Urban Gardens, Inc. Wins a 2015 CARE Award

Denver, CO, September 24, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Urban Gardens, Inc., a landscape design and consulting firm located in Denver, Colorado and owned and operated by Sarah Christian, won a 2015 CARE Award.  Sponsored by the Homebuilder’s Association of Metro Denver, the Colorado Awards for Remodeling Excellence, known as the CARE awards, are the largest and longest running contest recognizing remodeling of all types, including both commercial and residential projects.  Categories are numerous and include kitchens, bathrooms, landscape, green building, and much more. CARE awards are judged blind by local volunteers, making it a fair competition that recognizes excellence in remodeling, no matter the authorship.

Sarah Christian of Urban Gardens, Inc. received a First Place prize for a landscape remodel project in the Stapleton Development in Colorado in the Landscaping category. This is her second CARE Award.  The Tryggestad family wanted to redesign their small front yard and porch with an updated prairie style for their craftsman home. The round columns installed by the builder were the only round element on the front elevation and were replaced with new square columns with simple, clean lines more in keeping with the door, exposed rafters and multi-pane windows.  To add a more contemporary look, the vertical wood railing on the porch was replaced with stainless steel rods run horizontally with a matching sliding porch gate to contain the family dog.

"I'm very honored to receive this wonderful acknowledgement from a jury of my peers. I'd like to thank my clients, Mike & Jen Tryggestad, for a great collaborative effort…"

Sarah Christian, Owner

The steep, uninteresting existing steps were redesigned to be more gradual and reflect the long, low horizontal lines typical of the prairie style. The composite wood steps were replaced with natural materials, local stone laid in an Ashlar pattern with stainless steel lights installed in the risers. A stone wall was added across the front of the porch with the same feel as the steps and the ground level beds were outlined with stone edging.

Plantings included symmetrical massings of ornamental grasses and low perennials and groundcovers with interesting textural foliage that repeat the horizontal line of the prairie land and sky.

Sarah’s work was judged by the strength of design ideas, aesthetic and market appeal, sensitivity to existing structure, appropriate use of existing building elements, function and flow, craftsmanship, and overall presentation and compliance with entry requirements. When asked, Sarah stated, “I’m very honored to receive this wonderful acknowledgement from a jury of my peers.  I’d like to thank my clients, Mike & Jen Tryggestad, for a great collaborative effort…” To read more, click here to view official press release.