Wimberley Safari
Wimberley Safari Day Mode Bringing South Africa Home to Central Texas As we bounced down the dirt road on our first visit to this sprawling ranch in Wimberley, Texas we knew this place was special. Once we saw the Zebras, Kudu, Bongos, Bison and Kangaroos roaming the Texas Hill Country, we simply couldn’t wait to get out of the truck. Balancing expanse with intimacy, whimsy with context Like many, our clients, Jim and Monica love to travel to exotic places. When their long-anticipated plans of a luxury Safari vacation were cancelled in 2020, they took action. Rather than visiting South Africa, Jim and Monica decided to bring the Safari to them, complete with a resort style space for entertaining friends, families, and guests from around the world. This is where the team at Land Water Light was brought in. Our goal was to design a place that blended the experience of Africa with the Texas Hill Country while allowing for comfort and luxury amongst the expanse of hills and ponds throughout the valley. Bespoke Details, Luxurious Finishes One of the highlights of this project for us was the opportunity to work with Mohon Interiors. Having worked with Jim and Monica on previous projects, their team was instrumental in making material and style selections for various aspects of the project. We met with them weekly throughout the design process in order to make sure their vision for the furnishings matched our vision for the landscape, pool and deck. Elements such as the outdoor shower with an assembly by Sonoma Forge and the “Sunburst” bench with custom fabricated stainless steel firepit are two of our favorite collaborative elements. Meticulous Craftsmanship In order to bring this design to life, we brought in one of our partners, Iconic Pools who helped with the technical design and engineering of the pool itself. In collaboration with their team, we installed this project over the course of about nine months. The terraced boulder walls were comprised of dozens of moss rock sandstone boulders weighing multiple tons. Each boulder was carefully selected, organized and placed to help create the sculptural, natural walls. The deck itself is comprised of Ipe, a tropical hardwood known for its density and durability. We opted to let everything turn gray over time to fit the natural ranch aesthetic, including the aging cedar posts that can be found throughout the ranch. One of the hallmark features of the deck is the radial “sunburst” bench, consisting of a tig-welded aluminum frame with over 500 pieces of individually milled Ipe pieces. The fire pit bowl was custom-built as well out of stainless steel and fitted with a 450 BTU gas burner on an electric switch. See more Projects Back to Portfolio GET IN TOUCH If you are looking to create a unique outdoor space at your private estate, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Us
WENTWORTH
WENTWORTH Day Mode For the Love of England and Dogs After falling in love with the countryside and classic manors of England, our Central Texas-based clients wanted to recreate that aesthetic at home. Being avid dog lovers, they required that all plant materials and design elements be completely safe for their four-legged family members. This led to quite a challenge as many of the classic English plantings are toxic to dogs. In the end, this expansive English-style estate resembles something out of a fairytale with its rolling green hills, decorative iron work and old-world style masonry. UK Landscape, Texas Limestone When creating the design for Wentworth, we knew that every detail had to exude the feeling of a centuries-old England. Expansive Zoysia lawns became a canvas of rolling green hills. We designed and installed massive retaining walls with random field stone to look as if old-world stones were placed like cobble. To refine the design, a series of niches were created with herringbone Lueder stone as a contrast to the rough wall textures. A Beautiful ‘Birdcage’ We designed and installed custom ironwork for railings, fences and most iconically, a completely custom iron gazebo structure within the pool garden nicknamed the “Birdcage”. The Birdcage served as a hub for the various paths between the house, guest house and pool areas. Plant Adaptations and Water Irrigation We used a multitude of native and adapted Texas plantings to create much of the same look as an English estate with better longevity for the Texas climate. Each plant was carefully cross-referenced with lists of plants with known toxicity to dogs to ensure pet safety for our clients. To support the water requirements for the property we designed and installed a complete water system with 30,000 gallons of storage and a water-efficient irrigation system to keep things healthy. Rich and Immersive Lighting We knew that the lighting needed to completely transform the atmosphere of the project at night. Using motion and interaction we created lighting that balanced beauty with motion and interaction. Using a series of lighting control systems, we animated various areas to create flickering fire within the niches of the retaining walls, adding dynamic, warm lighting to bathe the pool and dog run areas. In addition, as you step under our iron gazebo, a ring of firelight springs to life, swirling around the edges. Eventually, the light fades out to make way for the moonlit projection of the gazebo roof casting its shadow on the garden floor. Award-Winning Collaboration Wentworth has been the recipient of numerous design and construction awards within the state of Texas. We could not be more proud to have been a part in its creation and are thankful for our amazing clients that made it possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EwQWaGa_s0 See more PORTFOLIOS Back to Portfolio GET IN TOUCH If you are looking to create a unique outdoor space at your private estate, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Us
