Curves and Lattice in Garden Gate Design
The benefit of not standardizing my work is the opportunities that arise for interesting designs that compliment specific spaces. I see the value of making things repeatable; making standard shapes and sizes so work can be as efficient and profitable as possible. This is a must in some business ventures, however I’ve intentionally kept my business size small and my overhead low. This gives me flexibility to bring out individual aspects that reflect the spaces and interests of my clients.
This little side garden project is a great example of being flexible with design. This client had been following my work on Instagram before contacting me about a project he had in mind. His only requirements where to have a solid side panel to block the waste bins from being seen from the front of the house and a design that would compliment the French farmhouse architectural elements of their home. There was also a desire for the arbor to have some “depth” without changing the footprint on the ground.
A Garden Gate With a Different Kind of Curve
If you look around here you will likely notice a theme, I love curves! They have such a natural feel and add a gentle, comforting invitation to approach a garden entrance. For this gate I wanted to do a slightly different take on an arch. I’ve seen what I believe is called an eyebrow arch on the dormers of some houses. It’s a nice shape and I wanted to see what it would look like as the top rail for this gate. You can see how it gently slopes down before leveling off and tying into the stiles. The curved shape pairs nicely with the arched arbor above.
Different Lattice Options For Garden Gates
Although the side panels needed to be solid that wasn’t a requirement for the gate. I think in small spaces like this one, breaking up the solid vertical orientation creates a more gentle feel to the space as a whole and is more inviting. I’ve built many styles of lattice, but with this one I wanted to try something a little different
Most lattice you encounter is is either a grid pattern or oriented at an angle. Both versions create a square opening by the layout of the vertical and lateral wood slats. For this lattice I oriented the slats at a thirty degree angle. This created more of a diamond patterns in the lattice. Since I was making this lattice I could oversize it a little so I could have those diamonds running vertically. You can see how this turned out in the accompanying photos. Playing with the thickness of the material and spacing will alter the look of the lattice. I did three different size and spacing option in the shop before I settled on what you see here. I’ve already been thinking of what his would look like as a trellis panel, but with thicker wood slats and greater spacing between the diamonds.
Crafting A Garden Arbor With Depth
When the space allows and the plan is to grow a vining plant or two overhead, I like to use four posts for the arbor. Imagine a square shape or ever so slight rectangle that supports the overhead arbor that in turn supports the vines. This setup allows for supported side panels that will offer support to the vines as they make their way to the top. It also creates depth when the gate is installed on the back posts. However this space wouldn’t support this configuration. Instead I worked on making the arbor itself a little wider by installing sixteen inch runners that are installed perpendicular to the body of the arbor adding more width overhead and creating the desired experience of depth when walking underneath. The two bands that rest on top of the runners are parallel to the main body of the arbor and add visual interest. The bands are installed towards the outside edges of the runners and help create the feeling of entering a deeper arbor overhead.
You can see from the photos how all these design choices come together to create a sense of harmony, turning this little side garden into a visually appealing outside space of this home. The last picture shows what it looks like with a little paint and stain. The white arbor contrasting with the dark color gate is a beautiful sight.
Conclusion
Have a space you are wanting to add a gate and arbor? Perhaps you are looking for a garden bench or stand alone trellis. Click the button below to find more inspiration or send me and email and let’s start a conversation.
THE FENCE GUY OF LOUISVILLE
Embracing good workmanship and the quality that results from it is at the heart of what I do. What guides my design philosophy is the aspiration towards Beauty in built forms