We’re proud to announce that we’ve won awards from the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) for the 28th year in a row!
This year, we won five NALP Awards of Excellence, including two Gold Awards and three Silver Awards. Congratulations to all who took part in making these innovative landscapes and interior plantscapes come to life!
Four of our team members attended the NALP Elevate conference in Orlando, Florida in September to represent Dennis’ 7 Dees and accept these awards on behalf of our company. This annual national conference brings together industry icons, thought leaders, and new partners to reimagine the future of the profession and the needs of the green community.
Learn more about the winning entries, including their design process and results below. Perhaps you will be inspired to transform your own backyard or interior space!
Residential Landscaping – Gold NALP Award
Ridgefield, WA Estate
The homeowners wanted to transform their landscape, previously a dairy farm, into a playground for their active family and create outdoor spaces for entertaining as well as a space to host large events. This landscape is all about entertainment for both the homeowners and their visitors.
The 11-foot-deep saltwater pool and attached hot tub were the foundational pieces of this design, but the natural-looking waterfalls and surrounding stone pools truly make this backyard stand out. Color-changing LED lighting that can be controlled from a smart phone app top off the interconnected water features, creating a welcoming space day or night.
BEFORE
AFTER
One of the most important elements of this backyard was a focus on outdoor living spaces, including a large covered outdoor kitchen with multiple cooking options, a hardscaped firepit built to the side to create a separate cozy area, and loungers to enjoy a cool drink by the pool.
The entire backyard is a dynamic space to explore with multiple focal points and a sense of movement. Stone pavers and steel-lined gravel pathways offer access to each “outdoor room” and the landscape beyond. The front entrance mirrors the same look, with thoughtful plantings and a winding dry creek bed to help with drainage.
This estate in Southern Washington was an exciting and fun challenge to both design and install, and we’re thrilled that it won the Gold NALP Award for residential landscape design (and installation) this year!
Residential Landscaping – Silver NALP Award
Banks, OR Estate
Increased usability and improved drainage were the main goals for this estate nestled on a hillside in Banks, Oregon. The homeowners wanted to create an outdoor living environment the whole family could use without having to leave their home—our designer and installation team did not let them down! With a swimming pool, multiple seating areas in the front and back, an outdoor kitchen and dining space, a tiered garden, and even a custom bocce ball court, this expansive landscape design delivered on the brief.
Because this property is on a slope, drainage was a major issue. The team created retaining walls, dry creek beds, and other drainage solutions to divert water from the house and avoid mushy lawns. The retaining walls allowed for a beautiful, multilevel garden leading from a vineyard at the top to the bocce ball court, planting beds, and eventually to the lawn at house level.
We believe in salvaging what works in your current landscape—this home featured a beautiful blue Atlas Cedar tree that we integrated into the new landscape design, allowing it to become an elegant focal point.
The covered patio with an outdoor kitchen and dining area extends from the back of the house, creating a year-round spot to enjoy the gorgeous backyard. Another feature we love is the hanging cauldron fire pit, perfectly situated in the side yard and framed by hardscaped planting beds that can also be used as extra seating.
And, of course, we didn’t neglect the front yard! The sweeping entryway and driveway leads to a paver patio with a modern water feature and brilliant views of the pond and surrounding forest.
Residential Landscaping – Silver NALP Award
Lake Oswego, OR Home
This project was a smaller front yard renovation, dramatically increasing curb appeal by replacing outdated and failing concrete with elegant, modern hardscaping.
The entryway originally had a mix of three different materials, creating a disjointed look. The stairs were redesigned with crisp Belgard stone and streamlined podiums with landscape lighting. In addition, the driveway was widened to allow more room for car doors to open.
The front stoop also had a mix-and-match look from decades of various updates, so we removed the old cement and created a small patio space that increased the usability of the front yard.
The edge of the property needed a facelift as well. The old concrete wall fronting the sidewalk was replaced with a clean and updated interlocking stone wall that matched the hardscaping near the front door. At the corner of the property, we preserved existing trees, added plantings, and refreshed the gravel pathway.
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AFTER
This project completely transformed the look and feel of the property without straying too far from the neighborhood aesthetic. Although NALP awards recognize impressive resort-like estates, they also highlight more afforadable landscaping projects that add beauty and reduce maintenance!
Urban Plantscapes – Interior Plant Services – Gold Award
Oregon State Treasury Building, Salem, OR
This commercial interior plant installation ticked all the boxes—giant moss walls, built-in planters, and container plants thoughtfully placed around the brand new Oregon State Treasury building. The largest moss wall is 29 feet tall, extending from the ground to the second floor for maximum viewing. Leaving no space wasted, the space under the stairs was transformed into a lush planter.
The smaller, 10-foot tall moss art greets visitors in the entryway with a unique design that sets the mood for the entire space.
Container plantings are carefully placed throughout the building to ensure that visitors and employees get the benefits of plants in the office, wherever they may be. This is the concept of biophilia—our innate need to be around other living things—at its best in the built environment.
We’re proud to be an integral part of the innovative Treasury building, also known as the Oregon Treasury Resiliency Building, due to its earthquake-resilient design. This structure is the first building in Oregon to achieve a USRC Platinum rating and the first in the nation to be a USRC-rated seismically isolated building (USRC is the U.S. Resiliency Council).
Although the foundations sit below ground for the earthquake-resilient design, the numerous biophilic elements throughout the interior space make this building an eye-catching display that gives a respectful nod to nature.
Urban Plantscapes – Interior Plant Services – Silver Award
Downtown Office, Portland, OR
This Downtown Portland office wanted lush greenery to match the bright natural light and bring life to the office. The Urban Plantscapes team selected indoor plants to add color and texture to the office, and currently provides all interior plant care services.
Planters are utilized throughout the office to create privacy walls and delineate room spaces without the need for full walls. This is an easy and creative way to both mark floorplans and introduce biophilic design elements.
As with the Oregon State Treasury building that won the Gold Award, this project turned the space under the stairs into a lush planter, evoking an organic feel that contrasts with the pristine white of the surrounding room.
In addition to an impressive array of living plants throughout the office space, this client commissioned us to create one of the longest moss art pieces we’ve ever installed! It is a stunning piece that transforms the large white open hallway where it hangs.
And, last but not least, carefully chosen potted plants are placed throughout the office space, adding a verdant touch in otherwise forgotten nooks and crannies while making an impact. Whether kitchen or corner, this office has an enviable array of plants and we’re thrilled that this fun interior plant design garnered a NALP award!
For anyone looking to transform their office or lobby, please reach out to our Urban Plantscapes team to book a free consultation. We’d love to help you create green spaces that inspire!