3 minute read
COVER STORY
Richard Cording, Jr., Richard Cording, Sr., and Eric Cording
Photo courtesy of CLC Landscape Design
Great Design Meets Great Ideas
By Janis Hashe
“Great landscapes start with great ideas,” said Richard Cording, Sr., founder of CLC Landscape
Design. And part of evolving those
‘great ideas,’ he continued, “is using input from members of the company’s highly experienced team.”
A perfect example, he noted, is the extensive redesign pictured on the cover. When he and his team first consulted with the Ridgewood home’s owners, preserving the existing tennis court was part of the plan. But further conversations revealed that the owners were not, in fact, using the court. Cording’s son, Rich, Jr., who is part of the design team, suggested to instead install an outdoor pavilion, water features, and a putting green. The result is a stunning, multi-use area, “that came from marrying our ideas with those of the clients,” states Cording, Sr.
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Great Design Meets Great Ideas Continued from the previous page
CLC Landscape Design prides itself on being a company where “classic design meets cutting-edge technique,” a phrase coined by Eric Cording, who, in his sales role, is often a client’s first contact. The nine CLC designers, six of whom are licensed landscape architects, start by ascertaining what the client’s design sensibilities are. “Right now, the clean, elegant Hampton style is very popular,” Cording, Sr. said.
They are able to move from 2-D plans to 3-D visualizations, a high-tech innovation that “makes the design come alive” for clients. “When the Ridgewood clients saw the 3-D video, which showed the pool house, the pavilion, and the putting green, that really sparked their enthusiasm for how well the design would fit their lifestyle,” he said. The company stays abreast of other trends, such as incorporating lighting and technical access into pergolas and other outdoor structures, “essentially building an outdoor home.” Other frequent requests are for fire and water features. Much research goes into the plants used in the designs, ones that will flourish and add color and life for years. For example, Cording, Sr. says, “there might be 30 types of catmint, but we will pick the one that is the most insect-resistant and has the longest bloom.”
Whenever possible, locally sourced blue stone is used, and boulders and large stones are re-used in the design, or kept for use in another site.
Asking questions throughout each project is always key to developing a vision that reflects what the client really wants and needs, Cording, Sr. emphasized. He shared another story of clients who originally requested a swimming pool. But conversation revealed that the owners did not regularly swim, or have young relatives visiting who did. He suggested instead creating a “gorgeous water feature,” that they could see and enjoy year-round.
“The questions—and the answers—contribute to uncovering the true potential of the site,” he said.
CLC Landscape Design
58 Ringwood Ave., Ringwood | 973-839-6026 http://clcdesign.com www.instagram.com/clclandscapedesign
