Interior designer Liz Stiving Nichols offers an eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories in her shop in Vineyard Haven

Photo by Eric Roth

Photo by Eric Roth

In 2010, Martha’s Vineyard interior designer Liz Stiving Nichols opened a home furnishings shop on Main Street in Vineyard Haven. Bespoke Abode, a home furnishing boutique, began offering something for every aesthetic and budget. When a shop space opened up across the street that was three times the size, Stiving Nichols jumped at the chance to expand her offerings. “We are well stocked with finds that are a mixture of rustic and refined, preppy bohemian, organic and nautical, and even a little steampunk. We have a plethora of styles,” notes Stiving Nichols.

We met with Liz Stiving Nichols in her Martha’s Vineyard shop recently to discuss her design philosophy and what inspires her own design work.

Photo by Eric Roth

Cape Cod Home (CCH): Tell us about Bespoke Abode.

Stiving Nichols (SN): As an extension of the design firm, Martha’s Vineyard Interior Design, Bespoke Abode offers goods that are reflective of our work and of the Vineyard lifestyle. Bespoke Abode offers several custom products such as window treatments, rugs, and furniture. We also carry a large variety of lighting and home accessories. Our firm has a very talented design team, who can help determine the best product and style as well as complete all measuring and installations of custom window treatments and rugs.

As the primary buyer for the store, when searching for new inventory, I do so from the perspective of an interior designer, a customer, an island resident, an enthusiast of reclaimed materials, one-of-a-kind finds, and great buys. You can buy off the floor, or we can customize just about anything to your specification.

Photo by Eric Roth

CCH: What are the new trends for spring? What is this season’s hot color?

SN: I do my best to not get too wrapped up in trends, but according to Pantone, the hot color of 2013 is emerald green. From my perspective, I think we are going to be seeing a lot of citrus colors. Bright colors and crisp whites will be popular. Nautical stripes will never get old, but you might notice some exuberant pinks, orange, yellows, and reds, rather than the traditional sailor blue and white. There are so many great values of orange that there is sure to be a place for a little orange in everyone’s life. Since we live on Martha’s Vineyard, it is fair to say we will never move too far from a coastal palette.

At Bespoke Abode, we have added a new line of throw pillows this year. Annie Selke’s Fresh American line offers pillows and poufs that are sure to add a pop of cheerful color to any interior. The fact that the pillows are indoor/outdoor makes them durable and very versatile.

Lacquered finishes are popular not only in home accessories, but also furniture. Bungalow 5 has a few of my favorite pieces that we will be offering this spring. Be sure to check out their classic Parsons console table in lacquered grass cloth and their Porto dining table in high gloss white lacquer.

A few other new introductions are mid-century modern classics with a citrus twist. We will be bringing back our ever popular Townie Pillow and Zip Code pillows and are offering our customers the ability to custom order their color and text. These have proven to be a perfect gift for those who are shopping for the “hard to buy for.” This year, we’ve expanded this line with tote bags and pillows made of sailcloth that are also customizable and well suited for your boat.

Photo by Eric Roth

CCH: What is your design philosophy when it comes to designing a home on Cape Cod or the Islands?

SN: On or off Cape, our philosophy is the same—the interior design of a home should be harmonious with the architectural and exterior elements, and also reflect the client’s personality and style. On the Cape, we might take a few other things into consideration such as well-designed outdoor living spaces, or the possibility of wet bathing suits and sand being tracked in the house. Ultimately our job is to get to know our clients and create a design that is all about their life, personality, and family. A good designer is, first and foremost, a good listener.

CCH: Is it different designing for a primary residence versus a second home?

SN: The approach to designing a primary residence compared to a vacation home is the same; it’s the state of mind that may be different. Our goal is to create a design that reflects our client’s lifestyle. One’s lifestyle in their summer home may be vastly different than in their everyday life.

When beginning a project, I frequently ask my clients if they want their home to be a place where people can put their feet on the sofa, or take their shoes off at the door. In the summer, I find people (myself included) are most often a little more laid back and maybe even adventurous. Perhaps the fact that they are only living in the house a few weeks or months out of the year, people feel they can take more risks. That is certainly an added perk from a designer’s point of view.

