Dramatic Landscape Makeovers by Architectural Gardens Win 2013 Landscape Design Awards

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - April 11, 2013 - PRLog -- Lake Forest (Chicago), IL, April 11, 2013 – Architectural Gardens of Lake Forest, Illinois announces it has won two Excellence in Landscape awards in an annual competition naming the top public and private gardens and landscapes in the Chicago area.

Margaret Morrissette, owner and designer at Architectural Gardens, received both awards for the extensive landscape renovation projects she completed at two northshore residences. Each project presented unique design and construction challenges because of the configurations of the lots and the ages of the homes. At the older home, an 1800’s farm house located on a corner lot in the Village of Glencoe, Morrissette found that the home’s wrap-around porch was deteriorating, adding to the complexity of the exterior overhaul. The other landscape renovation project entailed removing yards of 70’s Astro-turf from the backyard of a suburban home to create a recreational pool and spa environment.

The award-winning projects epitomize a core trend in landscapes and living today – fashioning outdoor living areas that greatly expand the functional living space of a home. For both of Morrissette’s clients, the landscape renovations more than doubled the entertainment space of the residence; with layouts that make use of front, back, and side yard areas. The design-build firm handles all aspects of the project from initial design through construction as well as furniture selection.

This is the second year in a row that Architectural Gardens has won top honors in the residential category of the Excellence in Landscape awards competition which is operated by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association. The more than 800 member firms that comprise the Association make it one of the country’s largest professional associations for the landscape and outdoor living industries.

Landscape professionals across the state and region submit their best projects for judging by a panel of industry experts. The awards competition is a showcase of unique and beautiful gardens found throughout the Midwest, with a predominance of awards located in the Chicago area.

Architectural Gardens, founded by Margaret Morrissette in 1997, offers residential landscaped design-build services to Chicago's northshore residents. Project images can be viewed at:  architecturalgardendesign.com/2013_ILCA_Awards/html
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