Choosing the right outdoor water feature
Credit to Author: rebeccakeillor| Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 13:00:38 +0000
There is something ultimately relaxing about listening to, and watching, water run. It’s why people seek out waterfalls, like sitting next to streams, and why the sound of the ocean is a popular meditation track.
Outdoor water features are the closest replication of this experience in our own backyard, but choosing the right one is not always easy, and if you get it wrong the effect can be similar to garden gnomes. The faded, peeling kind.
Freestanding water fountain with a pedestal base.
The key, says senior landscape designer, Claudia Rust, of Vancouver’s Formwerks Architecture, is choosing one that integrates well into your existing garden, or patio, space.
“By having the water feature integrated into the overall flow of the garden, it will create a purpose, a destination, a refreshing body, a calming oasis and habitat to enjoy for many years,” says Rust.
What works in one garden, or patio, will not necessarily work in another, she says. So choosing one that looked good at your friend’s house is not always the best approach.
Before considering budget, Rust says, think about what you’re trying to achieve with your water feature.
For example, a water feature at the front of the house can work as an architectural element, and welcomes guests by awakening their senses, she says.
A small water feature next to a patio, with soft trickling water, creates a calming effect and enhances even the smallest outdoor space, she says.
Choosing an outdoor water feature that compliments and blends in with the surrounding landscape is most important, says Claudia Rust, of Formwerks Architecture, who designed this Point Grey garden.
“In a small Kitsilano courtyard we designed a water feature out of an urn. The water flowed over the edge and down the urn to a rock bed,” says Rust.
If the intention is to have the water feature as a scenic viewpoint on your property (think English countryside garden) then you’ll want to place the water feature further away from the house, so it becomes a destination you walk to, says Rust.
Deciding on whether you want a custom, or prefabricated water feature is important, she says, and if you’re going with a custom made, it really is worth consulting with a designer.
Wall mounted fountain on Wayfair.ca .
If you’re a hands on, DIY sort, a budget-friendly option is to go to your local garden store and pick a bowl, or urn, and create your own water feature.
“I recommend staying away from artificial and fake looking plastic or stone structures. Usually they are hard to integrate,” she says.
If you’re putting in a pool you want to choose a sunny spot in the garden and one that is close to action — think next to the lawn, where the kids play, or off the patio — so it’s an extension of the house, says Rust. You also want to work in the surrounding design elements, she says.
“The pool tile could pick up on the pattern and material of your patio,” she says. “A koi pond could have a wood deck for sitting and fish observation surrounded by water-loving plants and trees that provide some shade and additional habitat.”
You can pay as much or as little as you want for an outdoor water feature, says Alexa Battista, of Wayfair.ca.
Pool and surrounding landscape in this Shaughnessy residence, designed by Claudia Rust, of Formwerks Architecture.
When choosing one, she says, it’s worth considering your climate: what sort of weather it’s going to be exposed to, and how it’s going to age.
Common materials for outdoor water features are stone, cement and ceramic, says Battista, and range in styles from those that can be mounted to a wall or fence, or a tiered, free-standing option with a pedestal base.
You’ll also need to think about your power source, says Battista.
“The two most common options being electric and solar powered. If you don’t have direct access to outdoor electricity, a solar powered fountain is a great option,” she says.