the wiring (a method that is above the industry standard, and the only method we use at Carex Design Group). Although completing a landscape lighting plan that had been underway was a challenge, it’s a great example of why we always suggest starting with a detailed landscape lighting plan.

For more on other Carex Design Group projects, check out this blog post: “Best Knoxville Landscape Designs of 2014”

To start your own project in 2016, fill out our contact form to schedule your free consultation or call 865-765-5550.