Choose your experience

Click on a color palette

Below you are offered 11 choices on how to view this website. As you will see, these choices will help you learn more about your preferences as well as your dislikes. Some of the color combinations may be difficult for you to read based on your ability to see differences in similar colors. All of this is intentional to help me learn more about you. At any time you may change your viewing experience by pressing on the (color wheel) at the top bottom of the page. Just another way Kenn Shui brings comfort to your daily living.

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monochrome
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a modern looking living room with a large patio and a large pool
Creating a fluid link between interior and exterior design

landscape design

The Visual Extension Of Your Interior

a patio with a glass door and a view of trees and mountains

When the Kenn Shui design practices are used in landscape, the effects can be powerful, attention-grabbing, calming, beautiful, and even magical.

diagram, engineering drawing, schematica white house with a large front yard and a large front yard

People enjoy landscapes for many reasons, whether they are private or public. Many people even desire landscapes to help them escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reconnect with nature. So imagine being able to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and forget pain, if even for a moment, by creating a Kenn Shui-inspired landscape.

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Choosing the best flowers and plants for a residence requires a completely different approach than choosing the best flowers and plants for a commercial building. Therefore, it should be about more than what you like. It should be about getting the overall effect desired.


As this section grows, I will share tried-and-true methods that will help you set yourself apart from the rest and bring the look and feel you never dreamed you could achieve.

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a garden with a path

Make a statement

Make it welcoming

Be bold

Keep it low maintenance

Work with what you have

a building with a stone wall and a stone walkway
a house with trees and lights at night
a courtyard with plants and a building
a garden with a fence
a house with a pool and chairs
a courtyard with plants and a building
a building with a patio and chairs
a building with a large garden
a covered patio with a covered patio
a pool with chairs around it
a building with trees in front of it
a white fence with a white picket fence and a white picket fence
a building with a large front yard
a building with a large front yard
a building with trees and mountains in the background
a pool with a wall of lights
Landscape drawing
a white building with a garden in front of it
a road with trees on the side
a pool surrounded by buildings and trees
a building with a gate and trees
a flower bed in a park
a garden with a path and trees
Kenn standing next to a wooden staircase
a house with a large yard
a white house with trees and bushes
a courtyard with plants and a buildinga white house with a large front yard and a large front yarda building with a large front yard
a courtyard with plants and a building
GOAL
Landscape to compliment the architecture
STYLE
Modern/contemporary
Feeling
Strength, sophistication, bold statement
project's color palete

One of the most crucial parts of a landscape is what the majority of people see from the street. It's important to take the architecture of the building into consideration when coming up with an overall landscape theme.

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Let's take a look at the photo with the charcoal colored water feature. This is a successful example of how the landscape and architecture blend seamlessly together. In this photo we have the strong modern/contemporary lines of the building complimented by architectural cacti having strong lines and textures. The plants are intentionally planted in straight rows using even numbers and mirroring accents.

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In the photo of the grey house with the white trim, we see a much more traditional home. The lines of this house evoke quite a bit of difference from the example above. So, when landscaping this home, it was appropriate to veer off from using all straight lines in exchange for free-flowing curves and an overall softer feel.

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Even within the same architectural style, there are subcategories calling for different landscape treatments. For example, traditional homes can be formal and informal. If I'm doing a formal house, I'm much more likely to use more straight lines, even numbers of shrubs, mirrored focal points, and compact varieties of shrubs and trees.

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In contrast, when doing an informal or asymmetrical home, I will typically use odd numbers of shrubs, looser textures, varying heights from one side of the structure to the other, and far less if any mirroring.

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How a landscape appears in the evening is just as important as how it appears in the daytime. This is where night lighting comes into play. Sometimes it's all about safety and sometimes it's all about pleasure. Whatever the reason to light it up, it's important to take many things into consideration.

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Remember, shadow patterns can be just as important as what the light is shining on. In fact, consider lighting up a wall in back of a plant versus the plant itself. Seeing just the silhouette of a dramatic plant or sculpture can be just as effective - if not more - than lighting up the plant itself.

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Another important thing to remember when doing night lighting is to design in order to avoid seeing the light source itself. For example, pathway lighting can be far more interesting when one is only seeing what is being lit versus seeing the light itself.