Photo by Eric Roth

CCH: What inspires you in the designing process?

SN: I happen to devour several design magazines each month so I am sure something along the way sticks, but when looking for design inspiration, I turn to my clients. Understanding their style, personality, and lifestyle is key. We also often speak of “bringing the outside in”—when working on the Cape and Islands, there is inspiration everywhere you look. Creating a design that is cohesive with the exterior provides a sense of balance and completion. Creating a design that is a reflection of our client’s lifestyle and budget creates happy clients.

CCH: Who were your early influences growing up?

SN: My parents were great influences. My mother is very artistic and my father was “a mover and a shaker” back in the day. My creativity stems from her, and my father’s entrepreneurial spirit has been great inspiration. They both have always led by example, not only as good parents and good people, but also as good and fair business owners. I grew up on a horse farm in Ohio with 80-plus acres of wooded horse trails and open fields. It offered me a great appreciation of beauty in nature. Pleasant Valley Farm is still one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. My childhood home was a comfortable and fun place to be. I guess I always strive for that sensibility.

Photo by Eric Roth

CCH: What is one luxury you can’t live without when it comes to your interiors?

SN: If I had to list one luxury that I could not live without, the easy answer would be great fabric. It changes everything—color, texture, pattern, and style. So much can be done with fabric. Using an unexpected color or pattern on a vintage chair can create a functional work of art. But above all good lighting is a must!

Bespoke Abode is located at 56 Main Street,
Vineyard Haven, MA. For more information, call 508-693-0722 or visit bespokeabode.com.

The post A Beautiful Abode appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

Architect Bruce Miller restores an authentic Cape cabin in the woods of Wellfleet.

Photo by Eric Roth

It’s not every day you come across a property that evokes a sense of charm and nostalgia for old Cape Cod. When a large parcel of land with a small 1920s cabin—tucked into woodlands on Wellfleet Bay—came up for sale, a longtime summer resident saw an opportunity to preserve the integrity of not only the land, but also the tranquil cabin itself.

The new owner recognized the cabin as a diamond in the rough and called Boston architect Bruce Miller to enhance the structure without taking away its charming old-time qualities. “The cabin, although it was in pretty bad shape, is a classic summer cottage: There was no insulation or plaster walls, just exposed pine framing with interior spaces opened to the roof rafters. The owners wanted to use it as a seasonal guesthouse,” says Miller. “They also wanted to be respectful of the original cabin and keep things as simple as possible.”

Photo by Eric Roth

With views of a tidal marsh and woodland, Miller also wanted to keep the rustic ambiance of the 750-square-foot cabin intact. “The approach was to be as economical as possible,” Miller notes. “We did not winterize the structure.”
Miller chose to enlarge the cabin slightly, but for the most part worked hard to maintain the structure’s attractive smallness. By using building materials consistent with the original structure and selecting simple fixtures and finishes with clean lines, the new and the old blended together, in keeping with the unfussy modesty of the Cape’s traditional summer cabins.

Wellfleet, truly a special Cape Cod town with over 60 percent of its land designated as part of the National Seashore, offers the wild windswept beauty of nature with tidal marshes, kettle ponds, Atlantic Ocean beaches, and a tranquil bay. The new design of the cabin continues to honor this unspoiled place, sitting quietly on the landscape.

The one-story structure needed new siding and a roof. It also called for more light and expanded views of the marsh. The scope of the work included adding a new kitchen and screened porch, enlarging a bathroom and bedroom, and adding a new deck.

Photo by Eric Roth

Miller spent many summers as a child and young adult on Squam Lake in New Hampshire and called on his memories of much-loved summer buildings to enhance the relaxed aesthetic of the Wellfleet cabin. Along with recladding the cabin walls and roof in new cedar shingles, Miller incorporated a dormer with operable transom windows to allow in more natural light and summer breezes.

