So I was very happy to learn that the residential clients for the project on Elmwood Avenue in historic Oak Park, IL wanted to move forward before things got really cold (and the ground unworkable). These past few weeks have been controlled insanity as a major renovation/addition project is ongoing at the house, so what’s [...]

One thing I really enjoy about this profession is the incredible diversity of client wishes that are incorporated into master planning. For example, last week I was approached to do a real top-to-bottom makeover– a client recently purchased a home which– while truly lovely otherwise- had some crazy chaotic plantings throughout the space (banana trees? [...]

In which I bloviate about ‘edges’ as a conceptual framework for good design, let me know what you think! Greeneyedesign001_Edges

click picture for larger version     The clients love the idea and would like it continued into a medium sized deck. This is how it’s been developing…

Dear friends outside of Chicago recently purchased a lovely old home in Oak Park; they’re gearing up for renovations/additions and want a better way of utilizing their narrow but deep yard in the rear. This elevated door is the usual entrance for both husband and wife, after parking in the garage they use this entry [...]

Anyone connected to gardening, the plant trade, landscape design, and ornamental horticulture knows the name of Michael Dirr. Dr. Dirr’s books are a must have for any serious gardener, in my opinion– so when his Tree & Shrub Finder came out a number of years ago in CD-ROM, I knew I had to have it. [...]

Use “denial and reward” to enrich passage through the built environment. “As we move through buildings, towns, and cities, we mentally connect visual cues from our surroundings to our needs and expectations. The satisfaction and richness of our experiences are largely the result of the ways in which these connections are made. Denial and reward [...]

Snow, ice, gusting winds and freezing temperatures means we’re in the studio keeping warm and creating beautiful spaces for spring! greeneyedesign, 1st week of February You’ll note the revisions in this video when compared to the 2nd set of revisions below– the client asked for a scaled back main entrance and patio area, and we [...]

Last weekend we had a productive meeting with our Great Falls client– I was relieved to see the early design concepts were met with great & positive enthusiasm. The client expressed some concerns with a couple of the elevation choices and stair combinations, so they have been slightly altered from the original– specifically, a lower [...]

I recently had some free time so I thought I would do a series of perspective renderings for a recent residential master plan in Springfield. While the plan was already completed in plan view I do think perspectives help everyone understand more clearly the proposed massing and spaces. click images for humongous version