NICK WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES PRESENTS ONLINE GARDEN TOUR BEFORE & AFTER SERIES

BEFORE A BIRDS EYE VIEW Sherman Oaks, CA BEFORE

A BIRD S EYE VIEW (STAN) Features: Hillside Pool and natural spa Dramatic Stone Waterfall Beautiful hillside steps-stairway leading to patios and specialty gardens Outdoor Room with fireplace with TV above it Hillside Arbor This is a small lot where the most prominent feature is the hillside that dominates both the front and back of the home, but Nick Williams loves these tricky projects and knows how to make the most of this challenging exterior space. In the rear yard, his solution was the addition of a beautiful spa and hillside pool that both seem to be natural extensions of the hillside. The rugged, rocky design incorporates alot of natural stone and boulders, with the dramatic cascade of water as the key effect tumbling down over the rocks, feeding into the pool and spa. Working his designs into what already exists naturally is what enhances Nick s designs. The firepit on the spa level of this water feature is another of Nick s favorite pairings the juxtaposition of water and fire together never fails to create a reaction. But wait! There s more Using the same stone material and a rustic metal handrail, a long curving stairway winds its way up the whole of the hillside, inviting you to ascend to hillside patios, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and much more. One formerly barren sloping area was leveled off and now sports a natural wood arbor to rest beneath and enjoy the view! Outdoor lighting from the Nick Williams Collection create a glowing ambience so that this garden can be enjoyed by day and night.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING Studio City, CA BEFORE

DOUBLE OR NOTHING (LAN) Features: Outdoor fireplace Elegant natural Spa Natural sandy beach like entrance into an existing pool Hillside In this makeover, Nick Williams has taken a nondescript kidney shaped pool and transformed it into a natural wonder with the addition of dramatic stone boulders, poolside greenery and a unique sandy beach shelf that tiers down for a simple wading entrance into the pool - sit and soak your feet or jump right in! Part of the story at this home is that like most homes with a downslope in the backyard, the edge of the flat portion of the yard was lined with dense shrubs to virtually cut off the hillside and mark the edge of the property but there was still a whole lot more of the property to be enjoyed! By removing all of these dividing plants, Nick doubled the size of the yard area and made the slope very accessible with a series of pathways and stopping-off places. An outdoor fireplace always add life and ambiance to any patio setting. Here the white marble-like stone used in the hearth was mirrored as a gently curved countertop that created an outdoor barbecue / cooking area that can also double as a bar or eating area. Stepping stones set into lawn areas create pathways that invite you to explore the grounds. Be sure to check out the before pictures of this job to see the difference.

SIMPLE BUT STATELY Studio City, CA BEFORE BEFORE

SIMPLE BUT STATELY (NEE) Features: Outdoor Room A wonderful egg crate style Arbor with re-designed patio and barbecue area Another Arbor creating a shaded area overlooking the whole yard Spectacular natural pond Colorful foliage and flowers Natural flagstone walkway Elegant outdoor lighting This project started when the clients were going to have a wedding reception at their home, yet by carefully planning ahead, they set aside a full year to prepare for that gala event. In that time Nick Williams worked his magic and made an amazing transformation. The backyard had an existing fireplace, but Nick started there and added his signature stonework effects to make it much more interesting looking and then added a large egg crate wood structure to shade that area. The addition of an outdoor BBQ area would become a focal point for meals and social events. This property had an existing pond but NW made it a little bit smaller and then added another adjoining pond beside it to create a spectacular natural effect. The idea was to take these obvious man-made elements and style them to appear as works of Mother Nature. In one area a green overhead wood arbor frames one side of the property, as a flagstone walkway meanders through the yard; small fountains bubble up from a bed of ivy and artistically placed stones; and the nearby tree was graced by several of Nick s lighting designed Candeliers. The stage was set for the bride and groom to make their dramatic entrance and take that special walk together through nature. There s nothing more satisfying than finishing a project like this and seeing the incredible results, but to keep everything fresh, Nick returns every three or four months to maintain these properties, and change color, lighting or anything else necessary to make sure they will always look their very best. Maintaining the quality of every site he creates is just par for the course for Nick Williams & Associates, an added benefit that comes along with the magic he creates in your back yard!

