JW Landscape Design Blog

A Different Kind of Kiss

During my stint at LSU while studying for a degree in Landscape Architecture, our professors would assign us projects or charrettes to help us hone in our design skills.  These assignments could range from Campus Master Planning to Urban Revitalization to the Design of a Small Courtyard. As students, our ideas would veer off course and our professors would have to steer us back in the right direction. They would allow us to come up with fresh, innovative ideas, but also would want us to keep our design simple and useable for the client. The term “K.I.S.S.” was often heard during our critiques.

KISS Frontman, Gene Simmons

I know most of you are thinking, “Wow, I didn’t know Jack’s professors were such fans of Gene Simmons?!?” Actually, the KISS I am referring to is Keep it Simple, Stupid. The KISS mantra could be used across all aspects of life, but I’ll focus on how this applies to landscaping in the home garden.
A few basic design principles to KISS are Order, Unity and Rhythm.
Order simply refers to the framework of the yard and how it is laid out.  Without order, the flower beds look uncontrolled and one’s eye cannot easily follow through the landscape.

The Flow From Home To Garden

Unity is the connection among pieces in a design. It is the seamless flow from your back door to your patio and the smooth transition into your garden. Unity brings together the lines, colors, forms and textures that make up the outdoor living space. When these objects are successfully blended together, the space feels right and Chi is positively flowing. 
In music, rhythm refers to any flow or movement. In the landscape, this movement is repetition of plants or materials to create a pleasing result.
Remember, these standards are not written in stone, but serve as a foundational base for landscape design. The next time you’re in a space that is pleasing to you, ask yourself, “What makes this space/ garden/ patio comfortable?” See if the KISS principle applies and try to use them in your own garden.
Now, if I was only tech savvy enough to play “Rock and Roll All Nite” as bumper music to fade out of this blog….hmmm, maybe next time.
Remember—The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is NOW!
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