Projects Archives - Native Edge Landscape

Steel & Cedar: A Stunning Pergola Takes Center Stage

by Heather Day / July 15, 2023

At Native Edge Landscape, we believe that outdoor spaces are canvases for artistic expression and harmonious design. In one of our recent projects, we had the opportunity to create a breathtaking pergola that seamlessly blended with the surrounding environment while showcasing the unique artful taste of our clients. Join us as we explore the captivating details of this design and the meticulous craftsmanship that went into creating a truly remarkable outdoor space.

Cedar and steel pergola perfectly accented by large scale decor

Finished back patio with two Trex decks and large steel and cedar pergola. Furniture and styling is midcentury modern.

Rough Cedar Purlins in the background, clients' potted Brachychiton Rupestris in foreground

The Pergola: A Perfect Fusion of Steel and Cedar

The focal point of this project is undoubtedly the large pergola, which we carefully constructed from steel C-channel and rough cedar purlins. The combination of these materials resulted in a striking aesthetic that effortlessly marries strength and natural beauty. The warm tones of each play off one another and come alive in the sunlight, while the alternating basketweave layout of the slats offer even more visual interest as well as variation in the provided shade. The design concept was carefully planned to ensure the purlins fit snugly into the channel, cleverly concealing any visible fasteners. This attention to detail adds to the sleek and streamlined appearance of the pergola, elevating its visual appeal and rustic elegance.

Detail of the steel and rough cedar pergola, constructed to hide fasteners. — *No visible fasteners lend to the visual tidiness of the construction.*

Working in Harmony with Nature

One of the most remarkable aspects of this project is how the pergola and the clam shell-colored Trex deck were thoughtfully designed to complement and highlight the existing large red oak tree. Rather than overshadowing or competing with its natural beauty, the design gracefully worked around the tree, creating a harmonious coexistence between human craftsmanship and nature's elegance.

Before and after diptych of the deck and pergola designed to showcase the existing large red oak tree. — *Before & After of Framing the Deck and Pergola Around the Large Existing Red Oak*

Mid-Century Modern Charm with an Artful Twist

While the overall design of the space exudes mid-century modern aesthetics, what truly makes this project stand out is the clients' unique and artful taste. Their personal touch can be seen in the selection of decor, furniture, and subtle embellishments that add character and personality to the space. The result is a stunning blend of timeless design principles and the clients' individual artistic expression, creating a truly one-of-a-kind outdoor sanctuary.

The view from the secondary TREX deck, overlooking a zen cactus area against the cedar fence. Ground is hardscape with pavers and blackstar gravel.

The view from the secondary TREX deck, overlooking a zen cactus area. Deck is decorated with terra cotta statuary and steel planters with cacti.

A portion of the client's cactus collection in gorgeous stone planters against a cedar fence

The patina of the steel C-channel perfectly compliments the clients' existing decor

Vintage Brass Eagle on the siding of the home

Client's existing art installation in corner of the back yard

Clients' existing art stool placed on a field of blackstar gravel

Steel C-Channel with Patina Perfectly Matching Clients' Existing Firepit

Craftsmanship that Inspires

Every element of this project, from the pergola's construction to the careful integration of existing natural features, is a testament to the exceptional craftsmanship of the Native Edge Landscape team. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, our designers and craftsmen brought the clients' vision to life, transforming their outdoor space into a work of art.

The large pergola in this project serves as a striking centerpiece, combining the remarkable simplicity of steel and cedar to create a visually striking structure that harmonizes with the surrounding environment. Through careful design and meticulous craftsmanship, we successfully incorporated the clients' artful taste, resulting in a space that reflects their unique style while embracing mid-century modern charm. At Native Edge Landscape, we take pride in creating outdoor spaces that are not only aesthetically stunning but also deeply personal and reflective of our clients' individuality.

The Native Edge Landscaping team hard at work constructing a beautiful pergola — *The Native Edge Crew Hard at Work*

If you're seeking to transform your own yard into a captivating art space, we invite you to contact Native Edge Landscape. Our team of experts is ready to bring your vision to life, combining artistry, sustainability, and conscientious craftsmanship to create an outdoor sanctuary that is truly extraordinary. Let us inspire and elevate your outdoor living experience today.

