Whimsical Details

Whimsical and all its details. This Bilowz Associates Inc. design is a combination of magic and whimsical.

As we drift into the seasonal changes of cooler temperatures and shorter days, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits can be that welcoming feature in our landscape. But if the outdoor space beckons for the creative, it requires more than a little noodling to bring it all together.

Let’s talk whimsical and all its details. The above design draws in a combination of magic and whimsical to our client’s outdoor space. An antique caldron serves as a fire pit but also creates a focal point, bringing atmospheric as well as functional to the sitting area. Our client was looking for more than just a heating element. This caldron ties in and balances the other whimsical details including the terrace and its sitting area shrouded by a wispy railing. This railing detail serves a functional purpose as a back rest to the sitting wall but also brings additional whimsy to the space.

Speaking of railing details and the purposes it can serve, if you peek back at an August post, The True Creation of Harmony and Balance, you’ll notice the railing detail in this design bends gently with the natural hardscape. Its functional purpose is to guide one along the steps, providing safe and easy access to the beach. This detail is meant for hands to hold, making for an easy grip. 

The design point: each railing adds something unique and elegant to each space as well as serving its main purpose - functionality. But beyond functionality, what really draws you into a well-thought out landscape design? Its symbiotic link to the surrounding elements does not stem from forced details but those that flow and create harmony and balance throughout. Railings should always be functional but why leave out the opportunity to bring unusual and creative to the space. Otherwise, railings can appear institutional and harsh, not warm and welcoming or whimsical. 

And speaking of warm and welcoming, there's nothing more cozy than an outdoor fireplace or fire pit on a chilly New England evening. But if you want unusual and functional, think ahead. As mentioned in last Friday’s post, Everything is Turning Pumpkins, it's another reminder that fall is the perfect time to think design. And don't forget it's the perfect time for soil testing.

© Copyright note: this image and design have been developed by and are the property of Bilowz Associates Inc. and should not be reproduced in any manner nor are they to be assigned to any third party without the expressed written permission and consent of Bilowz Associates Inc.© 

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