Written into ROLU's DNA is the goal of making design accessible to as many people as possible; our hope has always been to honor the mid-century non-elitist approach of designers like Ray and Charles Eames and Marcel Breuer. We believe the story of Brec, Tina, and Isabel, a young family with great appreciation for high-design, illustrates as a fine example of what's possible with a little collaborative ingenuity.
Brec and Tina came to ROLU in hopes of turning their large backyard into a sophisticated space that alludes to the interior decoration they had done with a modern furniture collection. As is the case with many of our young clients, careful budget coordination was a major factor in defining the project's success. As a cost saving measure, and what we call 'the pursuit of a spiritual journey,' the client decided to install all of the work themselves while engaging ROLU throughout the project as mentors and consultants. In our early design meetings, we chuckled kindly about our skepticism that they would go through with self-installation - but as you can see, the work they did is amazing.

To combat the style-stranglehold of the couple's rectangular, suburban backyard, we wanted to introduce dynamic design gestures that keep geometry precise, but also allow the space itself to come alive. We believe fences are a great opportunity for aesthetic expression, and feel they often get short-changed in designs. Because the lot was shady, we liked the idea of returning to one of our favorite fence materials, fabricated fiberglass panels, for their translucent nature and light feel. Brec and Tina installed the panels in a bed of neatly arranged, six-inch field stones across the back property line, creating more of a shadow-wall than a privacy fence. Staying true to the elevation point of the sunken patio, custom-made benches surround the fire pit in what we feel is an almost musical expression. The liberal use of steel brings a quiet but heavy presence to the geometry's definitions.

As Brec and Tina continue to work on their installation, we can't wait to see the next steps!