COVID-19 Update
With the continued spread of COVID-19, times become more concerning for all of us. Terrapin Landscapes wants to assure you that we are prepared to serve you and your property safely. After consulting with the our government and industry leaders to confirm our services are essential, we will continue to perform horticulture and construction services as they are needed. Since our business plays a critical role in the integrity of many landscapes keeping our work space outdoors, we seamlessly adapted our practice to follow the strict CDC guidelines. Here is a list of what we are doing here to keep our staff, work place and clients safe: Keeping a safe 6 foot distance or more from others at all times When two employees MUST work in closer proximity, they are working as a dedicated twosome always One person per company vehicle Employees are driving alone in their personal vehicle to a job site Less than 10 employees working in a day Staggered employee visits to the shop The shop is closed to clients Employees are going straight to the job site whenever possible without stopping at shop Employees will stay home if they are sick Daily or more disinfecting...
read moreLandscaping with Dogs in Mind: Making Your Yard Work for Everyone in Your Family
The Terrapin Landscapes team are true dog lovers and nothing makes us happier than clients who come to us hoping to make more dog-friendly landscape decisions. Hardscaping and landscaping for dogs means thinking about safety, usability, and aesthetics from your pup’s perspective—and no one turns landscapes and hardscapes into dogscapes quite like Terrapin. #1: PATHWAYS The best dog-friendly backyard designs create opportunities for dogs to do what they do best— protect their people—while making sure that dogs are contained and protected while they play outdoors. For that reason, most dog-friendly landscapes incorporate some form of fencing around all or part of the yard. Traditional fences can frustrate dogs by keeping them from monitoring what they see as potential threats. No matter what their breed, dogs are, to some degree, territorial. They naturally want to keep a watchful eye on your property and your family. Our designers can show you attractive fencing options that offer privacy while providing ways for your dogs to see passersby and keep a wary eye on the wider world. We’ve even helped clients create “portholes” in fencing their pups can peek through! Terrapin Landscapes designers know that planting near fence lines will also frustrate...
read moreMaine Landscaping Design Trends from the Experts
There may be snow and ice all around us, but the residential landscaping professionals at Terrapin Landscapes are already meeting with residential and commercial clients to plan projects and improvements to start this spring. Front yard landscaping ideas, pool landscaping ideas, driveway entrance ideas, walkway ideas—our offices are overflowing with sketches, swatches, and samples. Looking for inspiration for your garden design or residential landscaping project? Our landscape planners are seeing some clear (and exciting) trends for 2020—and we’re sharing them below! #1: MINIMIZING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Terrapin Landscapes would never tackle a project without considering its environmental impact. From minimizing water and energy usage to avoiding invasive plantings to prioritizing sustainable, renewable materials and solutions, green thinking is a given at Terrapin. So where are low-impact landscaping trends going in 2020? While water supply is not as much of a concern in Maine as water purity, we are seeing a growing number of clients and customers asking great questions about water retention, water recycling, and water runoff during the design process. An overall concern for water quality is driving more residential landscaping decisions in the coming year and our backyard designers are being asked to design architectural water features like...
read moreNot Just a Sign – The Travis Mills Foundation Project, Solid as a Rock
The Travis Mills Foundation supports recalibrated veterans and their families through long-term programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation. Travis Mills, who lost his arms and legs in an explosion while serving in Afghanistan in 2012 and had started a foundation to help combat-injured veterans in 2013, wanted to open a retreat. The Travis Mills Foundation bought the 11,000-square-foot house on 17 acres from the Elizabeth Arden Estate and Spa in 2015. The renovation took the building down to the studs and everything had to be redone to accommodate veterans who may be in wheelchairs or have mobility issues. The retreat had its grand opening in June of 2017, creating a beautiful environment for veterans to spend quality time with their families. The ambiance is non-clinical on purpose. It’s a place for veterans and their families to relax, not a hospital. The foundation’s goal for those who come to the retreat is that they increase their confidence and relax, creating a space for visitors to spend time with their families surrounded by the beautiful and tranquil Maine scenery. With that purpose in mind, a group of...
read moreMike Corsie Names ‘Year Round Livability’ as a Major Trend in Outdoor Kitchen Design
The Team at Swenson Granite spoke to Mike Corsie, Founder of Terrapin Landscapes in Kennebunkport, Maine. What’s Cooking Outdoors: Trends in Outdoor Kitchen Design for 2019 Whether grilling by the pool at a bustling family barbecue or savoring a quick meal on the patio on a quiet evening, the simple joy of eating outside is a pleasure in and of itself. However, cooking outdoors with all the amenities of a fully-furnished kitchen can transform outdoor dining into an experience that will delight recreational cooks and professional chefs alike. From granite countertops to natural stone veneer, your local Swenson Granite Works’ store can provide you with a range of products to create a timeless outdoor kitchen that makes a bold statement of unmatched durability. This year’s outdoor kitchen trends offer exciting ways to create an inspiring culinary space in your own backyard. Year-Round Livability The backyard has always been a popular hangout spot for warmer days, but today’s homeowners are looking for ways to make their outdoor kitchens a more livable extension of the indoor living area. Mike Corsie, Founder of Terrapin Landscapes in Kennebunkport, Maine, names livability as a major trend in recent years. “Homeowners are using their outdoor spaces more...
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