MasterPLAN Recognized as Master Design Award Winner

Every year the Qualified Remodeler magazine holds a design contest that hosts 23 categories in the Design and Build trade.  This contest invites remodelers, architects, builders, kitchen & bath specialists and other trade professionals to submit their finest projects for a chance at awarded esteem in the Master Design Awards.

Joshua Gillow of MasterPLAN Landscape Design submitted his design for an outdoor living project in Center Valley, Pennsylvania and has been recognized.  The 37th annual Master Design Award winners have been chosen and the Qualified Remodeler magazine has awarded MasterPLAN Landscape Design bronze in the category of Outdoor Living for 2015!  The Outdoor Living portion of this contest includes projects featuring decks, porches, patios, sunrooms and any other areas that extend the living area beyond the interior of the home such as swimming pools and landscaping.

The Center Valley project focused on a property where the clients purchased with retirement in mind.  The homeowners recognized the disguised character of the home and understood its true potential, but needed the vision, knowledge and expertise of MasterPLAN Landscape Design.

“We wanted to design and build their dream backyard retreat, to complete their property and turn it into their family’s magnetic home where everyone wants to be.”             – Joshua Gillow

As shown in this before picture of the backyard, there was nothing to offer in the way of landscaping but some weeds,vacant beds and climbing vines which were causing discoloration of the foundation, the original rear stone terraces were not sufficient for entertaining, there was no outdoor storage and as a whole, the backyard just didn’t seem to fit the grandeur that the rest of the home exuded.

To provide beautiful solutions to the outdoor drawbacks, Josh got to work on this custom 3D design.  Envisioning the magnetic space to include an “at home” feeling with a hint of vacation enjoyment was the goal.  Josh designed a warm Brazilian Cumaru hardwood expansive elevated living space, with a custom pergola fixed at the upper level and hidden dry storage underneath on the ground level.  The large custom hand-chiseled raised stone planter commands attention.  The stones chosen for this planter compliment the stonework in the front of the house, keeping everything looking uniform.  The palm trees within the stone planter really bring the vacation feel to this Lehigh Valley backyard retreat.  To tie everything together, black powder coated aluminum railings are installed around the deck’s perimeter and staircase, which seem to vanish as the sun sets, keeping an open-air feeling all around.  LED lighting was installed in the large stone planter, on the stairs for safety and even in the pergola to shine down for cozy effect.  Landscape lighting highlights the newly planted trees and shrubs for added outdoor aesthetic drama.

Phase One of this project gave MasterPLAN the opportunity to transform this home from an overgrown, inefficient and dated design into a striking, functional and timeless living space.  Submitting this project and being recognized as an award winner among other elite professionals in this contest is an honor.  We are excited to share this accomplishment with all of our readers!

We previously published a Sneak Peek blog about Phase Two for this same property.  We are happy to report that this phase has been completed and we will be sharing the details of this portion of the project in a blog post in the near future.  In the meantime, if you would like to inquire about your very own backyard transformation, feel free to reach out.  We would love to welcome you into the MasterPLAN family!