Having a large residence can be challenging for the designer and client alike. The list of things that could be included in the design goes on and on because space is not an issue. Designers tend to throw unnecessary elements in these spaces in order to fill the void instead of taking time to pick programs (pool, fire pit, BBQ, tennis court, etc.) that will actually be used to benefit the household.

“It's important to understand your ownership pattern because it is an expression of the values that guide your life. The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.”

-Marie Kondo

I am on a real Marie Kondo kick lately, she has made me realize that a lot of the clutter within my home does not bring me joy, and is therefore, not necessary to my life’s path (if you do not know who Marie Kondo is, she is a well-known Japanese organizing consultant, I know… those exist). If something in your life does not give you joy; whether that is clothes, accessories, relationships, or your landscape, then it is not worth having clutter your mind. At Falling Waters we take the plunge into what a client really wants and needs within the landscape and we discard the rest: a Kondo methodology. By reducing your programs to whatever will spark the most joy day to day, then that will ensure that every time you step outside a rush of happiness will flow over you.

We used this process with the Oxford Ave project; the homeowners had a decent amount of space to fill and it was our challenge to design it intentionally. We prioritized what they will be using day to day and hugged those elements near the house. Then we analyzed what kind of activity their family and friends tend to partake in during their once-a-week to once-a-month hangout that they wanted to host at their home, whether that be a laid back-informal BBQ, sit-down dinner, or playing games. Their personalities and lifestyle choices matched the inclusion of a bocce ball court in their outer yard. Bocce ball will act as a casual activity for the hands to do while the major socializing occurs.

| CHALLENGES |

Custom designing each element in a yard has its ups and downs. Customization ensures that the client is getting a unique design that no one else has, but like I said no one else has it so we are working through the construction kinks in real time instead of having a precedent to work off of. Designing custom sizes for the Oxford Ave’s BBQ ended up becoming more of a challenge then we thought. We had to work close with our vendor to guarantee that all the pieces fit. Fortunately, this opportunity lent a very special design that our clients and us are very proud of.

| DURING CONSTRUCTION |

| FINAL LOOK |

MAXIMIZING FUNCTIONALITY || Designing every square foot to its fullest potential