New Jersey, USA
Audley st
26
Native Plant Species
1
hot tub
2
gathering areas
Reusing an Existing Structure
The client approached me about potentially adding an addition to their house. I was standing in the backyard, looking at the space and decided that based on zoning and lot coverage that it would be very hard to get the permits for the expansion. I noticed that they had a dilapidated garage that wasn't used and thought "why don't we just convert that into a useful space?". So that's exactly what we did!
Luxury through sustainability
The perfect materials
Using the existing garage probably saved the client $50,000 to $100,000. Because of the savings that were achieved, we were able to do a lot more with the project than originally planned. The fire pit area is an effective and inexpensive way to add a contemporary feel to a yard and doesn't need a lot of material. If we just talk about dollars and cents, then it doesn't allow the project to grow and develop into something this beautiful.
We finished the interior of the shed with birch plywood which allowed them to have a beautiful finish, that was made with sustainably harvested, locally sourced wood. We wanted the clients to be able to avoid those NJ bugs when hanging out in the space, so we added the fans which create a lot of air movement so that when the doors are open, the bugs are out. We found the fans on sale and saved money there as well. This is a perfect example of why looking beyond the budget is so important.
Native plants
Native planting is at the core of everything we do. Creating healthy habitats for butterflies and birds, it helps your garden thrive. See below a selection of native plants that were used in this project.
Verbena bonariensis
COREOPSIS VERTICILLATA 'MOONBEAM'
Stachys monieri 'Hummelo'
Echinacea pallida Hula
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Create a space like this
We love creating sustainable spaces, if you’ve got one in mind we’d love to hear from you.