Even if there are beds and flower beds on your site, there is an alpine hill and a small pond - this does not mean that there is a correct and harmonious landscape design. It often happens that a lot of time and money are spent, but the desired result is never achieved. Let's try to figure out what landscape design is and what its varieties are.
In a suburban area there is a special freedom of creativity.
What is landscape design
The concept of landscape design appeared at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, although, in fairness, it is worth noting that people involved in the improvement of gardens and parks have existed since ancient times (this, in particular, can be judged by one of the wonders of the world - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon ). Even in Russia in the 18th-19th centuries there were so-called “organizers of parks and gardens” who were engaged in “landscape art”.
The owner can realize any idea and build the space around the house in his own way.
In general, much less attention was previously paid to the design or decoration of the site. The main efforts were directed towards practical benefits - for example, getting a good harvest.
All components of landscape design fit well into the rule “combine top, bottom and shape.”
Currently, no one doubts that landscape design is an art that requires certain knowledge and skills, and is impossible without financial investments.
When developing a landscape project, it is necessary to connect vertical and horizontal planes.
We can safely say that this direction is based on three main components:
- Architecture and design;
- Botany and plant growing;
- Philosophy and culture.
It is important to emphasize the required volume, to create a single space where nothing will be discordant with the overall style decision.
Design
This is truly a key point. To begin with, a detailed site plan is drawn up on paper and all future objects are “placed” on it. It’s only at first glance that everything is extremely simple, but in fact, the components of the future landscape masterpiece should be arranged in exact accordance with the style. The result should be a complete harmonious composition.
Any style of landscape design is a reflection of the corresponding time, colored by national flavor.
In addition, at the design stage, the order of work is determined, for example, when the irrigation system, drainage, lighting, and so on will be installed.
Crop production
At this stage, the main thing is to correctly determine the terrain, climatic features, as well as the characteristics of the soil cover. Based on this, an “assortment” of plants is planned that will fully grow and develop, and, importantly, will harmoniously “fit” into the overall concept.
The use of characteristic types of paving, site planning, trimming hedges, and arrangement of mandatory areas paints an effective style image.
Culture
This aspect is especially important when creating theme gardens. For example, when designing a Japanese garden or a Country garden, it is impossible to avoid the issue of philosophy and cultural origins. In addition to exclusively professional knowledge about plants and style, it is imperative to know what a particular element means and for what purpose it occupies a certain place.
For a modern gardener, it is important to have not only a fertile, but also a stylish, beautiful garden and vegetable garden.
Furniture and interior decor
When choosing furniture for a German home, you should be especially careful. An overly pretentious detail will look out of place, which can spoil the overall style of the Bavarian interior. It is recommended to use wood and leather products. Natural materials fit perfectly into the Bavarian style of construction.
Soft, warm shades of textiles and frame furniture, natural stone, wood and metal will add a touch of German Gothic to the room. The niche near the stove in the kitchen can be decorated with stone, in the manner of a medieval hearth. Flower beds with petunias and azaleas will add charm to the rooms.
It is also recommended to use warm light to illuminate the interior of German houses. There should be more lamps in the central rooms. For an intimate atmosphere, bedrooms and reading areas are suitable, where there will be enough wall sconces and spotlights. Stained glass windows can be bright spots in the interior. It is not necessary to decorate the windows of your home with them. Table lamps, countertops and kitchen cabinets can also be decorated with colored glass.
When designing a half-timbered house, it is not necessary to follow traditional German technologies. You can take a project that is convenient for you and modify it by adding stylistic details of the half-timbered structure. For such purposes, you can hire a professional designer; he will draw up a project for a German house according to your requests.
Large construction companies should have designs for German houses. Therefore, if you are planning to turn to professionals, immediately inquire about the availability of projects with a Bavarian flavor. Building a Bavarian house according to a ready-made plan will cost you much less.
The German style in the interior began to take shape at the end of the 19th century. A feature of the style of that time was the mixing of some Gothic elements with traditional styles of the Middle Ages.
