Challenges of modern design

Regardless of the size of the site, designers are trying to achieve harmony between civilization and nature, using every opportunity to create a unique atmosphere.Often the main reference point is the owner’s inner world, his hobbies, hobbies, interests and tastes.

It is also important to take into account current trends. This season, among these principles is the desire to preserve the naturalness and pristine nature of the surrounding world as much as possible, which is reflected in the alpine slides and the combination of flower arrangements with glass, stone and metal.

A fashionable project for a summer cottage is not complete without eclecticism — a mixture of different styles in one area. True, in this case, you can not do without professionalism and impeccable taste.

In general, the design of a summer cottage with your own hands includes the sequential implementation of the following steps:

• Step 1 — Explore Existing Styles;
• Step 2 — Choosing the right layout;
• Step 3 — Zoning space;
• Step 4 — Thinking through the composition of each section;
• Step 5 — Lighting.

landscape styles

Over the hundreds of years of the existence of the art of landscape design for a summer cottage, several main ideological trends have been formed and defined, one of which in most cases is chosen as the main and determining one in general for the situation.

So, we can distinguish the following styles:

Classics are geometrically correct French parks, where all elements and details are strictly calculated in certain proportions and sizes. The classical style implies the rise of a person above the outside world, the subordination and ordering of nature for the benefit of civilization and aesthetics.

The landscape current ideologically opposes the classics, as it glorifies nature in its originality and untouchedness. Designers of this direction strive to give freedom to the environment, skillfully and carefully using natural beauty.

Rural style or «country» represents all the offshoots of the home decoration of the territory by the inexperienced, but inspired by the beauties of the owners. The main principle is arbitrariness and freedom of action, which gives people the opportunity to translate any fantasies into reality.

The emphasis on buildings of impressive scale is the ideas of the architectural design of the summer cottage. It is characterized by an abundance of all kinds of bridges, columns, arches, terraces, platforms, arbors.

The Japanese style is filled with symbolism, meaning and is within the power of real artists and craftsmen. Here, stone sculptures, boulder complexes, modest-sized ponds and much more come to the fore, allowing you to immerse yourself in the contemplation of natural beauty.

We are planning landscaping

Only having decided on the dominant style, you can start planning a landscape project. There are several layout standards: rectangular, round, diagonal and free.

The most optimal and versatile is the location of the site in the form of a rectangle, which is convenient to divide into zones, to highlight sections. A round one often follows from a rectangular one, when right angles are rounded off by flower beds, bushes or other natural and artificial structures.

The diagonal layout is more suitable for the design of a summer cottage within 6-10 acres or less, since this solution allows you to visually expand the space.

Free style is the choice for large spaces, because here you need to play with squares, create accents and certain zones.

Selecting zones and sections

The allocation of certain functional areas will help to correctly organize the space, especially if it is limited. Such a division, among other things, will make the site convenient and visually expand its boundaries.

The number and size of each section depends on the available territory and the preferences of the owner. So, you can select a garden, a recreation area, an economic area, a «dining room», a children’s and a sports ground.

At the same time, individual islands should be united by a common idea, and flower beds, fences, arches, and decorative structures act as transitional bordering elements.

Don’t Forget the Details

It is possible to achieve an ideal and completely finished design in a summer cottage only by taking into account each element of the overall composition. So, a soft and even lawn is considered indispensable, which not only decorates the space, fills in decorative gaps, but also performs purely practical functions: it has a beneficial effect on the soil, purifies the air, muffles street sounds.

The garden path acts as the «backbone» of the site, as it connects the various zones and provides access to them. There are many design options for the paths, from standard trodden to laid with separate smooth stones, asphalt or special paving stones.

Not a single photo of the design of a summer cottage is complete without lush and eye-catching gardens. Often it is flower beds or compositions of shrubs and trees that become the accents of the whole environment.

The main criteria for selecting suitable plants are personal tastes, appearance, compatibility, vitality. In addition to standard flower beds, you can use other forms of placement:

• Group boarding;
• Rabatki;
• Border;
• Tapeworm
• Parterre flower garden;
• Mobile flower beds;
• Arenarium.

Also, ponds are an interesting decoration of the space. However, it should be borne in mind that such decor (pool, pond, stream, fountain) requires constant care. An excellent alternative can be an alpine slide, which is difficult to create, but completely unpretentious in courtship.

We illuminate the territory

The presence of a lighting system on the site is practical and aesthetic, especially if long-term sitting outdoors is planned at night.

At the same time, there are many options for placing light sources: main spotlights, classic lamps along the paths, marking accents, decorative lighting of significant objects and plants.

Landscaping «turnkey» always involves a complex decoration of the site in compliance with fashion trends and personal preferences of the owners.

But not everyone can afford the services of expensive specialists, and limited areas usually do not require extensive work. The best way out is to take the arrangement of the site into your own hands.

Photo design suburban area