“The cabin can get warm in the summer, but with the dormer windows open, heat escapes from the roof pulling in fresh air from the lower windows, keeping the cabin cool,” notes Miller. He also kept the original 12 over 12 windows in the living space and added a fourth window taken from the back of the house to expand the tidal marsh view.

The interiors were revamped with new fir flooring. Miller added a 175-square-foot screened porch for additional living space—it’s the perfect spot to have dinner and enjoy the natural surroundings.

A set of French “barn” doors on axis with the central living room slide open to access the porch, bringing the two spaces together. “I also moved the front door, which was on the side, and placed it on the front of the cabin, setting up a visual axis from the entry out to the marsh,” says Miller. To offer greater outdoor living space, Miller added a cedar deck facing the marsh.

Photo by Eric Roth

In the main living space, an old wood-burning stove was replaced with a brick fireplace, a wonderful gathering spot for the Cape’s sometimes brisk spring and early summer mornings and often chilly autumn nights. The interior walls and ceilings, which were left exposed, were painted a crisp white. Miller added vertical pickled pine boards to the wall surrounding the fireplace and incorporated small bookshelves and hidden closets on either side of the chimney for additional storage.

To keep the rustic feel of the cottage, Miller specified unlacquered brass hardware, which patinas naturally over time in the salt breezes. For more modern creature comforts, a new kitchen was added and the bathroom was enlarged slightly.

“We added a three-foot-by-six-foot mini-addition to the bathroom, making an almost dysfunctional space more comfortable, yet preserving its smallness,” says Miller. The bathroom floor is painted a bright French blue, offering a striking visual impact. A freestanding outdoor shower affords the ultimate summer experience.

The kitchen is also very simple with plywood cabinets, heart pine countertops, and a small island countertop for food preparation. The kitchen backsplash was also finished in a pickled pine, continuing the flavor of the living area.

This authentic cabin has become a sweet oasis with enhanced charm, offering a perfect retreat from modern life in the tranquil woodlands surrounding Wellfleet Bay.

The post A Timeless Retreat appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

With the second renovation of a Shingle-style house on the water in Sagamore, a couple finally find their dream home.

Photo by Eric Roth

When a young couple was looking for a summer home 16 years ago, they stumbled upon the find of a lifetime. A ramshackle Shingle-style gambrel commanding views of Cape Cod Bay had just gone on the market, and the pair, who grew up in New England, knew it was a true gem. They fell in love with the antique summerhouse—so much so that they decided to purchase the property as their primary residence, giving their growing family access to sea and sand in all seasons.

Known as the Pillars, the house, which was built in the 1920s, offered all the romance of living by the sea, but needed some major repairs just to become livable. The first renovation called for some extensive work such as having the foundation jacked up, replacing rotted beams, and updating the kitchen.

After living in the house for 11 years, the homeowners decided it was time for another change. The house layout did not take advantage of the location’s spectacular views, nor did it work for easy entertaining or a modern lifestyle that included three growing children. The couple called master builders Michael Lahart and Leon Pinsonneault of Pinsonneault Construction to discuss how to showcase their house.

What started as a possible kitchen and dining room renovation turned into a complete rehabilitation. Lahart started dismantling the house for the renovation and found rot and termite damage. The contractor knew at this point the scope of the project was going to be much bigger than just a kitchen renovation, so he suggested the couple contact architect Dave Johnson of Skaala, LLC.

Johnson met with the couple to create a master plan for the entire house and design the new interior spaces. “When I walked in the front door, the house had already been taken down to the studs—it was November 2007 and the couple wanted the project completed by June 28th the following year,” notes Johnson. “We had our work cut out for us. But the husband and wife have incredible taste and a great eye for design. So although there was a considerable time constraint, we had clients who came to the table with clear ideas of how they wanted the house to look and function.”

Photo by Eric Roth

Inspired by old photographs of Shingle-style houses, Johnson adopted the language of the Shingle style to recreate traditional interiors and exteriors. A cedar roof and sidewall shingles as well as fieldstone were chosen to match existing materials and techniques. Johnson also designed large shingled brackets inspired by old Shingle-style cottages in the area to support the side porch roof.

