A Few Questions with a Local Plant Expert.

I would like to take a minute to introduce you to Jason Fedchak at Charles J. Fiore Nursery.  We have been working with Jason and Fiore for years to provide our customers with the best plant material, and soon to me landscape material in Chicago.  With spring (supposedly) here, we sat down with Jason to ask him a few questions.  

CRD&G:  So are you ready for the spring rush?

Fiore:  Sure!

CRD&G:  How soon until you have all of your plant material in?

Fiore:  We should be 80% full by the 4^th week of April.

CRD&G:  With the “green” trends in Chicago have you seen a spike in demand for any particular plants?

Fiore:  People are looking for compact and/or narrow varieties that are packaged in a way that they can be installed on roof tops, balconies or in courtyards. They also need to be hardy enough for Chicago winters.

CRD&G:  Can you give our readers a couple of tips to make the perfect planter pots?

Fiore:  I’ll leave that to you guys!  I guess my best tip would be to not over complicate the planting.

CRD&G:  Any new plants or products that we can get excited about this spring?

Fiore:  Hydrangea arborescens ‘Bella Anna’ – A pink Blooming Annabelle!

Hakonechloa ‘Fubuki’- A white and green striped Japanese Forest Grass having the look and feel of a dwarf bamboo.  Good for shade.

Diervilla ‘Cool Splash’- A variegated diervilla for full sun

We will be carrying a full line of natural stone product.  We will also be working with a local craftsman to produce modular container systems to fit your custom design.  The stone and these containers will be set up in functional, real life displays at our Chicago office later this summer.

Thanks for your time Jason, I am sure you are just as excited about the season kicking off as our clients are.  Check out C.J. Fiore's website for information on their plant and landscape stock.  http://www.cjfiore.com/

 

Highlighting some of the great trends in outdoor living

I would like to introduce everyone to Ken Love.  He is a rep for many great outdoor products we use including Firegear and Beefeater.

CRD&G: How long have you been in the outdoor living industry?  

Ken: 4 years    Fireplace industry 29 years

CRD&G: What trends have you seem emerge in the Chicago area over the past several years?  

Ken: The interst in the outdoor kitchen has transformed into the outdoor room/outdoor entertaining area. The demand has expolded from maybe 35% to 40% interest from landscape contractors to 95% in the last 4 years.

CRD&G: Natural gas vs. propane?  

Ken: Natural gas is 97% of the sales

CRD&G: Ok, a chance to highlight one of your products.  What is your favorite product you rep right now?  Ken: The hottest product I sell from firegear is the star burner and the serpentine linear burner.

CRD&G: You must be a great outdoor cook, what is your favorite thing to grill?  

I'm a Beefeater from the midwest. I love grilling Steak!! I marinade it for a few hours and enjoy.

CRD&G: Here is your chance to free style, let us have it…

Trends in Outdoor Living and Entertainment areas: Looking to 2011 As the "leisure industry" is rapidly growing 15 to 17 percent annually, several outdoor living trends are beginning to take shape. Throughout 2010, there had been a bigger shift in the design of outdoor kitchens. The transition is a shift from the traditional landscape paver BBQ island to more of a masonry looking kitchen island with storage doors, draws and other appliances inside modular island cabinets with a stone veneer finish. Even a pergola or arbor over the area. Just a few years ago an outdoor area was called a "grilling station" and soon thereafter, the term was quickly updated to "outdoor kitchen." Now the emerging phrase is "outdoor living and entertainment area." The kitchen is still the focal point of the design, but the layout and materials are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and complex. Long gone are the days of simply creating a small area to grill outside and enjoy dinner. Now outdoor living spaces are given as much detail, budget and design as indoor kitchens and living rooms. The force behind this growing trend is twofold. First, homeowners are seeking a fully functional and attractive kitchen, which is simply not possible with paver block islands. In the past three years, a substantial increase in designs that started as BBQ Islands with just a grill and possibly a side burner. Now they have changed to fully functional outdoor kitchens as rooms. Utilizing, ceramic kamado style grill smokers, utility doors, refrigeration, drawer storage, along with warming draws, ice makers and even sinks. Homeowners and contractors are simply not aware of the options available using ready to finish premade island modules. Finished with hammered iron framing, travertine stone tiles, natural stone finish, poured concrete and granite counter tops. These design styles, colors and finishes have become the most asked for veneers d surfaces for the exterior of the cabinets. Homeowners are looking to create purposeful rooms to avoid trips back and forth to the interior kitchen. The builder and remodeler are the other forces. Putting "pencil to paper," the cost of modular cabinetry has less labor time and material costs to build then the masonry kitchen islands. With modular cabinetry and a stone veneer finish, the crews can finish an installation quickly and move on to the next project. And, of course, the more projects builders and contractors can squeeze into a season ultimately affect’s their overall revenue.

Knowing the options available for creating a customer's ideal outdoor living and entertaining area, as well as making relevant suggestions for a customer's outdoor space, will help you to establish your expertise and benefit from the huge growth in outdoor living.

I Have No Style

When I begin a project with a client they often times will ask me if I have a design style.  The question has been asked to me so many times I have become sort of desensitized.  While my historically relevant predecessors can be defined by their use of materials, placement of vegetation, or use of color I have found that my style is a mash up of everything from modern to minimalists.  I have no style. 

To those who are looking for a label ‘designer’ in an architect this admission might be disturbing, but I have found that most of my clients are still discovering their own style and don’t need the infusion of a narrow design palette. 

I have found a comfortable design home in my non committal style as I am able to adapt to the needs of each individual client.  Whether it is a modern stainless steel fire pit or a cobble stone and reclaimed timber fireplace they all fit into our design palette.  If you aren’t sure what your style is have no fear, we have lots of great resources to help you find your mojo.