Hilltop Transitional
JUMONVILLE Night Mode Optimizing the Views of Texas Hill Country Our scope for this project was to redesign and renovate the existing landscape in the front property, as well as design and install the landscape surrounding the new pool for the back property. Features such as a fire pit, lighting and audio completed the experience of space for both relaxation and entertaining, while giving optimal views of Hill Country. FIXING Where Others Failed The bulk of this project was the pool area in the back where the initial builder and pool contractor gave little thought to the elevations/grading, which led to aesthetic, functional, and structural issues for the landscape. OUR Design-Build TO-DOs The project included the design and build of: Terraced retaining walls along the pool and home in the backyard to eliminate severe erosion and steep slope issues Fencing for pool protection while minimizing the visual intrusion Stepping-stone pathways throughout the property A drainage system to minimize any flooding issues Custom-built gas fire pit to create a gathering place for entertaining Landscape plant materials for visual interest, color and texture year-round Landscape and architectural lighting A high-end audio system The irrigation system More Privacy and Sophistication Through the use of terracing, retaining walls, and landscape material, we created a sense of compression and intimacy to combat the previous open views to the neighboring properties. Plant material was chosen to mimic the Hill Country landscape while providing a clean and sophisticated look. See more PORTFOLIOS Back to Portfolio GET IN TOUCH If you are looking to create a unique outdoor space at your private estate, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Us
SAN MATEO
SAN MATEO Day Mode Evolving a Tuscan-Inspired Villa Decades after an Italian renaissance in the Austin area, our client wanted a change in aesthetic without a complete renovation. When a Trend is Past Its Prime Making outdoor spaces attractive is simple. Making them feel different is more challenging. San Matteo was one of those challenges. In the 1990s, Austin, Texas, experienced a surge of Italian and Tuscan architecture, especially within the high-end residential market. Two decades later, the style fell out of favor compared to more contemporary and modern homes. Unfortunately, the heavy ornamentation, tile roofs, and millwork details make converting these Italian-inspired homes to modern architecture nearly impossible. Creating Space to Breathe Instead of focusing on converting the home to a modern one, we decided to change the feel of the space itself. To begin, the cast stone, multi-tiered fountain that originally resided in the middle of the circular driveway was removed to eliminate the Tuscan design cue that it embodied. A series of modern urns and bollard light fixtures added contemporary elements without clashing. This opened up the motor court space visually, creating a better focus on the front door rather than the large fountain blocking the entire entry. A Lush Landscape Manicured hedges and redesigned beds created layers within the planting areas to add seasonal color and structure throughout the property. The experience within the space evolved from a dated, functional landscape to a lush, modernized villa garden for our client. See more PORTFOLIOS Back to Portfolio GET IN TOUCH If you are looking to create a unique outdoor space at your private estate, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Us
PERGOLA ROAD
PERGOLA ROAD Day Mode A Modern Indoor-Outdoor Alignment For this project we were asked by the client to create a very clean and modern landscape design to work with the overall house architecture. Beauty By Extension Our design included a fire pit area, pergola with louvered shades, and a pool deck to help extend the inside living room into the outdoors. Designed for the Elements We designed ultra linear geometry mixed with arcs and circles to provide some additional interest. For materials, concrete blocks and cast-in-place concrete features with wood and metal accents provided subtle details and warmth. Plaster created uniformity and matched the house finish. We also designed and installed an extensive drainage system in several areas to help cope with storm water entering the site from a neighboring property. Balancing Hardscape with Softscape To keep the spaces from feeling too sterile, open spaces were divided into intimate outdoor “rooms” and plant material provided colors and textures to contrast the hardscape. Crushed gray basalt and white limestone created various patterns to break up the large expanses of aggregates, creating an almost abstract look to the yard area. See more PORTFOLIOS Back to Portfolio GET IN TOUCH If you are looking to create a unique outdoor space at your private estate, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Us
HACIENDA
