Sometimes it is tough to look at your own backyard and figure out what do with the outdoor living space. It can be a bit overwhelming to envision your dream landscape, but if you find the right plan that speaks to you, that dream can become a work of art.
Such is the case for Snell Isle residents Rob and Heather Klingel. The couple turned to Mike Loomis, owner and project manager of Landscape Fusion, a full-service landscaping and design company in South Tampa to start their project and turn their space into an area perfect for their busy family of four.
Heather and Rob and their two daughters, Reese (7) and Kendall (4), wanted a clean, modern, contemporary design since they entertain frequently. Their welcoming front yard is the first sight into this tranquil and friendly dwelling, with three oversized blue pots framing the entryway and offering a fun pop of color.
They especially like the rectangular pavilion that shelters a long 10-foot dining table with a stone fireplace at the far end. No gas, only firewood. City codes required that the chimney be 3 feet over the peak of the pavilion, totaling 16 feet high—a height that had not been in the plans; a true case of manipulating “on site,” according to Loomis, or—as he refers to it—a “field adjustment.” The pavilion is made of stone that mimics the stone on the front of the house, and beneath the table is an “area rug” made of the same Travertine stone around the swimming pool deck, just a different size and style.
The Klingels’ swimming pool is smoothly shaped with a zero entry (sometimes referred to as a “beach entry”). This two-tone sand color area extends for several feet of shallow water allowing easy access, especially as a play area for the kids. A flat umbrella stand in the center creates shade if wanted, a perfect place for low beach chairs, cool tootsies and no sunburn. Along the driveway and around the swimming pool area Loomis placed a pattern of AstroTurf that lines up with the columns of the back lanai. According to Loomis, artificial turf may have a higher up front cost but it pays for itself over time due to its durability. Landscape Fusion worked cooperatively with Devonshire staff to finish the backyard on time with the house. “We really had to move fast,” laughs Loomis.