Cary and I are flanked by New Buffalo's royalty at the Garage Sale.Here’s something a little off the beaten track from my usual postings…but it’s definitely still appropriate for both the designer and the client. My partner, Cary Frank, and I, along with Suellen Long, chaired an event over the Memorial Day weekend which benefited the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago and Benton Harbor. Our organization, the Designers’ Guild of Southwest Michigan, hosted a garage sale in New Buffalo, MI featuring high-end furnishings and clothing for sale to the general public. The items we received were outstanding…furnishings and accessories from Merchandise Mart showrooms, artwork from renowned artists, designer clothing and handbags and vintage jewelry…just to name a few. What an incredible way to recycle!
This was the first event the Designers’ Guild of Southwest Michigan hosted and we had a little over five months to plan and organize the entire thing. Our committee worked tirelessly to get the job done. The Preview Party on Friday night attracted 300+ people and throughout the weekend more than 1000 people attended and shopped our sale. Thanks to the generosity of everyone, we raised $245,000 for the Boys and Girls Club. Let me say that again…$245,000!
The Boys and Girls Clubs help kids develop positive, life-changing goals through education-based activities, academic support, nutritious meals and a place to learn and grow. This fun, safe environment gives kids and their families a place they can count on – every day. Their mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need it the most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
Thanks to everyone for their enthusiasm and support. We’ll see you at our next event!
This koi pond is in my own garden at my country home. I designed the entire area and lovingly maintain it myself.Most designers consider themselves to be members of the “Good Taste Club†and while this does not necessarily make them landscape architects, you certainly can ask your designer what their ideas or comments are. Most designers have a vision far beyond the scope of furnishings and I know they would love to share their input with you about what you are doing on the exterior of your home since you are going to be creating vistas through the windows of the rooms they just designed, and they already know a lot about your ideas, dreams and desires.
For the Designer
Often, we have to temper a design to actually be simpler than what most landscape architects do. The truly great landscape architects have a lot of answers and are extremely skilled in the technical aspects which are needed, but I never keep my mouth closed when they ask for my comments. I will have spent many hours listening to how my clients live, and what their expectations are, so why would I not know how they wanted to live outdoors as well as indoors? I just told a client not to do the hand laid pavers in his exterior basketball court even though it matched all the other hard surfaces in the landscape because it was not a good surface to play basketball on, so he changed to a better smoother surface without ruining any of the design. I also told him he had too much stone and hardscapes and not enough foliage in the design, which turned out to be his fault, not the landscape architect’s…the client finally listened and now the area will be much more attractive, softer and far more enjoyable.
For the Client
Designers are usually aware of gardens, plantings and overall design, so they are a wonderful source of information, so ask them their thoughts and you may save a great deal of aggravation since they are probably more informed than you are. I just told a client they weren’t watering enough and they asked me how I could tell…I told them the dried leaves on their plants and the wilting look of the gardens told me they were dying of thirst. Many designers have their own gardens as I do and I know my plants, soil conditions, exposure, and whether a garden would look best simple and elegant or if it could be a bit wild and natural. I also know which landscape architects will be best for my clients to work with.
For the Designer
As a designer, you should know who is the best and who is the most affordable landscape architect in your client’s area…this may well lead to additional work for you as well as furnishing an exterior space. Be cognizant of what the natural conditions are of the gardens such as sun, wind and weather exposures and what your client wants out of their landscaping. You don’t want to turn this aspect over to a landscape architect who only sees dollar signs in your client and your client may be dreaming of a concept which they cannot achieve, maintain or afford. Know pool design firms and who these sources are so you can give advice so the project you have nurtured for months does not go down the drain with the rainwater. We had a client who showed me what he was planning to do and both his wife and I though it was absolutely awful and way overdone….he did not listen to us. Once his garden was finished, he ripped the entire garden out — 4 1/2 acres of it — and hired the landscape architect we thought would give him the best product. Then we proceeded to design the pool and the terraces for which there have been several awards given, and used as much of his former plant material as possible and created an incredible landscape vista to rival similar gardens in Tuscany.
For the Designer and Client
As a designer and a client you both have duties to perform and you can achieve much more that you ever dreamed of if everyone is involved and you all get your hands dirty in the process!
