Stone

DC Landscape Design, Design, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Maryland Landscape Design, Northern Virginia Landscape Design, Patio Designs, Stone, Virginia Landscape Design, Winery Landscape Design

Should I Build a Fire Pit or a Fireplace?

I meet with a fair number of homeowners who say “I either want a firepit or a fireplace.” This uncertainty is actually a great place to start discussing how they’re ...

by Dave Marciniak • April 16, 2012August 5, 2012

DC Landscape Design, Design, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Landscape Installation, Maryland Landscape Design, Modern Design, Northern Virginia Landscape Design, Patio Designs, Pavers, Stone, Swimming Pools, Virginia Landscape Design

Travertine Paver Patio Installers in Virginia – What to Know

When I was designing landscapes in Arizona, one option we had available to us was travertine marble tile. These were actual tiles – typically 12″x12″ and less than a half ...

by Dave Marciniak • March 21, 2012June 3, 2012

DC Landscape Design, Design, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Landscape Installation, Maryland Landscape Design, Northern Virginia Landscape Design, Patio Designs, Stone, Virginia Landscape Design

Understanding Flagstone: Sawcut, Thermaled, and Chiseled Edges

You’ve decided to use flagstone in the landscape. Good call! You may not be done making decisions, however. If the stone will be used in an application where you see ...

by Dave Marciniak • February 15, 2012February 13, 2012

Arbors & Trellises, Custom Woodwork, DC Landscape Design, Design, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Maryland Landscape Design, Northern Virginia Landscape Design, Outdoor Furnishings, Patio Designs, Pergolas, Stone, Swimming Pools, Trellises, Virginia Landscape Design, Water features

Fredericksburg Pool, Patio & Pergola Design

This week I stopped off to check in with a landscape design client in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This is probably one of my favorite projects of the year. I’ll do a ...

by Dave Marciniak • June 24, 2011June 24, 2011

DC Landscape Design, Design, Elements of Design, Garden Sculpture, Garden Travel, Hardscaping, Horticulture, Landscape Design, Maryland Landscape Design, Northern Virginia Landscape Design, Principles of Design, Stone, Virginia Landscape Design

Landscape Design Lessons from a Newport Mansion

Several weeks ago MJ and I made the drive to Rhode Island for my niece’s high school graduation. We stayed an extra day so we could celebrate my mom’s birthday. ...

by Dave Marciniak • June 20, 2011June 17, 2011

DC Landscape Design, Drainage, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Landscape Installation, Maryland Landscape Design, Northern Virginia Landscape Design, Stone, Virginia Landscape Design, Water features

Using Dry Stream Beds for Drainage

Here in Virginia we have clay soils that don’t drain particularly well. We also get a fair bit of rainfall. When new subdivisions are built, especially in northern Virginia, the ...

by Dave Marciniak • May 13, 2011

Concrete Design, DC Landscape Design, Design, Drainage, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Landscape Installation, Maryland Landscape Design, Northern Virginia Landscape Design, Stone, Virginia Landscape Design

Why Is This Retaining Wall Failing?

I walk by this wall whenever I walk to the post office in downtown Culpeper. Walls like this are pretty common in older neighborhoods like mine. Leaning and generally unhappy ...

by Dave Marciniak • April 4, 2011

Concrete Design, Decks, Drainage, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Patio Designs, Pavers, Pergolas, Stone, Trellises, Water features

What Landscape Work Can Be Done in Fall and Winter?

I get this question a lot this time of year. I get my fall rush once the kids are back in school, it takes a few weeks to get through ...

by Dave Marciniak • November 2, 2010

Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Stone

Amazing Old Stonework

My mother-in-law was in town this past week. The way I was raised, when you have company from out of town staying with you the right thing to do is ...

by Dave Marciniak • August 4, 2010

Concrete Design, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Patio Designs, Stone

Stamped Concrete Steps

In the post I just did about stamped concrete, I failed to mention one of my other issues with stamped concrete: the vertical surfaces (steps, turndown edges, etc) often look ...

by Dave Marciniak • August 2, 2010