Southwest Swale Way

by Heather Day / July 8, 2023

Intelligent Drainage & Rainfall Celebration

Front entry by driveway featuring crushed limestone mulch planted with colorful native plants, accent beds of dark Whittlesey mulch, dry creek bed accents of Brazos and washed river rocks, and a front walk of sawn limestone pavers and poured-in-place concrete leading to and coordinating with the driveway

At Native Edge, we thrive on designing landscapes that not only enhance the beauty of a property but also address practical challenges. Southwest Swale Way was a project that focused on intelligent drainage solutions while celebrating the natural element of rainfall, and enhancing the client's desired southwestern style. Join us as we delve into the details of this remarkable project and discover how we transformed a problematic swale into a stunning landscape feature.

Phase 1: Enhancing Functionality & Aesthetics

In the first phase, we adjusted the irrigation system, began laying the dry creek beds, and installed the sawn limestone slabs, crushed limestone rock mulch, and limestone boulders that were excavated from the site to create a patio space off the back steps and enhance the appearance of the septic field. Native grasses and tradescantia pallida are beautifully incorporated into this space.

Beautiful hardscape patio area featuring a mix of limestone pavers, slabs, and boulders on a bed of crushed limestone mulch, surrounded by a mix of Brazos and washed river rock. — Side Hardscape Patio - After

Side yard prior to installation of gravel patio — Side Hardscape Patio - After

Beautiful hardscape patio area featuring a mix of limestone pavers, slabs, and boulders on a bed of crushed limestone mulch, planted with feather grass — Rock Patio Detail

Phase 2: Celebrating Rainfall & Creating Visual Delight

Building upon the success of Phase 1, the second phase of the project focused on enhancing the aesthetics of the landscape while emphasizing the celebration of rainfall.

Beautiful new curb appeal — Beautiful Refreshed Curb Appeal

The home's front high voltage utility area has been replanted with native plants that will grow to conceal the utilities while still allowing for accessibility.

Rain Chains, Side Accent Bed, and Retaining Wall

The existing overwhelmed downspouts were replaced with rain chains, which not only effectively managed the water flow but also added a touch of rustic elegance that matched the home's style. To work in tandem with the rain chains, limestone slabs were installed beneath them to act as splash pads. The limestone slab beautifully matches and enhances the existing architecture of the home, as well as the materials used throughout the landscaping.

Beautiful front entry and yard after renovation featuring featuring a poured-in-place concrete path leading up to sawn limestone pavers. Yard features a brick-capped limestone accent wall that mirrors the house, dry creek swales of Brazos and washed river rock, and crushed limestone mulch as well as dark Whittlesey mulch, and accented with limestone boulders excavated from the property — Retaining Wall, Side Accent Bed, and Front Entry - After

Retaining wall detail - limestone block with brick cap that ties to the architecture of the house, accented with Brazos and washed river rock, with crushed limestone mulch areas featuring native plants — Retaining Wall, Side Accent Bed, and Front Entry - After

The splash pads are designed to help guide the runoff to a catch basin beneath the gravel to two 12” box drains that pipe into the drain system behind the retaining wall. The installation of mixed limestone block retaining walls with brick caps seamlessly integrated with the architectural elements of the property and employed leftover building materials from the home.

Front Entry Walk, Retaining Wall, & Rain Chains

We added a poured-in-place concrete path from the entry walk extending from the sawn limestone pavers to the utilities at the side of the house to tie into the existing driveway, adding visual interest but also practicality.

The existing excavated limestone boulders were strategically repositioned throughout the landscape to not only serve as functional components but also as visually striking features to the modified design of the dry creek pathways and planted areas.

Dry creek pathway leading past the bird bath and down to the wildflower prairie at the back of the property; pathway is comprised of Brazos and washed river rock and accented with a limestone boulder excavated from the site. — Back Path to Wildflower Prairie

Side Yard Bed, Oak Clusters, and Dry Creek Path - After

The swales were further enhanced with a mix of washed river gravel and Brazos River gravel, creating a natural stream-like appearance while maintaining proper water movement. These pathways meander throughout the yard and lead down to the wildflower prairie at the very back of the property.