A HILLSIDE RETREAT AT THE EDGE OF INFINITY Sherman Oaks, CA BEFORE

A HILLSIDE RETREAT AT THE EDGE OF INFINITY (DET) Features: Beautifully landscaped Infinity Pool with stunning views Stone pathways, circular outdoor stairways and a lovely overhead arbor. Gorgeous outdoor fireplace and sitting area European Style Covered Vegetable Garden Pool equipment enclosure with stone cover and slate roof Santa Barbara sandstone gates fringed with Boston ivy under a stand of graceful Sycamores greet you as you arrive at this lovely estate. A gentle turf blocked driveway passes by a planted olive grove and a big Jacaranda that was relocated to this area from elsewhere on the property. The family had limited space here at first, but were able to make an offer and buy the adjacent house next door to provide ample room to grow. Built on a hillside, this property features areas where wood stairways take you down through styled gardens and flowerbeds. The design included a lot of work on pathways that meander in gentle curves lit by Nick Williams designed pathway lights, through the landscaped gardens and grounds. In one area, a beautiful overhead arbor was architecturally built into the structure of the home. Painted white and studded with greenery and flower bearing vines, it presents a welcoming natural entrance to the features beyond. A most striking addition to this design is the beautiful free form infinity pool, detailed with Nick s design technique using faux but authentic looking boulders and surrounded by a flagstone patio and green lawn areas. Umbrellas provide shade and adjacent sitting areas here and a wood deck structure goes out over hill side. There is also a warming fire pit in tandem with the outdoor fire place with a recently created new patio area that is just across from the pool with a sitting area. In the evenings the whole area is lit by Nick Williams Outdoor Low Voltage Lighting fixtures to create the elegant ambiance. Imagine soft lighting shimmering on the pristine waters of the infinity pool at dusk and the crackle of a newly kindled fire. Add soft music, some good wine and good company and you have all the ingredients for the perfect hillside retreat, at the edge of infinity.

RESORT LIVING Sherman Oaks, CA BEFORE BEFORE

RESORT LIVING (HER) Features: A wonderful Outdoor Room, Fireplace, TV, Outdoor Kitchen, and BBQ area The Longridge Furniture Collection designed by Nick Williams Beautiful large sliding glass doors embedded with matching jewelry from the Nick Williams Furniture Collection A beautiful natural pool near the edge of the hillside with the feature of a removable fence Spa, and ponds fed by streams of running rippling waters Incredible hillside steps and stairs and pathways Specially selected plantings for Mediterranean climate Step outside the house and enjoy the feeling of living in a resort! Small flower vignettes are everywhere, with splashes of violet, blue, red and gold fringing the stairs and paths that lead on and up the hill, inviting you to explore. A hillside property, the project has winding stone stairways and paths that were expertly planted with native plant material to create a completely natural appearance in these areas. The client just recently took delivery on all new Nick Williams Furniture, the Longridge Collection to add that human element in comfort and style. There was an existing small pool, spa and pond just outside the master bedroom that needed rethinking and reworking. Nick remodeled these into a beautiful koi fish pond. Then, on a portion of the property that was just raw land, he built a new pool with a very natural flowing shape with hillside waterfalls, small ponds, streams all sending water trickling down the hillside near the pool. A dressing room with a skylight, bathroom and shower were added and they were designed similarly to the new outdoor room Nick had created. The old barbecue and years-worn deck became instead one of Nick s famous outdoor rooms, with a fireplace, outdoor TV, outdoor kitchen, and a new barbecue, all creating more room to entertain. The whole scene is accented with several fire pits and of course a full display of Nick s unique new line of low-voltage outdoor lighting fixtures, which were used throughout the whole project.

OUTDOOR RETREAT" (Ma-SCH) The front yard of this home began as a simple arrangement of shrubs, lawn, and a few shading trees with a concrete walkway to one side that led to the front entrance of the home. The larger lawn area was dominated by a sculpted shrub in the shape of a dog that pulled the viewer s eye to it. This theme carried to the rear of the property where a single lawn area was fringed by hedges and curved around a central circular fountain bordered with a plain concrete patio and again, two sculpted shrubs in the shapes of dogs. It was space you could survey and move through, but not quite a place where you were invited to linger or spend any time. It was fairly straight forward landscaping, but just not designed as a yard to enjoy California outdoor living. Nick Williams changed all of that with his design mantra, Remember, the outdoors is the biggest room you have", and as so it should be made into comfortable and functional living space. The plain concrete was replaced with more elegant stone work and augmented by low stone walls and free-standing stone fountains that added life and interest to the setting. The single circular fountain and modest patio gave way to a newly designed outdoor room surrounded by lush trees and shading vegetation. The addition of living room furniture, a pizza oven, outdoor television and other creature comforts made the space truly enjoyable to spend time in as a family, day or night. Evening hours were illuminated by low voltage outdoor lighting from the Nick Williams Collection. The design was a classic transformation of basic landscaping made into a human habitat that is folded seamlessly into a beautifully styled natural setting a place where one can relax and spend time in a real outdoor retreat. FRONT YARD BEFORE BEFORE This well crafted garden is an example of the blending of Man and Nature s talents, synthesizing the elements of the plants, stone, light, fire, and water into one California outdoor retreat!