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And finally, warm lighting versus cool lighting. Probably the most overlooked detail of all. This one must be right according to the style of the property or purpose of the light

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One of the most crucial parts of a landscape is what most people see from the street. Therefore, it’s essential to take the architecture of the building into consideration when coming up with an overall landscape scheme.  
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Let’s take a look at the photo with the charcoal-colored water feature. This is a successful example of how the landscape and architecture blend seamlessly. In this photo, the building’s modern clean/contemporary lines are complimented by architectural cacti having strong lines and textures. In addition, the plants are intentionally planted in straight rows using even numbers.

a white house with a large front yard and a large front yard

In the photo of the grey house with the white trim, we see a much more traditional home. The lines of this house evoke quite a different feeling from the example above. So, when landscaping this home, it was appropriate to veer off from using all straight lines in exchange for free-flowing curves and an overall softer feel.  
   
Even within the same architectural style, subcategories call for different landscape treatments. For example, traditional homes can be formal and informal. If I’m doing a formal house, I’m likelier to use more straight lines, even numbers of shrubs, mirrored focal points, and compact varieties of shrubs and trees. ‍ 
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In contrast, when doing an informal or asymmetrical home, I will typically use odd numbers of shrubs, looser textures, varying heights from one side of the structure to the other, and far less, if any, mirroring.

a building with a large front yard

How a landscape appears in the evening is just as important as in the daytime. This is where night lighting comes into play. Sometimes it’s all about safety, and sometimes it’s all about pleasure. Whatever the reason to light it up, it’s essential to consider many things.

Remember, shadow patterns can be just as important as what the light is shining on. In fact, consider lighting up a wall in the back of a plant versus the plant itself. Seeing just the silhouette of a dramatic plant or sculpture can be just as effective, if not more, than lighting up the plant itself.

Another vital thing to remember when doing night lighting is to design to avoid seeing the light source itself. For example, pathway lighting can be far more interesting when only seeing what is being lit versus seeing the light itself.  

And finally, warm lighting versus cool lighting. Probably the most overlooked detail of all. This one must be right according to the property's style or the desired function and feeling of the lighting.

Read More +

Proud Projects

This site is in no way an insult to any other design practices - including Feng Shui. However, there are some fundamental differences between Feng Shui and Kenn Shui. I admire and agree with many of their principles and that's why the title of my site is a play on words.

Warm colors create a cozy and comfortable environment
a bouquet of roses
a group of colorful flowers
a vase of red and yellow flowers
a close up of a flower
a group of colorful flowers
red
yellow
orange
Complimentary (opposite) colors stimulate and excite
a group of colorful flowers
a field of yellow flowers
a group of flowers
purple flower
a close up of a plant
red, green
Yellow, purple
blue, orange
Cool colors promote a fresh, calm, and relaxing space
a field of purple flowers
a group of flowers
a group of purple flowers
a purple flower with a black center
a vase with purple flowers with Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens in the background
green
purple
blue
Bad color combinations can bring discomfort or anxiety to an area
a group of colorful flowers
a bouquet of colorful flowers
a group of colorful roses
multiple color group of flowers
a bouquet of colorful flowers
a group of pink flowers
a group of colorful flowers
a group of colorful flowers
Pastel colors — when carefully used — can create a feeling of serenity and sweetness
a close-up of some flowers
a close up of flowers
a large group of pink and white flowers
a bouquet of pink and purple flowers
purple
white
blue
pink

FAQs

Here are some of the questions I’m most often asked about my approach to landscape design.

What types of projects do you do?

From residential to commercial and everything in between.

I plan to design a community with homes, offices, stores, retirement facilities, playgrounds, and dog parks someday.

Do you get frustrated when you see a poor design?

Indeed, I do, however, understand we all have different tastes, and some people don’t know what I do. So I’m never offended by other people’s negative opinions if it comes from a place of education, knowledge, or wisdom.

Do you think everyone can “feel” the difference between a well-designed landscape and a poorly designed landscape?

Yes. It may be subconscious, but most people would feel better looking at a well-designed landscape. Despite what many believe, our body senses things and reacts accordingly.

How common is it for you to go over budget?

With many, or maybe even most designers, it is widespread. With me, NEVER in my career have I ever gone over budget. About 95% of the time, I come under budget and always return the remainder of the funds. (Usually to the amazement of the client)

What is your favorite type of landscape?

I love it all, from minimalistic to jungle.

Contact Kenn

Let me steer you in the right direction.

Contact