Gorgeous accent beds installed at the back of the house to provide ease in maintenance and irrigation; planted with native and adaptive plants and topdressed with dark Whittlesey mulch, surrounded by dry river bed swale paths and accented with limestone boulders excavated from the site — Back of House - After

Gorgeous accent beds installed at the back of the house to showcase oak clusters and provide ease in maintenance and irrigation; planted with native and adaptive plants and topdressed with dark Whittlesey mulch, surrounded by dry river bed swale paths and accented with limestone boulders excavated from the site — Side Yard Bed, Oak Clusters, and Dry Creek Path - After

View from the back yard to the large crushed limestone mulch xeriscape bed — Wildflower Prairie

Wildflower prairie at the very back of the property — Wildflower Prairie

The beautiful clusters of oaks in the back were viewed as an opportunity to create native planting areas and give ease to mowing, maintenance, and irrigation, while also making these stunning trees a focal point in the design. These areas were mulched with dark Whittlesey mulch to provide visual contrast and tie in to the other landscaped accent beds around the property.

A beautiful mixture of hardscapes: dark Whittlesey mulch, sawn limestone pavers, limestone boulders excavated from the site, and a blend of washed river rock and Brazos river rock

To extend the enjoyment of the yards into the evening, we installed landscape lighting with ten unique fixtures. This included front yard foundation well lights and backyard downlights, known as “moonlighting” that beautifully and naturally illuminates the landscape features, creating a captivating ambiance that imitates the moon.

Oak clusters in yard after redesign; showcased with an accent bed topdressed with dark Whittlesey mulch and surrounded by pathways of Brazos and washed river rock — Oak Clusters - After

Oak clusters in backyard before redesign — Oak Clusters - After

The Southwest Swale Way project exemplifies Native Edge's expertise in addressing drainage challenges while creating visually stunning landscapes. By intelligently managing water flow, incorporating rain chains, and designing functional swales, we successfully transformed a problematic area into an aesthetically pleasing feature. The use of natural materials, such as limestone boulders and diverse top dresses, added texture and visual interest.

Contact us at Native Edge to explore how we can transform your outdoor space into a sustainable oasis that celebrates both functionality and natural elements.

Brazos River Rock and Washed River Rock details

Native flowering plants offer pops of color all around the property. — Brazos River Rock and Washed River Rock details

Cherrywood Charmer

by Dillon Tuttle / May 5, 2023

The home owners of the Cherrywood Charmer were seeking an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sensitive landscape that would complement the existing large custom deck, which is used both as a peaceful refuge and for some entertaining. This project involved a full-property landscape renovation as the landscaping around the home had been largely untouched for twenty years. It had been in a state of decline in recent years, accelerated by the recent Austin freeze.

The design solution in the backyard focused on expanding the idea of the peaceful refuge by installing meandering paths through diverse plantings intended to draw the user into the landscape, highlighting the presence of the large shade tree that is central to the sense of privacy and enclosure of the space, and implementing a large, calming water feature. The stone borders and pathways are comprised of nicotine limestone sawed chop block that beautifully compliment the impressive three-pump water feature.

We also installed a custom key hole garden made from red cedar with built in trellis supports and a nearby slimline rainwater cistern for produce gardening and irrigation.

In the front yard, our focus was an update to the existing landscape to increase curb appeal and provide a sense of connection with the backyard landscape. New bed lines were defined to capture the areas in which lawn would thrive, and native and adapted planting were implemented along the perimeters of the landscape to draw the eye of passersby. A new railing was also added to the front porch to provide better accessibility for the home owners.

The Cherrywood Charmer is now a beautiful and sustainable landscape that reflects the homeowner's vision and the expertise of Native Edge Landscape.

Brentwood Beauty

by Erin Spencer / August 6, 2022

These homeowners came to us with a solid foundation to go on, but wanted the space to be more practical for their lifestyle while still being a little eclectic. They had just completed a recent landscape job with a previous firm, but wanted to add some important finishing touches to fully encompass what they had been dreaming of for their space. Privacy from their backyard neighbors, new grass with irrigation, and a fenced in area out front for their dog were their top priorities.

South Austin Suburban Sanctuary

by Erin Spencer / January 6, 2022

These homeowners came to us with the desire to turn their basic grass lawn into a fun hangout space. In the new design, they wanted a large patio, a gathering place for a fire pit, native plantings, outdoor lighting, and a grassy area to accommodate yard games and the family dog all while addressing some drainage concerns! A designated space was left to accommodate the future hot tub; Designer Erin included pre-built steps in her plans when designing the layout of the patio so that they would have easy access in the future.