MillworkOne of Cranston, Rhode Island, created the trim for the coffered ceilings, V-groove paneling, built-in cabinets, and a winding staircase, which all contribute to the traditional, elegant aesthetic of a gracious seaside home. The living room mantel reflects Arts and Crafts designs of the early 20th century. “The couple really wanted to respect the design of the old house,” notes Lahart. “They wanted the new design to be reflective of original details, and it was our job to perfect those details.”

The first course of action for Johnson was to decide where to place the kitchen and then install a staircase to the second floor. Once these decisions were made, the design for all the other rooms fell into place. “The couple wanted a more formal entrance—a sense of arrival, which was lacking in the original house,” notes Johnson. “We placed the front door on a 45-degree angle—the front entry hall is formal with a two-story ceiling and a grand carved mahogany staircase. The stairs’ spiral flow also guides energy up to the second layer of the house.”

Johnson installed additional windows into this entry space for enhanced natural light. A limestone floor—although not a traditional material—was introduced for practicality and durability. A stunning touch is an exposed fieldstone wall built by local stonemason Louis Rosado. “The stone chimney had to be rebuilt with both an interior and exterior fireplace,” Johnson explains. A vaulted stair to a basement game room/wine cellar descends down through the stone chimney, offering an almost medieval feel to the structure.

“The couple wanted open flowing spaces for entertaining, but they also wanted more intimate spaces like you would find in a traditional home layout,” says Johnson. The old kitchen, which was placed in the middle of the house, was transformed into an intimate living room with a home office introduced just off the space.

Photo by Eric Roth

“Even though these are separate rooms, they are still connected to the views and the rest of the house through interior French doors,” Johnson says. The couple wanted the heart of the home—the kitchen—to have great views. The family spends so much time in the kitchen it just made sense to place the kitchen with views opening out to the water.

The couple was very instrumental in collaborating on all aspects of the design—particularly the kitchen. Johnson created one space to accommodate the kitchen, the dining area, and a small sitting space with a fireplace. A large island divides the spaces. A true chef’s kitchen, the space is large enough for catered parties. To fully capture the views of the bay, Johnson incorporated a wall of windows and French doors.

Adjacent to the kitchen, a bluestone terrace with an outdoor grill creates a wonderful transition between interior and exterior spaces, offering a great spot to hang after a long day at the beach. The second floor was reconfigured with a new master suite complete with a soaking tub, which also has spectacular views to the water.

The attic was converted into an additional playroom with built-in benches and plenty of extra sleeping space. Eyebrow dormers offer additional headroom and light. A room for the couple’s oldest daughter has a built-in bed, closet, and desk reminiscent of a ship’s quarters.

This thoughtful, sensitive renovation of a grand old house in a stunning setting provides the family with comfortable contemporary living all year round. “Without such a great team in place—homeowners, architects, and contractors—the house would not have turned out to be such a beautiful place,” says Lahart. “We all put our heart and soul into this old house and it really shows.”

The post Grandeur Restored appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

This Cape Cod kitchen’s redesign combines traditional quality with innovative green features

Photo by Dan Cutrona

“The only thing that’s missing here is that renovation smell!” This is a common exclamation by friends visiting Kitty and Tom Brown’s newly remodeled kitchen in their home in East Falmouth. Says designer Nicole Goldman of ‘g’ Green Design Center in Mashpee, who worked with the Browns from first design idea to final installation, “Yes, there are no toxins, no off gassing, no fumes. At ‘g’ Green Design, we don’t do smells!” The Brown’s kitchen remodel features all the hallmarks of traditional kitchen design—quality materials, continuity with existing parts of the house, a more functional, satisfying space—all with the added green perks of health, sustainability, energy efficiency, and low maintenance.