Due to the mixture of styles, the interior of German houses looked overloaded and somewhat ironic. The German style of the late 19th century was called the “bug renaissance”, this is a kind of mockery of the way German living quarters were decorated. In the thirties of the 20th century, the German architect and artist V. Gropius introduced new trends into the German interior.
Now the German style in the interior is considered an ethno-style with characteristic features, which include German restraint and some conservatism. Pragmatism and rationality are the main companions of the German interior style. In such an interior you are unlikely to find any unnecessary details or accessories.
Features of the German interior are
The absence of rounded shapes in the interior is pure geometry (constructivism), minimalism and functionality. The color scheme must be light to create the effect of free space.
Before creating a German interior in an apartment, you need to make sure that the view from the windows is aesthetically pleasing, otherwise the essence of the German interior will disappear. For this reason, windows are given greater importance than in all other styles; as a rule, windows are not curtained with dark curtains, but decorated with light transparent tulle; It is important that the frames on the windows do not overload their appearance.
Much attention is paid to lighting in the German style in the interior; one room can have more than 4 lamps in addition to the chandelier itself.
A dark wooden floor or a floor decorated with a laminate that imitates natural wood is preferable.
Furniture in a German interior is no longer intended to create an aesthetic image, but for the comfort of the owners, which is why furniture made from solid wood in dark shades is often used in German interiors; It is necessary to have multifunctional furniture: shelving and various cabinets.
There shouldn’t be a lot of accessories in a German interior; you can do without them altogether, but to give the atmosphere of old Germany, you can hang small pictures in wooden frames depicting traditional German architecture on the walls. German style in the interior involves the presence of flowers in vases. It would be better if they were in every room.
If rationality and pragmatism reign in your soul, then decorating a room in the German style is exactly what the owners of the room need. This style is optimal for people who value practicality and reliability, and such qualities are very difficult to find in other designs.
Basic elements of landscape design
Although the style and meaning of design decisions are different, for the most part they have a common basis.
The main condition for the harmonious design of a garden plot is that the style of the house matches the rest of the plot.
The basis for creating landscape design in any style:
- Building. It is usually the center of a design project.
- Lawn covering. The grasses from which it is created can be different, but the presence of a lawn is mandatory in many stylistic decisions.
- Green spaces. Trees, shrubs, flowers and even entire compositions (flower beds, for example).
- Water source. This could be a pond or stream, a fountain or a small waterfall.
- Paths and platforms.
- Small architectural forms: benches, figurines, arches.
- Small decor. Lamps, pendants, animal figurines.
- Maintenance: lighting, watering.
When decorating their plot or garden, each person chooses the type of plants and decorations to their liking.
Shade palette for Deutsch Küche
Unlike bright ethnic styles (Oriental, Ukrainian or African), German design is quite restrained in colors. You will not see eye-catching contrasts and provocative shades in such a kitchen.
Most often used for design:
- beige, cream, ivory;
- chocolate, light brown, sand;
- dark burgundy, terracotta;
- all shades of natural wood: ash, walnut, oak, pine.
The choice of colors is quite limited, but it only seems so. For example, beige alone has about 50 different tones from gray-pink beige to beige-honey. Choose to your heart's content!
Landscape Design Styles
Main types of landscape design:
- Regular or classic. This design of the site involves an abundance of regular shapes and straight lines. Preference is given to formal flower beds and lawns. Reservoirs also have regular shapes.
- Landscape. This landscape is very reminiscent of natural beauty. The elements are whimsical and repeat the shape and color of natural objects. There are no clear lines or regular shapes.
If you are planning to decorate your garden in an interesting way, one of the best decisions is to stick to a certain style.
Each variety has its own styles. What styles are there in landscape design?
English
As the name suggests, foggy England is considered the birthplace of this style. The style originated at the very beginning of the 18th century, and its main idea was to preserve the pristine natural beauty. English style is balancing on the brink of negligence and well-groomed.
A classic example of a landscape in the English style was observed by the heroine of Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” in the rich estate of Mr. Darcy.
