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Landscape Confidential
Project reveals, design insights, inspirational stories, and other news from Melissa Gerstle Design about creating beautiful and functional outdoor living spaces.
Melissa Gerstle Design Introduces Plein Air Atelier
Where design, comfort, and craftsmanship meet under the open sky: Plein Air Atelier.
Introducing: Favorites
Favorites: a new feature from Melissa Gerstle Design. We all have favorite things and places. Every now and then, Melissa Gerstle Design will share favorites from our team, our colleagues, and surprise guests.
Is it time to refresh your landscape?
If you want to enhance your home and preserve its value, updating the curb appeal of your landscape is a great place to start. Regular maintenance and occasional updates can help keep your outdoor space looking its best.
Embracing Biophilic Design: Enhancing the relationship between homeowners and nature
Biophilia, or the human desire to interact with nature, is the subject of countless scientific studies which have proven that time spent outdoors is a source of improved health both physically and mentally.
Designing The Garden Arrival for the 2023 Kips Bay Dallas Show House
When we were asked to return to design the front landscape for the 2023 Kips Bay Dallas Show House, we didn’t hesitate. Not only are the Kips Bay Show Houses in New York, Palm Beach, and Dallas the preeminent designer showcases in the industry, but they support great causes.
All fired up!
From roasting marshmallows to snuggling with loved ones, to warming the air on cool nights – incorporating a fireplace into your landscape will extend the use of your outdoor space year-round…
In The Swim: Pools Designed by MGD
There are two types of people in the world: pool lovers and everyone else. Pools enhance outdoor living, offer family fun, provide exercise, and create a great space to entertain. At MGD, many of our projects involve the design and remodel of pools and we love to guide our clients to bring their vision to life.
Holiday Gatherings Rooted in Beauty
Discover how to infuse your gatherings with natural beauty by incorporating garden greenery into stunning centerpieces, creating personalized and meaningful tablescapes that blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living.
Designing the “Magari” Garden for the Kips Bay Dallas Showhouse
Delve into my journey to create a dream-worthy "Magari" Garden with elements inspired by Hollywood glamour and Italian elegance in the inaugural Kips Bay Dallas show house.
Create a Fabulous Front Porch
Your front porch is the perfect opportunity to give guests a great first impression as they enter your home. Following a few guidelines, you can positively impact your curb appeal and complement your home’s exterior while allowing your personality to shine and setting...
Get The Most Out Of Your Outdoor Kitchen
Outdoor kitchens can be a huge factor in the entertaining potential of your home. But installing one is no small feat. If you decide to create one on your own, here are some tips that will help you to get the most out of your outdoor kitchen design: Credit: Rolling Stone Landscapes Design: Harrison’s Landscaping...
Outdoor Essentials: The Bar Cart
With the Fourth of July right around the corner, plans for barbeques and pool parties are sure to emerge. To keep your entertaining skills up to snuff you must have the right tools by your side. One of our go to stylish and functional favorites is the Bar Cart. Now, we’ve all seen these beauties popping...
The Big Picture
My mentor, Kevin, is what I would call a “big picture” guy; he has this gift of seeing things from 30,000 feet. One of the topics we’ve been talking about is how landscape architecture shapes communities, then cities, and the larger world, and how it influences the way we live and experience different places.
Cracking the curb appeal code
With the Fourth of July right around the corner, plans for barbeques and pool parties are sure to emerge. To keep your entertaining skills up to snuff you must have the right tools by your side. One of our go to stylish and functional favorites is the Bar Cart. Now, we’ve all seen these beauties popping...
3 Garden Design Mistakes & How to fix them
Often, when I tell people what I do for a living, their eyes light up, recognizing an opportunity to find answers to their burning garden questions. “What should I plant here? Why can’t I get this to grow? What plant is good for shade?” From this, I’ve realized that most people, when trying...
Back to Basics: landscapes, memory and developing style
As a landscape designer, I’m fascinated by the complexity of nature and how to create a scene which mimics the beauty of what we think of as “natural.” How do you create a wilderness that does not look contrived? Rosa Finsley, the Landscape Architect who I apprenticed under is a master of it. I always...
Taking A Leap To Meet My Mentor
For those of you who admire someone who is a professional in a field or area of interest to you, I highly recommend reaching out to them. Most people are excited and flattered that someone is interested in their work and more than willing to meet to share their thoughts and perspective.
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