What’s not to love? The new kitchen is truly a breath of fresh air, but one in keeping with the country New England style of the house. Light pours in through the windows, reflecting off smooth, cream-colored cabinets, highlighting a spacious new dining area and a deluxe-sized central island that seems to beg to be surrounded by friends chattering as they munch on appetizers, or a gaggle of grandchildren clamoring for an afternoon cookie break. Says Goldman, “It’s easy to entertain here. It can either feel intimate or expansive.”
The homeowner was delighted and surprised throughout the process at just how easy it is to remodel in ways that complement one’s own ideas of health and sustainability, in any aesthetic and style. “It’s a mentality that I have—to reuse and use products that will last a long time,” says Kitty Brown. “The variety, the choices that are out there—that surprised me!”

The venture evolved in a somewhat unexpected way. A frequent customer of ‘g’ Green Design in Mashpee Commons, Kitty stopped by the shop one afternoon to pick up some sustainable tableware products for an upcoming party. Small talk with Goldman and showroom manager Paula Smith led Brown to the topic of her dark, cluttered, and outdated kitchen. With Smith and Goldman, Brown realized that she might be able to actually tackle her goal of a complete overhaul. “The kitchen was 27 years old,” she says. “Things were falling apart. We needed to do something.”

Brown wanted a lighter, brighter space—one that made better use of the large footprint of the room, with more storage and better functionality. “It is a very traditional, Cape-style home in a small neighborhood on one of the fingers [of land] in East Falmouth. You don’t want to overbuild or put in anything out of context,” says Goldman. “With a traditional setting, the idea is that green doesn’t have to mean contemporary. It can be any style—it is really about what is in the materials.”

Over a nine-month design and construction process, Brown collaborated with Smith and Goldman to devise a new, bold floor plan that included enlarging and redesigning a center island, rearranging the cooking and food preparation areas, replacing and expanding an existing pantry, and adding both an eat-in dining area and a small home office space. The range, microwave, and refrigerator were replaced and updated with Energy Star-rated Liebherr appliances, known for their beautiful design and excellent engineering. About the refrigerator, Goldman says, “It’s not just about the look, they actually keep food longer so that you have less waste.”

Photo by Dan Cutrona

Fabricated in Monroe, Washington by Canyon Creek Cabinet Company, the redesigned cabinetry was the keystone of the plan. “For Kitty, it was all about the cabinets and getting that finish just right,” says Goldman. She is quick to note that the search for the right sustainable vendor is a balancing act. “It can be all over the spectrum,” she says. “Yes, we paid a little bit more in the carbon footprint for shipping from Washington, but the product is super-sustainable, and the company itself is also very environmentally conscious in their production—they reuse their water, their wood, and their energy.”

When people think “green” they might sometimes only consider the extreme, but, says Goldman, “It is not just one thing, like ‘Did we cut the wood from our local forests and then make the cabinets?’”

Green materials are defined by their use of non-toxic, healthy and sustainable ingredients—namely, a lack of chemicals. Most importantly, green building materials do not contain urea-formaldehyde, also known as urea-methanal, a resin that is found in just about everything, from plywood and particleboard to paints, textiles, and carpeting. “It is a known carcinogen,” explains Goldman. “It definitely contributes to all sorts of issues relating to breathing, allergies, asthma—it can cause all sorts of reactions and it’s in absolutely everything!”

What many people may not realize is that going green often means going back to the basics of construction materials: making quality products as they were made before the introduction of chemicals in the 1950s and 60s. “What we did in the 20th century is we put chemicals into absolutely everything—as a stabilizer, as a conditioner, as a preservative—thinking that was a solution,” explains Goldman. “Now, we’re spending the 21st century taking it all back out again!” In the realm of house construction and remodeling, that means reevaluating all the products used down to the paints and adhesives.

Once the cabinets were just right, the next big choices were floors and counters. To maintain continuity with the wood floors throughout the rest of the house, Brown chose red oak flooring, made from sustainably harvested wood from Quebec and northern New England. Stained a warm reddish-brown to match, it is NAUF (No Added Urea Formaldehyde), just like the cabinets, and comes with a 26-year warranty. “Kitty’s never replacing this floor,” says Goldman. “Not only is the floor beautiful, sustainable, and healthy, but it is also durable and low maintenance. She doesn’t have to think about it again.”

