Say goodbye to the rainy days and to the cold winter nights. Hello spring, how we’ve missed you! If you’re like most people, your home and garden are looking pretty dull right now.
Now is the perfect time to put the color back in your garden and do the pruning and fertilizing that your yard needs at this crucial time of year. Performing this maintenance now will insure a beautiful garden in the summer.
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
The principal designer of Solena Landscape, Mitch Kalamian, is not only a talented designer of outdoor spaces; he is also an author having penned a guide to smooth the progress of creating the ultimate outdoor paradise.
The guide, entitled “How to Create Your Ultimate Outdoor Paradise: 8 Insider Secrets Every Homeowner Considering Investing in a Major Landscape Project Must Know!”, walks consumers step-by-step through the sometimes-intimidating process of planning a landscaping project. This is a “must-read” for homeowners BEFORE they start the process.
Some of the topics addressed in the guide include:
Budget: what should it be and what affects it?
How to get a top designer to design your project for “free”.
Contracts: what makes a “win-win” contract? 6 important tips you need to know.
The one thing you never want to say to a landscape designer.
The 4 important steps to creating your outdoor paradise…what options you need to consider.
Landscape “architect” vs. “designer”…are design/build firms a better choice?
Choosing the right landscape designer/contractor…what do you need to consider? Does your contractor need to be licensed?
Homeowners are encouraged to complete a series of worksheets at the back of the guide that address: the planning process, budget, how to choose a new service provider and contracts. Completion of these worksheets will arm homeowners with the information they need to interview designers/contractors with confidence and make the right choices for their project.
The beginning of the year is a great time to start the design process of your landscape project for you to be able to enjoy it by summertime.
If interested in obtaining a copy, please fill out the form in the Bookstore section of our website or click here to go directly to the site. You may also contact us at 714.960.8955 to request a copy.
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
With the rain season coming up, thought it prudent to take some time to inform you of the benefits of collecting rainwater for reuse.
While it is easy to turn on the faucet and have clean water to use, by collecting water from nature you will find that your water bill is lowered and your plants healthier. You can easily harvest rainwater by installing a rain chain, a rain barrel or cistern to collect the rainwater. Rain chains are attached to the down spout of the rain gutter and guide the water that gets collected in the rain gutter to a container that has the end of it placed in it. Rain barrels can be as utilitarian as a large garbage can placed in place to catch rain water or as decorative as a faux rock looking barrel. If using a large garbage can, you can attach some sort of spout to the bottom of it to access the water. Cisterns are the most complex of the bunch and may need a handyman/contractor to set one up.
Examples of rain chain, rain barrel and cistern
Harvesting rainwater allows you to not be dependent upon the water provided to you. Rainwater, when collected directly from the sky into a barrel, does not have added chemicals or pollutants, which plants and crops respond better to. Watering your indoor and outdoor plants with soft rainwater promotes growth and health. Also, soil erosion and flooding is reduced as the water is collected in barrels rather than dispersed into the ground that cannot handle the concentration of water.
All in all, this is a simply way to be green without having to expend much effort. If you are interested in having a rain collecting system installed or for more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Watch as Mitch explains what goes on during the exciting first day of construction at new project. With a space for a large dining set by a custom fountain, to an elevated living/lounge area with a custom fireplace overlooking the pool and spa.. The design is going to be a Mediterranean style entertainers delight! Currently at the tail end of demolition and in the process of measuring out the plan onsite, to verify best use of space. A lot of times what looks great on paper doesn’t necessarily pan out the same way in real life. Always important to plot out what has been designed in the field to make sure the design is maximizing the space available.
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Browsing through the HGTV website I noticed that they have a Designer’s Portfolio section set up with some of our past projects and just wanted to share this info.
Industry magazine, Landscape Online, has published an article about one of our past award-winning projects. This particular project came to be when the homeowners became tired of intentionally avoiding their backyard, which had over time turned into a dirt dog run. The family wanting an area they could entertain and relax in contacted Solena Landscape Co. to carry out the construction of the project. What started out as a barren strip of dirt used only by the family’s dog became a quaint and cozy entertainer’s yard.
This project, located in Long Beach, was awarded “Outstanding Custom Waterfeature” by the California Landscape Contractors Association in 2010.
To read more about this projects amazing transformation go here .
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
I designed this “Asian Contemporary” themed pool & spa to compliment the updates of this mid-century style house in Huntington Harbor.
The ledgestone wall at the end of the pool serves two purposes; hiding the pool equipment and giving the patio a focal point. The trickling water down it’s face provides the space a serene sound and Zen feel.
Although I didn’t adhere to all of the principles of Feng Shui, the use of fire and water (and stone and wood) in the landscape allow the Chi to flow freely and make this small yard feel open and energized.
-Mitch
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
We are very excited to announce the release of the 2nd edition of our coffee table book Distinctive Landscapes of Southern California, which features some of our award winning projects.
Click the image above to see the book in its entirety
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Follow along in this continuing series of video blogs as Mitch details how one of his swimming pool and landscape designs comes to life.
In this episode you’ll get some insight into the technical aspect of landscape construction from application of polymeric joint sand between high end Belgard pavers and preparation of the base material before we pour our concrete.
Best Regards,
SOLENA LANDSCAPE CO.
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
At this stage, the landscape design for this Huntington Beach home is really beginning to take shape. We’ve gunited the swimming pool and spa shell and started to work on the property line block walls. Once the ‘mechanics’ of the project are out of the way, we can start to add the accents that will bring the beauty of the project to life.
I decided to go for a very contemporary look, using glass waterline pool tile, flush slate coping and slate ledgestone for the water feature….
Best Regards,
Mitch Kalamian
SOLENA LANDSCAPE CO.
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