A cut out was added to the deck to leave an area for a water feature to be installed, and to give the deck additional interest and sharp angles to mirror zig-zag bridges found in traditional Asian style landscapes. The Gabian wall was added to help define the space while also giving a variation of texture from patio to lawn. The water feature itself was inspired by the Japanese bamboo “deer-scarer”; Erin’s interpretation uses the corten metal instead of the traditional bamboo. The issues and concerns with drainage were addressed with a French Drain and dry creek bed with also gave interest and a sense of movement to the landscape. Our final task was to add a small planting area to the front of the home to dress up the entry and bring a cohesive feel to the entire home.

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Hilltop Haven

by Dillon Tuttle / December 11, 2021

These homeowners have a beautiful hill country property and were looking to match the aesthetic of the home with an updated landscape design. The primary goals for this project included completing the landscape left unfinished around the existing pool, replacing as much lawn as possible with native plants to attract pollinators and birds, and reimagining the front yard hillside. Custom entry stairs and a bridge were added with steel raised planters to give dimension to the sloping walkway to include a formal path to the front door for guest parking at the street. The bridge gives a clear path over a dry creek drainage system made with river rocks, giving excess water a clear path to follow that avoids important areas of the home and landscaping. We added a custom address marker as well as a few bubbling boulder water features in the front and back yard to provide interest and water source for wildlife.

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Mid-Century Ranch Makeover

by Dillon Tuttle / October 8, 2021

This mid-century ranch makeover was designed to create an exciting outdoor living space to compliment the homeowners’ in-ground pool and outdoor movie theatre. We wanted the unique style of the home to extend into their outdoor space. Architectural plants paired with the movement of softer flowers and grasses blend into a visually striking and relaxing space for this young family to entertain and enjoy! Texture was a big influence in this landscape with a mix of hardscape and foliage to fuse the space into a modern rustic charm. Windmill palms, cacti, and yuccas were paired with flowering perennials and ornamental grasses to provide seasonal bursts of color and amplify the southwestern ambiance.

Cafe lights and hitching-post towel racks were selected for a cozy and eccentric Austin flare. Artificial Turf was installed to replace the pre-existing pea gravel to soften the landscape and create a more pet-friendly backyard for their dog to play in. An outdoor kitchen with a raised countertop for extra seating was built within access of two doors for hosting and cleaning convenience. With this backyard makeover, the hosting possibilities are endless!

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Mount Bonnell Native Oasis

by Dillon Tuttle / June 24, 2021

We have had the pleasure of working on multiple projects for this property over the past few years! It has been great to watch the property change and turn into the native oasis it is today! The most important aspect of this property that the owner wanted to maintain was that all the plantings were native to Central Texas. The back of the property was filled with native plantings around the pool, and the property owner wanted a cohesive look with her beds in the front yard that had become overgrown. We removed the old plants and added in some of the same native plantings that were found in her back yard. Yaupon Holly was added along the property line to provide extra privacy from the neighbors and flowering natives were clustered to make the property more pollinator friendly!

Another request from the owner was that we make the property more inviting during the evenings. We added in some outdoor lighting to highlight the trees, as well as lighting that illuminated the pathway up to the house and around the back of the property. This added a dreamy element to the space, making the property more inviting to guests.

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Georgetown Wildflower Wonderland

by Erin Spencer / June 1, 2021

Located in downtown Georgetown, this family transformed their front yard into a wildflower wonderland! They envisioned a welcoming entrance with seating and native landscaping to host both guests and pollinators on their property. They wanted to ditch their grass yard in favor of colorful native plants that would create a charming scene for friends and neighbors alike. They dreamed of a gathering space in their front yard that looked out over their native plantings, so we added a seating area with cafe lights and raised steel planters so that the plantings could be enjoyed while seated. Black star gravel was added for furniture and plant contrast, making them pop against the home and landscaping. This family now has a relaxing area to gather, host friends, and watch the pollinators visit their beautiful wildflowers!=

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Tarrytown Wraparound

by Rodney Stoutenger / January 30, 2021

This young family came to us looking to transform their yard into an area where they could easily entertain their guests. They were looking to add a seamless wraparound patio that meshed with the look of their existing home and garage. Concrete was chosen as the base of the patio, and was then topped with limestone slabs. A short retaining wall was added along the edge of the patio in the back to give the space more definition. Raised planters along the garage and a custom outdoor kitchen extend their living space to the outdoors. The designer chose to add lighting along the edge of the retaining wall giving the space a low, warm blanket of light. Bougainvillea was planted along the garage climbing upwards, providing a pop of color against the light coloring of the home. Holly trees were chosen to line the backyard fence, as well as the side yard along the street. This helped to provide a green wall of privacy and soften the stone facade.

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