Photo by Dan Cutrona

One of the perks of going green is that the products will have a longer life. “Sustainability does equal quality because we want to make things that will last and be low on maintenance, and to do that, you have to make something well,” says Goldman. As with most high-quality products, there is a higher price. But as Goldman says, “Do you want to buy it from us first—or do you want to buy it from us next?”

The counters are a mix of NAUF maple-stained wood from Canyon Creek and an innovative product called Eco by Cosentino, a recycled glass and concrete surface. Goldman added an ogee profile to the edges of the countertops. “The style is very country, and so the ogee edge gives the counter a classical, country look that goes with the rest of the house,” Goldman notes. “You can add a new material, but by using classic lines, you create a classic look.”

Other green details included energy-efficient lighting, VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) free paint, and the replacement of fiberglass insulation with an eco-friendly batting. Brown says she couldn’t be happier with the end result of her kitchen. “The materials are beautiful, so practical, and so earth friendly,” she says, “I absolutely love my new kitchen. It is inviting. It’s warm. It’s so light and airy!”

For Goldman and Smith, the reward is not only watching the transformation of the space, but also steering their clients towards ideas that will bring their goals to fruition. “It is our job to lure this information out of our clients and then realize it for people,” says Goldman. For Smith, who particularly enjoyed working with Brown, “It is a joy to guide her to choices that may not have been her normal, practical, run-of-the-mill options.” The choice to go green was essentially Kitty’s—her husband, Tom, was convinced by the quality of the materials and the final product.

The Browns are part of a growing number of people who are seeking out greener alternatives for reasons of health, efficiency, low maintenance, and concern for the planet. Amazingly, ‘g’ Green Design Center remains one of the only places in the region specializing in green building materials and design. Goldman regularly gets requests from people in the Boston area.

“People want their houses to be energy efficient, knowing the value of it. They are more aware and they want things that are safe and healthy,” Goldman notes. “Businesses also want green options because they want to be able to market themselves as sustainable.”

Going green in a home design or remodel project couldn’t be easier. With more choices than ever, there is a seemingly endless array of options to fit a variety of budgets and styles. “When we started in 2006, we had an option of about three different countertops,” reflects Goldman, “We have over 20 options now. There were a few options for wood and bamboo and we now have multiples.”

The clientele has also evolved. “Not everyone who comes in here is ‘earthy-crunchy,’” says Goldman. “Most people are somewhere on the spectrum.” Today, green design offers enough options to satisfy both the hippie and the pragmatist in all of us.

For more information, visit ggreendesign.com.

The post A Breath of Fresh Air appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

How to add pizzazz to your landscape with a fish pond—or a pondless waterfall.

Photography by Dan Dewey

When homeowners think about improving their landscape, they often focus on how to make their lawn look better, or perhaps how to make their home look more appealing with new foundation plantings. We all know how a thick stand of new turf or a well-thought-out perennial garden can really improve the curb appeal of your property.

Adding a new bluestone patio or reclaimed granite walkway are additional ways to develop your landscape while providing both function and form. All of these landscape ideas can add a lot to a property’s aesthetic appeal as well as it is overall value.

However, adding a well-designed and properly constructed water feature can have an even greater impact on your landscape. A fish pond or a pondless waterfall can add an unmatched “wow” factor that provides enjoyment for friends and family for years to come while serving as a signature piece of your landscape.

A water feature such as a fish pond or pondless waterfall can be fantastic additions to your landscape. Of course, as is the case with any project that is undertaken around the house, a little planning goes a long way and can make the difference between being the talk of the neighborhood, or perhaps a time when you wish you had never heard the term “water feature.” Overall, a few considerations will ensure that your new water feature installation is a success.