HACIENDA Day Mode A Modern Landscape for a Spanish-Style Home Hacienda represents how strong design and execution can create an experience within a small space. When our clients first contacted us, they had an idea of what features they liked, but were lost on how to tie everything together. Through our conversations, we arrived at the fact that although they desired an entry that looked beautiful, the feel of the space was equally as important. Creating a Transitional Space The home rests at the bottom of a steep slope with soaring live oaks. The front door itself had the tendency to get lost visually among the various trees, textures and patterns. More importantly, there was no sense of transition between the driveway and the home itself. As we progressed through our design process, we knew creating a sense of place and a transitional space were at the heart of our decisions. Tradition Meets Contemporary Using leftover tile and stone from the construction of the house, we provided a sense of continuity into the new work. While the overall style and materials were consistent with Mission-style architecture, the home displayed contemporary windows, doors and pergola structures. To complement these features, we designed the entry using contemporary shapes and textures while maintaining the traditional Hacienda materials. The oversized concrete urns used throughout the project are a terrific example of blending the traditional and contemporary design elements while providing structure to the entry. Asymmetrical and Warm Lighting In addition, we designed and installed a renovation for the existing outdoor lighting. Upon seeing the rear fountain courtyard we knew we had to nail the lighting in order to do the space justice. Instead of simply lighting the inside we wanted to get the details on the outside to “pop” as well. We used a warm light temperature inside the main basin to create an inviting glow. In the upper bowl we used a cooler color to help create some contrast. Asymmetrical lighting creates drama and shows the carving details on the exterior. Miniature fixtures around the perimeter of the courtyard provided moonlighting through the center. In the front entry we created a background by bathing Hacienda’s walls in warm light, excluding the garage. This forces a visitor to nearly ignore the garage itself, changing the perception of the home at night. The water feature, palms, and urns were all accent lighted in various ways. We installed various downlight fixtures throughout the tall oak trees on the property. This moonlight effect helped provide security lighting to the parking areas as well as playful shadows throughout the property. See more PORTFOLIOS Back to Portfolio GET IN TOUCH If you are looking to create a unique outdoor space at your private estate, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Us
LADY BIRD
LADY BIRD Day Mode A Residential Park Fit for a First Lady This charming park project was for a client who purchased property next door to her home, to create a secluded park area to entertain, relax and reflect. Wildflower Influences The site itself backed against a natural dry creek bed, which helped define the space. By using the natural stone outcroppings, existing large oak trees and wooded backdrop, we created a natural park area with influences from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Seating and Sculptures A vine-covered archway welcomes you into the garden. Emerging from the arch, visitors quickly see the large pergola covered with orange blooms. Several seating areas are located along the pathways and sculptures provided by the clients are hidden throughout, adding surprise and interest to the garden. Native plantings abound with immense seasonal changes – blooming trees in early spring, flowers through spring and summer, and blooming grasses in the fall. After over 15 years since initial installation, the irrigation system needed an upgrade. We converted the majority of the irrigation system to drip and micro irrigation to help reduce wasted water and provide better water delivery to each plant. ‘Layers’ of Lighting Several years after the initial project, we were invited to design the park’s lighting. Over the years the park had become lush and beautiful with a large variety of plant and wildlife species. This gave us the opportunity to create “layers” with the lighting. We chose the central red oak trees and sitting areas as the primary focal points. The pergola itself was lit from underneath with wash lights, creating a reflected cove look and a soft glow on the granite. We used 22 fixtures to light from the back the large live oak, the owners’ pride and joy. Moonlighting illuminated pathways and tied the various features together. Lastly, we used a combination of spot lights to illuminate a prized bronze deer sculpture to welcome all who visit. See more PORTFOLIOS Back to Portfolio GET IN TOUCH If you are looking to create a unique outdoor space at your private estate, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Us
FIRESIDE
FIRESIDE Day Mode Big Elements Light Up a Small Space Our Fireside project exemplifies the thought that “big things come in small packages.” This compact space was a joyous combination of challenges that resulted in something inventive and eye-catching. Our client for this project approached us wanting to replace an old water feature that had long since fallen apart. She wanted something that was beautiful, striking and modern. A ‘Steel’ of a Challenge The idea of steel was thrown out early in the conversation. While steel is typically a poor material choice around wet environments, as we continued the discussion we decided to explore the opportunity of the challenge. Design-Build: Water We renovated a failing stream bed water feature by importing large limestone boulders, rebuilding the hydraulics, adjusting the liner and providing border plantings We also completely renovated the irrigation system and rebuilt drainage systems to reduce pooling and erosion issues. Design-Build: Light We designed and installed an extensive lighting system, using portions of the existing lighting infrastructure. See more PORTFOLIOS Back to Portfolio GET IN TOUCH If you are looking to create a unique outdoor space at your private estate, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Us
