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by Chrysa Smith
When it comes to outdoor space, Keith Frederick, President of Environmental Landscape Associates, Inc. (ELA) of Doylestown, says “Make it usable.” Sounds pretty basic; but wait a minute. There are things to consider—lots of things like feasibility, location, conditions, views, permitting, materials and more. Not everyone really knows what they want or what’s possible, so part of Frederick’s job is to educate; the other is to research. And, according to Frederick, the best clients to work with are those who’ve done much of that themselves—much like those he worked with in Buckingham.
About two years ago or so, his client did a restoration of a historical Buckingham property. A barn to be exact. The couple knew they wanted to extend their living area outdoors. They also knew they wanted a roof-covered space with a natural fire feature and a spa, Frederick said. So, after meeting with the homeowners, this long-time landscape designer already had a vision—what would work on a spatial plane. In fact, he often leaves a property with a good idea of what is possible; bringing the vision to life as he sketches it out on a piece of paper.
“Every project should look like the extension of the home,” he says, “with a theme carried throughout the project.” That translates to walls, plant materials, ceilings and roof styles. So, in this particular project, the main structure is a large frame and timber one with a blue metal roof that supports a stone fireplace/chimney. It hovers over a sizeable sitting/entertaining area, flocked by PA bluestone flooring, that ties into the interior of the home. The roof also mirrors the blue metal awnings that peek out of the top of rear windows. And adjacent to this area is a partial open-air kitchen/bar with an open beamed top which nicely sets off and defines the space. As you might expect in a well-appointed kitchen, a stainless steel grill and matching appliances are set within an L-shaped counter top. And large boulders, as from the Adirondacks, not only surround the sunken entertaining area, but are also set into adjoining brick walls to carry the theme through and into the kitchen.
Brick. Stone. Timber. All natural elements that make this space feel quite comfortable as part of a renovated stone barn home. The entire sunken area was set off to the side of the property, lending privacy while preserving cherished views from the home’s interior. A third area is a curved open terrace for al fresco chats and dining, where a patio table and chairs are placed. And the grand finale? The project was completed with a secret room that houses a very private spa—perfect for relaxing at the end of a long day. The entire structural area was softened with subtle plantings that complement the hardscape. And as you might expect, such an undertaking was substantial, and in the design phase for about six months to a year.
One of the important elements Frederick likes to integrate into his landscapes is the element of surprise; like following the landscape around to some unexpected pleasure. But protecting sight lines is also important, so he preserved those framed window views that set their sights on pastures and meadows, where deer and other wildlife roam. The result was stunning. Everything is meticulously crafted, intertwined and complimentary to each other, which is why initial meetings and consultations are so very important. Getting a feel for homes, tastes, spaces and history is critical to the outcome of any project. And as it should, it looks like it has always been part of the home.
When you think about a landscape design company, you may not think about frame and timber structures with metal roofs, secret rooms, firepits, pools and kitchens, but that’s one of the things ELA is all about. “We’re the general contractor for outdoor living spaces,” Frederick says. And the process begins with a design professional. “What could be artistically done?” he asks. And while his experience tells him so, what he suggests to potential clients is to take to technology. “There are lots of interesting things on the market. Go online” he tells his clients, “Look at sites like Houzz, Pinterest and get images of things you like.” That helps set Frederick and his staff of designers and crew on the right track.
It isn’t uncommon for a potential client to come in with a larger wish list than budget, so one of Frederick’s jobs is to balance out wish lists, design styles and budgets. And again, that’s where the research comes in. Those who have done a little snooping around online are likely to have a better understanding of what might be done and what it might cost.
But not every project involves months or years of planning. In fact, in front of the shop sits a myriad of trees, and those unfamiliar with ELA might think they sell trees. And they do. In fact they sell horticulturally correct trees, as Frederick refers to them, “Not like those found in big box stores or nurseries.” They also do jobs like reconstructing patios, restoring decks and smaller planting projects, but more and more, they’ve become an outdoor construction company.
I asked Frederick about the value of a structure. “It defines usability” he says, “Whatever you spend, you’re building value. This is not a return-on investment business. It’s an enjoyment, quality of life proposition.” And today’s market is especially strong.
With the advent of the COVID-19 Virus, so is one of an emerging market. With more people working from home, more emphasis is being given to the home—both interior and exterior. “In the beginning,” says Frederick, “trend was care and repair.” People would notice that poor drainage, a damaged patio, some crumbling walls. It was stuff that was sitting and now, was getting annoying enough to do something about. But after several months of being homebound, a different focus emerged, and that is what many are calling a ‘new normal.’
While the health aspect of this experience should gladly become a distant memory, the telecommute or virtual employee may not. Home has become not only where the heart is, but where the work, the focus and the budget are. There has been a call for bigger projects. People are asking for things like pools. But as Frederick points out, they are not quick projects. “It can take an entire year, with 60-120 days in development, another 30-40 in permitting, then building.” And permitting is getting tougher. There are more rules from townships than ever, even flowing over into working with land conservancies. Fiberglass pools can be done quickly; maybe a month or so,” but as you might expect, they still need someone to ‘envision the whole thing’; to pull it together. “We do it all,” he says. And that creates the ability to have a vacation right in your own backyard.
Founded back in ’89, when Keith Frederick was a junior at Del Val University, he began the company with several others. Initially in commercial landscaping, they quickly grew during their first five years in business. Frederick ultimately forged through varying economic conditions to purchase the current property on Rt. 202, between Buckingham and Lahaska. During that time most of the firms excavating and commercial equipment was sold and in 2000, their first outdoor kitchen was completed that began a whole new direction. They currently support about 28 people, and several sub-contractors used for things like metal roofing and sawmills for timber projects. Having a revolving showroom has been a big plus. Their highly visible location draws people in just to see what it is they do. And according to Frederick, the business is split equally between walk-in traffic, those who have seen advertisements and referrals. Their new goals include construction of possible vignette landscapes out front, to visually show customers what is possible. And they plan to update their 3-D computer software which will ultimately show clients an actual ‘walk through’ view of a new plan.
And Frederick’s philosophy? “Every project should have a solid roof covering with heaters where you can sit during cooler weather or on a rainy day. In winter you should be able to cook or grill outdoors. Wind is tough. But there are retractable screens and large format doors.” I guess you could say that they’ve thought about most everything—including some advice: Do your research. Find someone who has experience and a history—a design professional. Don’t be afraid to pay someone for intellectual property.” He says. In fact, not only does ELA design the space, they design what might possibly be contained within it. With an interior designer on staff, furnishings are carefully thought out, so as to perfectly suit the space, and as I also learned in interior design, function is first. Form follows. So any well planned space should first consider what purpose it is serving, how many people may be using it at any given time and how to maximize it. Then comes the fun part—selecting furniture and accessories that fit within those parameters.
While ELA does everything from sell a tree, to turn your property into a five-star resort, their focus is on quality and value and often translates into projects that can run between 50 and 100k. There seem to be plenty of them in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, where the bulk of their projects come from. But regardless of project size, Frederick and his team take pride in their projects, working one-on-one with clients, educating them when needed and nurturing them every step of the way.
For more on Environmental Landscape Associates, check out their variety of projects on www.elaoutdoorliving.com, contact them at 215-704-2400 for sales/production, or 215-794-4500 for their garden center. Located at 5095 York Road (Rt. 202), Doylestown, PA 18902
Chrysa Smith loves all things ‘design’ and is a regular contributor to the magazine.