Design Guru Blog

Genus Loci...the art of place making

barlupton@gmail.com (designguru) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:43:17 GMT

The Art of Place Making
During one of my very first studio classes at Writtle I recall going on a site visit, which formed the basis of a garden assignment. One of the tutors, Steve Terry, asked a couple of us to pause for a moment to absorb the atmosphere. ‘Can you feel it?’ he said. ‘Feel what, the cold?’

Quote Queuing...how far we've come

barlupton@gmail.com (designguru) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:54:21 GMT

While I recommend specific contractors for specific jobs, I always urge clients to obtain a number of quotes.

During the boom years, the vast majority of clients were happy to proceed with one price from one contractor, more often than not, the one I put forward. Even where multiple quotes were obtained, nine out of ten clients reverted to my original suggestion. Fair enough really, I spent many trial and error years building trusted relationships with contractors who I know offer excellent, guaranteed services.

Things have changed. Nowadays, clients are savvy, cautious and prepared to hone in on the smallest detail in the hope of saving a few Euro, and contractors are now spending a far greater percentage of their time pricing projects, haggling over cents and trying to reduce their costs. Generally speaking, the market shift can seen as a positive step forward, and in the long run it should produce a more transparent, efficient and quality focused industry. In the mean time, it’s created some interesting scenarios.

Employing a qualified garden designer is free

barlupton@gmail.com (designguru) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:58:36 GMT

While the title to this article might appear to be somewhat oxymoronic, I can assure you it’s not. Over the last decade, I’ve gained a vast amount of experience in all manner of garden and landscape projects and I can say with confidence that the fees I’ve charged clients have always been offset by savings I’ve made.

A Guaranteed Return

barlupton@gmail.com (designguru) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:54:30 GMT

If I told you I had an investment that couldn’t fail, that was guaranteed to deliver annual dividends and would continue to grow for decades, you’d probably call the financial regulator, the Police or Joe Duffy. Well I do, so make the call.

DOs and DONTs of garden lighting

barlupton@gmail.com (designguru) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:50:56 GMT

Don’t…
Over light your garden, less is always more.
Use cheap equipement, it’ll cost you more in the long term.
Don’t risk your safety by taking on a job if you’re not qualified.
Place lights in dense shrubbery.
Pollute neighbouring gardens with light over spill.

Do…
Give great consideration to what you’d like to achieve .
Employ the services of a qualified electrician.
Consider where the lighting will be viewed.
Experiment with a variety of light location and effects.
Conceal the lighting unit, only the effect should be visible

Click here for a the full lighting article.

Illuminating your garden…a guide to lighting Irish gardens

barlupton@gmail.com (designguru) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:54:48 GMT

Installing a garden lighting scheme is one of the best investments you can make. Not only will it double the value of your garden by providing an exciting alternative experience, by creating views to illuminated exterior elements, you can dramatically enhance the mood, ambience and aesthetic quality of your interior spaces.

Bearing the above in mind and the fact that Ireland has among the lowest ambient light levels in Europe, it’s disappointing that lighting is so underutilised by Irish garden lovers. While it has certainly grown in popularity over the last decade, the glaring truth is that the vast majority of garden lighting in Ireland is ill conceived, poorly considered and badly installed. To help you avoid the common pitfalls and get the most from your nocturnal garden, I’ve put together a general guide with some helpful tips and advice.

If you don’t feel like reading it all, click here for a few common Dos and Don’ts

How to choose the right horticulture course

barlupton@gmail.com (designguru) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:58:20 GMT

Whether you’re a school leaver seeking to undertake a degree course, a gardener looking to brush up on your botanical Latin, a self-employed professional seeking qualification or someone who just fancies learning about how plants grow, the range of horticulture courses now on offer means you’ve no trouble finding one to suit. And what better time to undertake a course? Ireland is truly waking up to the potential benefits that garden activity has to offer and quality courses across the country are inundated with new applicants.

The role clients should play in the garden design process

barlupton@gmail.com (designguru) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:59:38 GMT

Having your garden designed is still a relatively new concept in Ireland. And while it continues to grow in popularity, the vast majority of people know very little about the process, let alone the important role they play in making it a success.

Favourite plants

barlupton@gmail.com (designguru) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:00:30 GMT

One of the questions designers are often asked, and one which is almost impossible to answer is, what are your favourite plants?

Generally speaking I’m more drawn to dramatic shape and form rather than colour. I love anything with angles and architectural structure, especially if it’s self seeding. Over the years my tastes have evolved and favoured plants have risen and fallen on my scale of appreciation. As time has gone on, I’ve come to value plants on lots of different levels; ability to thrive in tough conditions, return for investment, memory and meaning, talent for reproduction, drama, variety of characteristics, longevity...not to mention line, shape, colour, texture and all that other important stuff.

Of the hundreds of plants that i’ve experimented with over the years, a few are probably favoured more than others.

Artful Waste

barlupton@gmail.com (designguru) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:13:38 GMT

Ever since I was introduced to the recycling antics of Uncle Bulgaria I’ve had a fascination with trying to make good use of things that other people throw away.