Architectural treasure

The owners of this 1955 Frank Lloyd Wright treasure have done their homework as they’ve painstakingly worked to restore this architectural gem in Detroit’s beautiful Palmer Woods neighborhood. We approached the gardens with the same diligence – calling to mind Wright’s own style of landscape planning and balancing it with the new perennial and new wave planting movement. This landscape doesn’t compete structurally with the centerpiece – which is undoubtedly this remarkable home – but complements it with visual drama. This landscapeRead more

Impact with structure

This garden has everything for multi-seasonal outdoor living and entertaining: a dark lined lap pool and spa, private dining spaces, a fireplace and ample room for entertaining. It also featured some vignettes of structure to add form to all the carefully designed function. Here’s a look at a boxwood flanked clay brick path with a charming urn-centered focal point. A perfect compliment to the traditional Tudor styling, offsetting some of the more clean-lined contemporary spaces and the owners minimalistic aesthetic.Read more

Staycation: retreating at home

This client was all about appreciating the beautiful expansive view of Lake St. Clair. This home estate offers a mountain of amenities and creature comforts. Outdoors is no exception, and its owners can enjoy retreating from the world in their own backyard. The pool and spa are surrounded by a custom blue stone terrace. The caps are limestone, with a generous width around the spa to accommodate multiple guests for large seasonal parties. We captured a certain grand and structured style, dictated by the home’s architecture,Read more

Key West

This lovely oasis was featured in Architectural Digest’s July 2010 issue. The property was small, unkempt and overgrown. This project involved refinishing the pool, designing a water feature in a tight space, using natural local plants for a lush and inviting environment. There were logistical challenges procuring plant material from the mainland, and using as much native material as possible. The results are  breathtaking.  Read more

Intimate spaces

The best spaces in any garden are those that offer beauty and function. Over the years, this client chose to transform this space to meet her visual and functional desires. The original green screen offered seclusion for this conservatory terrace, but in a later phase, the client wanted a different level of screening and visual impact.  The hedge was traded for a wall and espaliered Belgian fence of apple and pear.Read more

Natural charm

This charming garden renovation includes a bluestone installation on a beautiful new upper terrace with outdoor kitchen. A secluded natural stone fire pit is accented with hydrangeas blooming in hues of blue, various perennials and boxwood give the garden a lush structure.Read more

Work in progress

Hard surfaces, pool, spa, terrace and a charming pool house are all part of this outdoor oasis. The owners are gearing up for phase II in the construction process to complete this gorgeous outdoor living space.Read more

Making an impact

This is the first-year planting of a large residential property in the Metro Detroit area. The owner had a very specific color palette in mind as well as a formal aesthetic. There’s immediate impact in the sheer number of pants. We’re looking forward to what’s to come.Read more

Detroit Home Design Awards

We made a trip last month to the Detroit Home magazine design awards show held at the Fillmore on Woodward in Detroit. It was a great venue for the event and HGTV’s Nicole Curtis – host of the show Rehab Addict – was the honored guest as well as one of the judges for this year’s awards. (She recently announced she’s undertaken renovation of another historic Detroit home.) Our schedule didn’t allow for entering in the competition this year – butRead more

Houzz reviews

We joined design professionals around the country and created a profile on Houzz.com. If you’ve not visited the site – we recommend it. It’s a great spot to find ideas and inspiration if you’re planning projects that involve design and construction. Some of our clients have been gracious enough to review our work and relationship, and I’d like to share a few here.  (This is the direct link to Houzz.) 5 stars Relationship: Client Project Date: April 2003 Project Price Range: $50,000-$100,000Read more

News and awards

Richard Hass’ work has been featured in Detroit Home magazine, Traditional Home magazine, Architectural Digest. Stewart, Hass and Associates has won multiple Detroit Home Design awards for projects ranging from under a half and acre to an acre.Read more

Professional landscape designers tour

Two busloads of professional landscape designers walked the site today during a tour of the 2013 Association of Professional Landscape Designers International Design Conference. I spoke with designers from as far away as Washington state and Hawaii. I wish photos could translate the feel of this garden with its separate rooms and waves of layered perennials. You can see in the photos that the owners have added accoutrements for interest and whimsy. After five years, the majority of the phases are completed.Read more

Detroit landmark

The Whitney Restaurant – once the residence of lumber baron David Whitney – underwent a change in ownership and some careful renovations inside and out. We offered the registered historic landmark some of the garden structure appropriate to Romanesque revival architecture, while capturing the needs of  a busy upscale urban restaurant.Read more