The main criteria for this landscape design:
- Lack of straight lines and clear contours, smooth outlines;
- Abundance of vertical gardening;
- Unity of home and garden plot;
- Paths very similar in shape to natural ones, only paved with stone;
- Well-groomed lawns as an additional place to relax;
- Using plants of different heights to create picturesque corridors and labyrinths;
- A body of water (stream) that closely resembles a natural spring;
- Color contrasts, riot of colors;
- Large "carpet" flower beds.
Cool shades of inflorescences, a combination of pink and blue, and the absence of flashy accents are preferred.
Typically, such a picturesque garden begins immediately outside the door of your home, without preludes or preparatory areas. Mandatory components of the English style are wooden or stone benches, cozy gazebos, small bridges, and massive forged lanterns. To ensure that no one doubts your English garden, be sure to install an ancient (or very similar to an ancient) statue in it.
Particular attention is paid to green spaces and lawns: in addition to careful year-round care, there is a careful screening of species based on the type and color of foliage.
Dutch
An abundance of colors, pastoralism and an extremely well-groomed appearance - all this is the Dutch style. A clear idea of this direction of landscape design can be obtained from the paintings of artists of the Dutch school.
The image of a Dutch garden directly correlates with the character of the inhabitants of this country and its natural conditions.
Main attributes:
- Parterre lawn;
- Hedge;
- Flowers and shrubs are at the forefront; there are very few trees;
- There are mixborders along the garden paths;
- Unusual figurines, decor reminiscent of rustic style;
- Flowerbeds in unusual carts.
A house in a Dutch landscape must be covered with vines. Directly opposite the main entrance is a bright lawn surrounded by shrubs and small flower beds. The accent of the lawn is either a standard tree, a topiary, or a fountain.
Forced to conquer living space from the advancing sea, the Dutch value land very much, and their gardens are quite small.
The main flowers for flower beds in the Dutch landscape are considered to be bulbous: tulips, daffodils, lilies. Delphinium, foxglove, and chinstrap are also actively used.
Another important condition of a Dutch garden is openness. The beauty of the site should definitely be enjoyed by all passersby. So high “blind” fences are inappropriate here. Most often, the boundaries of the garden are marked by a hedge or a wrought-iron fence with sparse twigs.
The area is used to the maximum, ordinary trees are replaced by dwarf forms.
The paths are covered with pebbles or wood chips, and platforms are organized on which gazebos or pavilions are installed. But benches are often “cut” right into the hedge.
It is impossible to imagine such a garden without hand-made items. These include figurines, carts with flower beds, as well as wheels and wooden mills. Wooden buckets, chests of drawers and barrels are used for mini flower beds. And the small sculptures of such a garden will definitely make you smile: often these are frogs or unusual fairy-tale gnomes.
The most spectacular part of the garden is the parterre in front of the house, to arouse the admiration of passers-by.
Country
This style is also called rustic. Naturalness is considered its fundamental principle. This direction does not promote unity with nature; it itself is a natural island. And yet there are some rules in country style:
- Slight randomness;
- The paths are paved with stones (or sprinkled with pebbles) so that gaps remain and grass grows;
- There must be beds and fruit trees and shrubs;
- Flowers in huge quantities, and not only in specially organized flower beds;
- Climbing plants on the fence;
- The presence of elements of village life, for example, a section of wicker fabric, a cart, clay pots and jugs;
- Grouping of garden and wild crops.
The rustic style (country) of landscape design is characterized by some negligence, a touch of antiquity, and the absence of perfectly adjusted proportions.
This semblance of a village landscape is built on the unity of natural “disorder” and attentive management care. By the way, it is better not to place fruit trees crowded in one place. Think over the placement scheme in advance and systematically distribute them throughout the area. And it’s not necessary to create a full-fledged vegetable garden; you can get by with beds with spices.
It seems that the artist sketched a pictorial sketch with light strokes, which suddenly came to life.
