At a residence in La Canada, Calif., landscape contractor, architect and designer Ketti Kupper designed, fabricated and installed a rust patina steel gate and coordinating fence. At 5' tall, the fence and gate shields the front of the property from the park strip. The client provided the keypad security feature. The estimated cost for the gate, its components and the installation is about $12,000. Photo: Ashley Elizabeth Ford




Kupper also designed, fabricated and installed the gates at a home in Los Angeles. This sliding rust patina steel gate is on a track and is coated with an industrial sealer. The plaque next to the French imported handle invites visitors to "Take all the risks that you want." Photo: Ken Gutmaker




When coated with industrial sealer, a rust patina finish becomes a paintable surface. Kupper painted this gate as part of a larger design that includes the surrounding gardens. The approximate cost for the installation and patina for this gate is about $4,000. Photo: Ketti Kupper

Ketti Kupper
Ketti Kupper was the designer and contractor for multiple gates at a residence in Los Angeles, and for the gate to a home in La Canada, Calif.

For the Los Angeles residence, the gates were made out of artfully decorated cedar and steel. One is a sliding rust patina steel gate that is 5' wide and on a track. The steel is coated with an industrial grade sealer. A small plaque next to the handle, designed by Kupper, encourages those entering to "Take all the risks that you want." Once the steel has been coated with industrial grade sealer, the surface is paintable. Kupper took advantage of the opportunity to create a unique canvas, making an overall larger outdoor design that moves the eye around the garden from one side to the other.

The 7' tall gate at the front entry to the home is flanked on either side by stucco pillars. Intended to look more like a door than a gate, a "Judas Door" steel central accent was added. The stucco pillars had openings left to create a space to wire low voltage lights. Finally, the last gate leads to a Wisteria arbor, has cedar wood stained with a custom mix. Steel panels attached to the center opening were impulsively placed to make the best use of materials remaining from the other gates. A brown wax surface protects the patina. The oiled bronze handles, found on each gate at the residence, were imported from France.

The gate at the La Canada, Calif., residence is a rust colored patina steel flanked by concrete block pillars clad in black slate. The bronze resin bowl planters on top of the columns complement the hues of the fence as well as the natural surrounding landscape.

This cedar gate leads to the Wisteria garden at the Los Angeles residence. It was stained with a custom mix to create a golden glow before the purple and blue blossoms beyond. The steel panels were added as an impulsive inspiration from the metal remaining from the other gates on the property. Photo: Ketti Kupper




The gate to the Los Angeles residence was designed to appear more like a door than a gate. The 7' tall gate has a "Judas Door" central accent, a smaller door within the door that has a steel grate overlay with a rust wax finish. Openings were left inside the stucco pillars to wire for low voltage landscape lighting. Photo: Ketti Kupper

 

Tillamook City, Ore., sent out a request for projects to create a sculptural gate for its 2nd Street alley. Robert H. Foster Consultants presented the chosen design, which includes historic, economic and cultural icons of the coastal town. Patterns for each Tillamook symbol were created and fed into a laser cutter. The pieces were fabricated in the TROVO Studio metal shop in Portland. They were machine screwed to the back of the frame using 1/4" spacers, setting each image slightly apart.




The finished gate, constructed with 1/4" aluminum plate and tubing that was powder coated to maintain vivid colors, was installed in the alley at a ceremonial ribbon cutting in November 2015. The base footing was installed first and allowed to cure for a few days before the gate was hung.

Robert H. Foster Consultants
In Tillamook City, Ore., a town well known for its dairy products, a unique gate was needed for the 2nd Street Alley. The gate was designed by Robert H. Foster, and represents the historic, economic and cultural heritage of the town. After approval by the city, the sketch was created electronically in AutoCad. Patterns for each Tillamook symbol were then created and fed into a laser cutter. The pieces were fabricated in the TROVO Studio metal shop in Portland with 1/4" aluminum plate and tubing, and powder coated to achieve the vivid colors. They were machine screwed to the back of the frame using 1/4" spacers, setting each image slightly apart.

To install the gate, the base footing was installed first and left to cure for a few days. The gate was then hung at a ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony on November 16, 2015.