First, the location of your water feature in your landscape is perhaps the most important step as you are planning your project. This may seem obvious, but it doesn’t matter how wonderful your fish pond looks if it unexpectedly interrupts the flow of water across your property, because suddenly not only do you have a pond in your back yard, you also have one in your basement. So siting your water feature relative to your home or any other structures—and the overall existing landscape conditions on your property—is imperative when determining the location of your feature.

Photography by Dan Dewey

Next up: determining exactly what kind of water feature you would like to incorporate into your landscape. Would you like to have a pond, and if so, do you want to have fish? Another consideration involves determining the layout of the water feature. Will the feature have a waterfall and stream that leads into a pond? Will it simply be a reflection pool with an aerating pump? Or perhaps there could be a waterfall that sends water cascading down a stream into a bed of gravel or stones? These are all important questions when choosing exactly what kind of water feature you would like to have in your landscape.

Your budget and whether or not you would like to have fish will ultimately effect the form and function that your water feature ends up taking. For example, say that more than anything, you have always wanted to open up your bedroom window on a warm summer’s eve to the sound of water gently falling downstream, playfully dancing its way between worn river rocks. Additionally, you have noticed a number of handsome Cooper Hawks that live in the woods behind your house and keep your family cat on his paws at all times. Of course, when your cat is not keeping an eye to the sky, he’s got his nose to the ground and claws at anything that moves—including the fish in your pond. Fish also make a tasty meal for hawks, herons, raccoons, and other predators. On Nantucket, for instance, blue herons have so decimated most fish ponds that homeowners have to cover the ponds at dusk with netting.

Photography by Dan Dewey

Finally, you simply want to be able to enjoy your water feature without having to spend lots of time on the Internet reading up on how to get rid of that monstrous algal bloom that seems to happen just before your Fourth of July neighborhood party. If some or all of this sounds like issues you may have in your yard, then a pondless waterfall may be exactly what you are looking for.

Pondless waterfalls are a great way to bring a water feature onto your property without incurring the potentially higher installation and maintenance costs associated with a fish pond. They are also extremely useful when you are working within a restricted space. In order to install a pondless waterfall, there are a handful of necessary components to ensure that your system functions properly.

The following is a simplified rendition of what can be used to install a water feature. A heavy duty, 45-millimeter EPDM liner should be used to retain the water. A pump is used at the low point of the water feature to circulate the water through piping back up to the high point. These locations are typically where filtration occurs.

Additional considerations include what kind of materials you would like to use for the rocking of the stream and basin as well as what kind of plants you would like to incorporate into your design. Have fun with this part of the process after you have gone over all of the necessary logistical components of building a water feature with your landscape designer. The most satisfying part of the installation can be in the details of exactly what plants go where and how the water will meander down the stream. When you can step back a few months after the project has been completed and say that it looks like a natural part of the landscape, you’ll know you have it right.

Photography by Dan Dewey

Many homeowners long to have a fish pond. Perhaps you have a few grandchildren who will absolutely love feeding the fish, and eventually, you discover that it becomes one of your family’s favorite daytime routines. Fish ponds can provide many of the same benefits as a pondless waterfall. However, they can end up requiring more of an investment to build and maintain. In addition to the items listed above, a greater attention to detail is required to maintain water quality.

Incorporating plants, using beneficial bacteria populations, and even utilizing ultraviolet lights to control pond algae are just a few possibilities that you may entertain to control the quality and clarity of the water in a fish pond. Depending on where you live and how deep the pond is, there may be building codes that require the construction of a fence surrounding the pond. If you understand the potential additional maintenance and expense that comes along with having a fish pond as you are planning your project, then you won’t be unpleasantly surprised down the road should problems arise. In the end, having a fish pond can be a magical attraction that provides loads of enjoyment for people of all ages.

When the time comes to figure out what you want to do next with your landscape, consider installing a water feature. It will provide you with the opportunity to create something that combines numerous aspects of landscape design and construction, all the while building something that can provide excitement one moment and tranquility the next.

Dan Dewey, a resident of West Barnstable, is the owner of Dewey Gardens, an organic landcare company specializing in design and installation services on Cape Cod. For more information, visit deweygardens.com.

The post Pond Perspective appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.