OUTDOOR RETREAT" BACK YARD BEFORE BEFORE

Photography by John Alden, JA Photography

OUTDOOR RETREAT Features: A beautiful outdoor sitting room, fully furnished with couch, comfortable chairs and dining area. A second outdoor room built for entertaining, complete with fireplace and an outdoor TV. The two outdoor fireplaces add warmth and create central focal points for the space. Off the master suite, a wall was added to create a private patio, complete with its own fireplace and outdoor TV. Outdoor kitchen and cooking area with pizza oven, barbeque, refrigerator, a tiled bar and seating for 4 or more. Two outdoor firepits creating focal points for social space. Sheltering arbors to filter light and enhance ambiance and mood. Water features include a beautiful tranquil pond accented by stone, set center stage in the back yard that can be viewed from all areas of the yard Free-standing designer fountains and an elegant spa area for year-round relaxation. Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting from the popular Nick Williams Collection of outdoor lighting. Photography by John Alden, JA Photography Photography by John Alden, JA Photography The journey through this tranquil and beautiful outdoor retreat begins in the front yard where a wall was installed to create a secluded and private patio area that is accessed by a series of French doors. A fountain and cozy fire pit was added for all who enter to experience and to visually enjoy the ambiance of this quiet setting. Wander into this garden and you will soon find yourself in a comfortable outdoor room. The stonework floor is perfect in all climates, and the designer rattan couch and chairs beckon you to sit and relax amid the greenery, or just doze off by the outdoor fireplace that is the central focal point of the room. This lovely stone patio has been accessorized with a comfortable couch, chairs and dining set. Photography by John Alden, JA Photography

OUTDOOR RETREAT Photography by John Alden, JA Photography Photography by John Alden, JA Photography Lush garden views present themselves in all four directions, and you will soon feel you have landed on your own private island retreat--in the middle of paradise! Here you will see interesting freestanding stone fountains, rising like tall skyscrapers amid the lush, reedy vegetation. The stone fountains add both the movement and sound of water to the scene, and blend wonderfully with the overhead vines, tropical ferns, and graveled stone that borders the main patio. Reeds and ferns are a big part of the plant landscaping here, giving the whole scene at tropical feel. A gently curved stone wall is accented with a small fire pit that beckons you to sit in the evening hours for quiet conversation. Elsewhere on the property you will find a soothing spa accented by three natural boulders where you can soak your troubles away, night or day. Hungry? Stroll past the pond and spa to the outdoor kitchen and you can almost smell fresh pizza cooking in the oven. The handcrafted green tile bar invites you to sit and watch the chef, take in the aroma, or enjoy a beverage or glass of wine as your host prepares a culinary treat. The outdoor kitchen here is complete with an oven, barbecue and refrigerator. After dinner, wander through the garden, which also features the elegant outdoor lighting fixtures of the Nick Williams Collection for enjoyment day or night. This home has a series of French doors that open onto these lush grounds. The property was designed in stages to lead you from one outdoor vignette slowly inward, through the French doors, merging this interior space with the natural setting around it in a wonderful series of landscaped transitions. You can stand right inside the home, look out through these doors, and be treated to the outdoor vistas as your eye is led out into the patio, through the garden, and to the grounds beyond. Farther out in the yard is yet another outdoor room, complete with a widescreen TV for summer evening movies and entertainment. Nothing has been left out of this amazing home, including a beautiful pond in the middle of the yard that can be viewed from all of the other designed features. In the evening, the specially designed low voltage Candle Walkway Light by Nick Williams adds ambience and mood to the setting while making it a livable and enjoyable space.

ONLINE GARDEN TOUR BEFORE & BEFORE Nick Williams & Associates 23013 Ventura Blvd Woodland Hills, CA 91364 Phone: 818/222-7477 Fax: 818/222-7478 Email: NWADesigns@AOL.com Website: WWW.NWADesigns.com