Jeffrey Matherne, owner and founder of JTM Landscaping & Contractors designed these two gates at a home in Berwick, La. The 6' 6" tall double gate is constructed of a treated pine substructure wrapped around custom wrought iron and mounted to treated lumber sunk in the ground for support. Both gates feature curved tops designed to mimic the brick soldier-course featured above the adjacent garage. The single gate to the right is constructed from cedar boards and has a custom wrought iron window designed to match the wrought iron on the front door of the home.




This windowed gate was built by JTM at a residence in Patterson, La. The design allows visual inspection of the electrical and gas meters without requiring entry into the yard. A Kichler LED downlight is mounted to illuminate the handle and latch at night, and to accent the landscape.




In historic downtown Morgan City, La., JTM constructed this 7' 6" tall privacy fence with a treated pine substructure and western cedar. The fence and gate were built on a 13" x 19" rebar and mesh reinforced knee wall to reduce rainwater intake and provide structural integrity. The custom cut lattice at the top of the fence was designed to match the windows of the home.

JTM Landscaping & Contractors
Headquartered in Louisiana, JTM Landscaping & Contractors has to make special accommodations to construct and install fences in the soft Louisiana ground. Three fences with such accommodations are featured here.

The first is a 6' 6" double gate constructed of a treated pine substructure wrapped around custom wrought iron and mounted to treated lumber sunk 4' into the ground for support. The curve of the gate was designed to mimic the brick soldier-course of the adjacent garage. A local welder and artist designed and built the wrought iron inserts to match the wrought iron on the front door of the residence. Adjacent to the double gate is a singlewide side entry gate constructed with cedar boards and a custom wrought iron window in the center.

The custom 4' wide single windowed gate in Patterson, La., was designed to allow for visual inspection of electrical and gas meters without the need for entry. A Kichler LED downlight is mounted above the latch and handle, providing enough illumination to light the handle on dark nights and also adding an accent to the landscape. The gate has a substructure of 6" x 6" pressure treated pine lumber cemented in place several feet underground to provide structural stability.

A 7' 6" tall privacy gate was installed at a residence in historic downtown Morgan City, La. The gate and fence are built on a 13" wide by 19" deep rebar and mesh reinforced knee wall designed to reduce rainwater intake and to provide structural integrity. A custom cut lattice was added to the top of the fence, mimicking the upper design of the windows of the home it surrounds. This gate uses the same type of substructure as the Patterson gate, and is attached by hinges to the 6" x 6" pine piece to allow for opening and closing.

This wrought-iron gate was installed at a home in Ontario, Canada. The fence was carefully installed to go through the hedge while maintaining its shape and health. The 6' x 6' gate is constructed from powder coated tube metal.

Jay McKinnon Company
The entryway into the rear garden area of this residence in Canada has a custom wrought iron gate. A tree motif was chosen to complement the surrounding natural landscape, as the home backs up to a ravine. In the center of the wrought iron tree, the letter R is hidden, standing for Ridgewood, the name of the historic house. In order to keep the existing boxwood hedge, which was integral to the design of the adjoining garden, the wrought iron fence was installed to go through the hedge while maintaining its shape and health. The 6' x 6' gate is constructed from powder coated tube metal.

Decorative Add-Ons
If a client has an existing gate that functions well but could use a little pizazz, consider replacing some of the hardware or selecting some decorative add-ons. Decorative hinges and latches are a good start, and King Architectural Metals is one of the many companies that manufacture these and other gate hardware needs. They have lines of entry mechanisms including levers and locks, and have both steel and plastic pickets available. www.kingmetals.com

Landscape contractor Ron Wellander constructed this pedestrian gate at a home in Sonoma, Calif., as part of a larger backyard landscape renovation project. The goal of the design was to provide privacy and security while incorporating some transparency. An internal steel frame provides stability for the gate. The frame is wrapped with hardwood, stained exterior plywood with a re-sawn finish, and COR-TEN steel panels that will turn a rusty color with time.

Ron Wellander Landscape Contractor
Ron Wellander designed and built a custom gate for a residence in Sonoma, Calif., to provide privacy and security while maintaining an element of transparency. The gate has an internal steel frame wrapped in hardwood, stained exterior plywood with a re-sawn finish, COR-TEN steel panels, which will develop a rusty hue with time, and a craftsman style latch and handle.