Waukesha County Home

Wandsnider starts every conversation about a new project with the same ques- tion: What would you like to accomplish? "You'll get a very broad array of answers and multiple opinions from the homeown- ers," Wandsnider said. "Sometimes they tell me they want to be able to use their front yard more. Other people say their house looks like the ugly duckling on the block and they want to enhance the curb appeal." He suggested homeowners write down the words they would use to describe the finished project. "When people start using those different adjectives, those words become important pieces that help me understand their feel- ings and interpret the design," he said. For example, if a homeowner wants a "charming" feel to their home's front yard and entryway, Wandsnider would suggest a flagstone path instead of poured concrete. When prioritizing your project wish list, also consider how you now use or would like to use the space, as well as the amount of maintenance and upkeep required. Make your budget work for you With your wish list and vision in hand, now it is time to talk dollars and cents. "No matter what the project it is, there is always a balance of staying within a budg- et," Wandsnider said. That is why homeowners need to decide which projects are most important to them and their goals. But in doing so, don't over- look the details. "One mistake I see many people make is cutting back on the horticulture too much," Wandsnider said. For example, a walkway is a popular fea- ture of many landscape renovations. But just putting in a walkway doesn't have nearly the visual impact as a walkway lined and detailed with flowers and plants. "The walkway may cost 25 percent of the budget," Wandsnider explained, "but that portion doesn't have to be allocated entire- ly to the walkway materials. You can put less money into the walkway or use a dif- ferent, less expensive material, so you can proportionally put more money into the horticulture around it." Look up Using that same example, focusing on the horticulture also adds more vertical ele- ments to the design. When it comes to get- ting the most value for your dollar, Wand- snider suggested investing in vertical over horizontal elements. In other words, allo- cate the majority of the budget to items and changes that create vertical sight lines — items such as lighting, trees, hedges, and stone walls — that pull the eye up and make a space feel larger. Also, take a cue from the home's existing features. "If the project is largely going to be hor- ticultural-related, I look at the architectur- al elements of the house and ask what land- scaping components work as a continua- tion of the architecture," Wandsnider said. "What are the elements of the house that I might want to build off and create an extension? A mistake people tend to make is falling in love with a plant or a tree or an idea and wondering where they can put it. It's the wrong way to approach when look- ing at the landscape as a holistic plan." Ask a pro DIY landscape renovation may appear to be a budget-conscious approach, but know- ing when to hire professional can actually save you more money in the end. "When you're working with a budget, fre- quently a professional will know much bet- ter than the homeowner where the best place is to cut some of the money from within the project," Wandsnider said. "For instance, maybe the homeowner realizes they are 20 percent over budget. There is a Japanese maple in the original plan, but I tell them we can put in a different tree or a smaller tree that will cost less. Or maybe it's using a different material for a walk- way. In those situations, the person design- ing the project can have a much better feel of how to disperse the budget differently, but get the same result." A professional landscape architect can also provide tips and instruction on how to maintain the completed landscape. Said Wandsnider, "It's not only beneficial for care and maintenance, but walking through the finished project will also help give an idea of how the project will mature so you can enjoy it for years to come." JUNE 2017 HOMES PLUS 7 REMODEL • REPLACE • RETHINK REMODEL. REPLACE. RETHINK your windows. Bliffert Lumber offers quality products from Marvin ® . Call or visit us today to learn more. Marvin Windows and Doors, Warroad, MN 56763 ©2011 Marvin Windows and Doors. All rights reserved. ® Registered trademark of Marvin Windows and Doors 253767005 548 W. Sunset Dr. Waukesha, WI 53189 (262) 542-6666 www.bliffertlumber.com Landscape: Adding value to your home goes beyond plantings Continued from Page 1 Courtesy of Wandsnider Landscape Architect Among the most popular landscape remodels is the fire pit. Courtesy of Wandsnider Landscape Architect The lighting spotlights vertical elements in this landscape, making one look up for a dramatic effect, while also tying in the well-lit house.

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