Author: Karen Redick

A unique hand hewn post and beam house was designed for a home on 2.2 lakeside acres. The design of the house was developed by the client, architect and builder. Significant thought was paid to the interior layout and design of the home, the structural character of the house and views to the lake.

The house looked gorgeous on paper. The old existing house was demolished and the new foundation was installed; only then did questions begin and the exterior site issues become apparent. The client hired Redbud to solve the exterior site issues and consider other elements for the property.

A conceptual design was initiated to assess the site and integrate the client desires. The following specific components highlight major areas of concern, the solutions and potential cost savings that could have been realized if the exterior design of the property was considered earlier in the project.

Grading and Drainage

The elevation of the house was set too high, creating the need for a retaining wall on the right side property line to prevent runoff negatively affecting the neighbors’ property as well as significant drainage problems at the front entrance to the home. With the correct elevation, the retaining wall, additional grading and drainage components would have been eliminated or drastically reduced resulting in an approximate cost savings of $18,000.

Utilities

The location for the water lines, electric service, propane tank, HVAC, generator, etc… were also not considered in advance. All of these components require not only space within the landscape but also room below the surface. For example, electric lines cannot be buried in certain proximity to gas lines. When all of these elements were assessed as a whole the propane tanks needed to be located significantly further from the house than was ultimately necessary which caused additional excavation expenses of $3,600.

Patio Spaces, Walls & Septic Field

Outdoor entertaining spaces are typically designed as a natural extension of the home. In this case, a 15-foot by 55-foot patio was originally planned along the lakeside of the house. However, to preserve the views from the master bedroom and great room, only an 18- to 20-foot section near the kitchen could realistically serve as the main family entertaining area—leaving limited space for the desired features.

The site’s elevation created another challenge. The patio sits nearly six feet above the lawn, requiring approximately 145 feet of retaining walls and steps to be constructed along the lakeside of the home. While these walls will ultimately enhance the landscape visually, they also add significant cost to the project.

These structural requirements also consumed valuable space on the property, further limiting the area available for the septic field. With the location of the house, required property line setbacks, and shoreline restrictions already in place, the septic system ultimately had to be carefully fit into the remaining space.

If the outdoor entertaining area—and its associated elevation and slope—had been considered earlier in the home’s design process, the retaining walls could have been significantly reduced. Doing so would have lowered the overall construction cost by approximately $48,000.

Existing Vegetation

The property has a number of mature trees; one in particular is a large sugar maple standing 45’ tall directly behind the new garage. Unfortunately, under this majestic beauty was the illogical space chosen for all the contractors to park their trucks and equipment. An initial site analysis would have dictated a different construction staging area and guaranteed the survival of this tree. Now, approximately $4,700 will need to be spent to feed, prune and manage the health of the tree over the next several years to ensure the tree will live and be a permanent fixture of the property.

Since the design of the house was completed and construction commenced prior to any consideration for the landscape elements, there were limited opportunities to modify the design of the house to better integrate the functional and aesthetic exterior elements. The involvement of a landscape architect is much more constructive and cost effective when introduced to the project before the building is complete, even before ground-breaking, in the early concept and planning stage.

Landscape architects can assist clients with understanding the budgetary considerations of the functionally required aspects of the site as well as planning for the more recreational, creative and artistic accompaniments. This client is now forced to allocate approximately $74,000 of their overall house budget to fix problems that could have been mitigated with some forethought.

Looking for a landscape designer around Sacandaga Lake? Contact us today at 518-691-0428 to schedule a consultation!

43.4878709,-74.4204572

Your home deserves this level of care. Let’s start with a conversation about what’s possible.

Redbud was invited to this single-family residence in an older district of Saratoga Springs. The house is relatively small and is in need of repairs and/ or upgrades both inside and out.

The property measures approximately 25’ x 130’, with the house positioned nearly on the property lines. The client purchased the home as an investment opportunity while also envisioning it as a place to work remotely or stay when commuting to New York City.

During the initial meeting, several key objectives for the property emerged.

Design Intent: Create a relaxing, inviting backyard that provides greater privacy, softens the visual impact of the neighboring barn, and embraces the character of the surrounding urban setting.

• Patio Space – Designed to comfortably entertain 6–8 adults, using reclaimed brick or a similar rustic paving material.
• Outdoor Kitchen – Integrated cooking and seating area for entertaining.
• Water Feature (Optional) – Consideration for a feature that adds sound and visual interest.
• Low-Voltage Lighting System – Subtle lighting to enhance safety, ambiance, and nighttime use of the space.
• Carriage House – Integrated into the overall design, with flexibility for alternative uses if construction is postponed.
• Off-Street Parking – Parking located at the rear of the property.
• Rear Wraparound Porch – Porch addition with stair access connecting the home to the backyard.
• Overhead Structures – Potential pergola or similar structure to create shade and architectural interest.
• Hammock Area – Dedicated space for relaxation within the landscape.

• Southern Property Line – A two-story multifamily residence and a large red barn overlook the backyard, creating significant privacy concerns and direct sightlines into the space.
• Northern Neighboring Home – A nearby single-family house also has direct views into the backyard.
• Property Line Setbacks – Zoning setbacks limited where structures, patios, fencing, and other features could be located.
• Dual Street Frontage – The property is bordered by public streets at both the front and rear, adding additional planning considerations.
• Impervious Surface Limits – Local footprint regulations restrict the amount of allowable impervious coverage on the lot.
• Existing Sewer Line – A 30+ year-old sewer line runs beneath the backyard, creating potential maintenance considerations for future construction.

After reviewing the client’s goals and the site constraints, we recommended a collaborative design approach that included bringing an architect onto the project team. This allowed all components of the project to be integrated into a single comprehensive concept rather than developed independently.

The goal was to create a complete conceptual design that incorporated every desired element while also identifying additional opportunities for improvement. The final plan was structured so the project could be built in phases, allowing the client to move forward with construction over time while maintaining a cohesive long-term vision for the property.

The client’s initial plan was to build the project in phases—constructing the patio first, then the carriage house, followed by the deck and other elements. At first glance, this seemed like the simplest approach and would have required minimal approvals from the local planning and building departments.

However, because of the site’s restrictions and setbacks, this strategy could have created major problems. The patio likely would have been built in what appeared to be the most logical location. Later, when the client attempted to add the deck or carriage house, the city could have required a variance to meet zoning requirements—or even required the newly built patio to be removed.

The variance process can take three to four months, often involves additional costs, and adds significant uncertainty and stress. There is also no guarantee that the variance will be approved.

By investing $3,000–$6,000 in conceptual design services upfront, the client gained a fully integrated plan for the property. Not only did this approach produce a more thoughtful and cohesive design, but it also helped avoid an estimated $30,000–$50,000 in potential construction and redesign costs later on.

43.0821793,-73.7853915

Your home deserves this level of care. Let’s start with a conversation about what’s possible.