the fine line between tudor and chaos.
Do you know Tudor when you see it? I admit that sometimes, I don’t. While many of my clients have a keen eye for architecture and design, their biggest challenge is pulling together outdoor spaces that complement their home’s exterior. In the case of Tudor, this frustration can be compounded by this wonderfully complex architectural style known for mixing classic and contemporary materials and shapes. The landscapes of Tudor are no less complex – ranging from colorful and naturalistic with winding paths to geometric and classic with sculptural, sheared hedges.
Regardless of your style preferences, several challenges often lay in the way of creating a beautifully crafted landscape. How do I show off my home’s best features? How can I utilize what is already there? And, as my client recently asked me: “How can we be sure that the choices we are making now, will go with the choices we will make in the future, so that it all comes together?”
This is the kind of question that makes me stop and smile, because this is the very thing I am challenged with doing. In that moment, this client could not have paid me a better compliment!
So, why should a landscape honor the architectural style, and how can all of the elements in an outdoor space come together? My answer: because the goal is to create a harmonious composition that works, is pleasing to take care of, and is fun to be in! In the case of Tudor, I believe you have several options:
To match the house (formal / formal)
To contrast with the house (formal / naturalistic)
To strategically mix styles (formal / naturalistic / geometric / classic / contemporary)
Though beauty is often held in the eye of the beholder, harmony requires moderation. The simplest gestures often carry the biggest impact: a linear stacked stone wall leads your eye, a sweeping arch of a branch frames a view, a balanced lone rock centers you over your own two feet. When placed without purpose, elements in a landscape quickly become jumbled and confusing, and a challenge in working with Tudor style is walking that fine line between variety and chaos. Modern-day Tudor has evolved into the blending of styles and materials, so it’s ok to deviate a bit from your home’s style as long as you strive for balance. Remember: if one is good, ten is not necessarily better!
So depending upon your choice to match, contrast, or mix, how do you then work with your Tudor style? Start with some universal design basics in which designers across all disciplines are trained. These guide our thinking, and five of my go-to’s are:
Alignment (visually connecting: either near or far)
Repetition (creating consistency)
Contrast (using opposites)
Proximity (placing objects)
Balance (either symmetrical or asymmetrical)
In the case of the project mentioned earlier, intertwining these tools answers their question, while repetition remains key. Repetition creates familiarity between materials and spaces constructed at different times, making them seem & feel related. Responding to their recent interior remodel, we chose to strategically mix styles and materials in their outdoor rooms, and we are preserving and working with select existing landscape elements – introducing them to new patterns, shapes, textures and materials that gently recall the home’s architecture, and each other.