TREEHOUSE TERRACE
TREEHOUSE TERRACE Day Mode A Home High Above the Treetops Perched on a limestone ledge between two ravines, the modern and stylish home had the feel of a luxurious tree house. Every room throughout the floor plan had vistas from far above the ground to the lush grasses and Lake Austin below. As a result, the views from above became one of the primary goals for the design. Enhancing natural Features At the entry of the home, the architect designed a stunning sculptural screen spanning the front windows. To accentuate this bold feature we chose to create a monolithic-looking water fountain with sheeting water all the way around its surface. A Japanese Maple flanks the front door, providing color and soft foliage against the house architecture. Working with Steep Slopes The ravine was enhanced through the rearrangement of massive limestone boulders along its banks, reducing erosion and providing a beautiful natural feature to be viewed from the living room. Steep, rocky slopes made designing and installing the cliffside walkways and stairs a challenge. While much of the design was created before construction, our design team spent days on site adjusting the design to maintain the treetop experience throughout the walkway. The numerous stairs and walkways encircling the house were formed and poured along the cliffside. Rectangular Lueder stones were then set throughout to create a continuous path between the various outdoor spaces. Designing the Back Hillside Terraces The primary suite had a view directly down into this area where nothing but grass was planned to minimize erosion. Our vision for this space was to build a series of limestone walls cascading down the hillside. This modern hanging garden featured overflowing, colorful plantings as well as various mulch textures to create an expansive, illustrative view from all angles. A naturalistic fire pit area nestled within the rocky outcroppings along the canal created a beautiful place to relax and entertain within nature. The experience of compression and expansion keeps visitors engaged with the built and natural landscape as they move through the spaces. Patterns of Light from Day to Night Atypical Angles. The large amount of hardscape and infrastructure elements were a challenge for the lighting design; careful planning and forethought was critical. Due to the cliffside location of the house itself, we also had to take into account atypical viewing angles. Architectural Focal Points We focused on architectural focal points throughout the property. The key features in the front of the home were the dramatic steel screen wall and water structure. The steel screen was a challenging feature to illuminate. Our solution was to use 27 in-grade fixtures and core drill them into the caps between each screen. This allowed us to “hit” the steel pieces with enough intensity to get them to glow. To avoid uneven lighting on the stone wall, we used a special linear light with a custom welded edge. The water feature itself was lit with more linear light creating a consistent pattern throughout. Horizontal Lighting Solution Perhaps the most challenging portion of the outdoor lighting design was our new terraces along the back portion of the house. Downlights from high elevations are common, but with no trees or mounting points available, we had to get creative. After brainstorming with our lighting team, we came up with a novel solution: Wall wash lights were mounted horizontally along each terrace wall, which not only lit the walls from the top down, but also cast a wide glow on each bed. While challenging to execute, the results were exactly what we wanted to create. See more PORTFOLIOS Back to Portfolio GET IN TOUCH If you are looking to create a unique outdoor space at your private estate, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Us
Tuscan Enclave
HUDSON Night Mode A Compact Renovation with a Major Impact The scope was to take the existing dated, low-quality courtyard that periodically flooded and turn it into a welcoming showpiece worthy of the property. Land After demolishing the existing courtyard, we reinstalled a new Oklahoma Flagstone patio throughout the space, leaving room for planting beds around the perimeter of the courtyard. Trellises created green walls and ample texture to the small, compact space without taking up room. The urns and plantings function as sculptural elements to anchor corners and provide softer visual references. Water The water feature was installed by our team and tuned to produce a high-quality end product. We created an arroyo (river bed) to fit in with the existing landscape that helps carry water out of the area during heavy rains. Elevated and Peaceful In the end, while our client’s home has a “Texas Tuscany” style, we used more contemporary details to help update the look and feel. Through the use of small accent features, urns, colorful stonework and plantings, we created a peaceful and inviting space. See more PORTFOLIOS Back to Portfolio GET IN TOUCH If you are looking to create a unique outdoor space at your private estate, we’d love to talk with you. Contact Us