Expensive and exclusive plants will be superfluous at this celebration of nature and simplicity. But you can’t do without sunflowers and spectacular pumpkins. Also don't forget about mallow, calendula, cosmos, chamomile and marigold. These elemental plants will create the foundation and add a unique lightness to the rustic style.
In country style, the construction of wooden gazebos and the creation of man-made ponds and streams are encouraged.
In a village garden there is sure to be a place for a spectacular garden scarecrow, rough benches and hedges. Wicker furniture and decorative elements look harmonious in this style.
Chinese
More and more lovers of the East are trying to recreate the Chinese style in their countryside. This desire is understandable, because this style dates back hundreds of years, it is harmonious, but very unusual for a European.
A Chinese-style garden does not tolerate symmetry, straight lines and clear outlines. Its founders are confident that energy can circulate freely only in non-man-made space.
The special features of the Chinese style in landscape design are the elegance of lines, richness of colors, and the desire to transform the simple into something complex without violating the natural harmony.
Main characteristics of the Chinese landscape:
- All items are required to create complete compositions;
- Such a garden becomes an ideal place for meditation;
- A feeling of limitlessness must be created. This is achieved in the following way: a new landscape is visible from every point in the garden;
- Water must be present both at rest and in motion
- The Chinese landscape is impossible without a tea gazebo;
- Amazing variety of plants.
Such a garden is a kind of model of the world, which means it should give the impression that pine trees, boulders, streams and bamboo appeared naturally, and were not planted and placed according to someone else’s scheme. To make the composition complete, a fence is installed that follows all the lines of the relief and is crowned with a wooden gate, complemented by a wise aphorism.
The space is artificially stretched due to the long length of winding walking paths and the inclusion of water compositions in the landscape.
The place for the tea house is allocated at some elevation, so that it is convenient to admire the open spaces.
Chrysanthemums, jasmine, peonies, tea roses, and irises are considered mandatory for a Chinese garden. And from the trees - pine, juniper and peach.
Scandinavian
This trend appeared in the middle of the 20th century and is becoming more and more popular every year. This style finds its application not only in the countryside, but also in the interior of rooms.
Nothing should distract from the contemplation of natural harmony or immersion in one’s own thoughts.
The main features of the Scandinavian garden:
- Restraint, functionality, orderliness;
- Unusual flower beds and shrubs are used as accents;
- The garden is compact, divided into functional zones;
- Restrained color palette, no riot of colors. The combination of green, brown and gray is relevant;
- Figurines of fairy-tale characters are used as decorative elements;
- Natural materials in natural colors are the best option for additional finishing;
- On such a site, an open gazebo with a fireplace looks harmonious;
- An irregularly shaped pond surrounded by plants;
- Coniferous trees, cereals and green hedges are ideal plant options for the Scandinavian landscape;
- Pots with flowers and miniature flower beds will complement the overall design concept.
An important point: the Scandinavian style has no restrictions on the area of the site, climatic conditions and terrain. You can recreate it anywhere.
New directions have individuality, but do not require compliance with strict standards.
Choosing a style for decorating a personal plot is a serious task. In the end, it depends on how comfortable your vacation will be. And if you can’t create the perfect landscape with all the subtleties, don’t despair. Perhaps a few style elements will be enough to make the garden look harmonious and beautiful.
The interior of a “German” kitchen - comfort in the details
The obvious advantage of decorating a kitchen in a German style is its practical and very simple finish.
Judge for yourself:
- dark wooden parquet, laminate or glossy ceramic tiles on the floor;
- large, wide windows with wooden or plastic frames;
- light walls covered with plain wallpaper or painted;
- white ceiling with dark beams or suspended structures in the form of shelves.
It is important to strictly observe the proportions of the room in order to visually increase the free space through proper finishing. That is why the windows in such a kitchen should not be made very small and tightly curtained. If you are the owner of not an apartment, but a house, then you can add light using roof windows, which are so loved by the Germans.
There is also no need to “heavien” the interior with arches, cornices, stucco molding, partitions and other decorative elements. All this is unnecessary. A German-style kitchen should have a strict, regular shape.
