landscapes unique

We opened the pool two weeks ago and since then, it’s been a mad dash to get the backyard and, namely, the deck in entertainment mode.  The pollen hasn’t made that easy, by the way-check out my pile after sweeping the screened-in porch…

As I (painstakingly) apply the second coat of stain and sealant on my deck (by hand, with a paint brush, might I add), I can’t help but find myself daydreaming of planters spilling over with ferns, lantana and sweet potato vine, lanterns aglow with (citronella) candles, hanging lights sparkling in our pine trees and white blooms as far as the eye can see.  I’m getting there slowly, but surely…here is what the deck looked like before (a year of southern sun and rain took quite a toll)…

And here it is now, with two coats of honey gold stain…

Last night, while searching through my inspiration folder of pictures, I kept coming back to pictures I had found online of Landscapes Unique, a landscaping firm in Wilmington, N.C., founded by Tracy McCullen.  I can’t tell you how many houses I’d driven by at the beach that had been touched by Tracy’s talented hand and what an impact it made on the rest of the house.  His team creates the perfect balance between nature and architecture while keeping his designs simple in order to keep the focus on the architecture of each home.  His online portfolio is truly amazing, from which TONS of inspiration can be drawn.  Here are some of my favorites: