Rasmussen Design Inc., Contributes To Project Playhouse®

By Kelly Rasmussen, Rasmussen Design Inc.

Kelly Rasmussen, donated time planning the design for the playhouse and coordinating the landscape team on the placement of materials for “Tween the House and Pool” playhouse and developed a simple, yet elegant Hampton inspired landscape design for the HomeAid fundraiser.
Photo by David Heath, Western Exposure

Kelly J. Rasmussen, President of Rasmussen Design Inc., recently donated landscape services for the CHOC Children’s playhouse built for HomeAid Orange County’s 19th annual Project Playhouse® fundraiser. Mellisa Henry, director of marketing for CHOC, invited Rasmussen Design Inc. to participate in this unique philanthropy, which included seven playhouses built by various companies.

The playhouses were displayed at HomeAid’s Project Playhouse® Village located at the Irvine Spectrum Center® from July 31 to September 10. Project Playhouse® raised approximately $338 thousand to benefit HomeAid Orange County’s efforts to build housing for homeless families and individuals.

The playhouse’s small side deck incorporates accent urns with succulents and dense accent shrubs and grasses to create a private outdoor retreat.

Kelly Rasmussen began planning the playhouse design in May with architect Ryan Ghere, project manager Trevor Lawton from McCarthy Building Companies and interior designers Laura Zublin of Selleck-Zublin Interior Design and Tiffani Ghere. Several meetings occurred to finalize the plans and donated materials to implement CHOC’s vision.

Named “Tween the House and the Pool,” the modern Hampton style pool house themed playhouse won The Secret Garden Award for best landscape design and the Grand Award for first place.

After researching Hampton style landscapes, an inspired design was created by intermixing specimen Magnolia trees, Crape Myrtle and Purple Leaf Plums. These vertical elements helped frame the playhouse from all four sides.

The fabric of shrubs surrounding the playhouse included over a dozen varieties of natural grasses enhanced with a variety of accent shrubs such as Salvia, Lantana, Arbutus, Lavender, Iceberg and Blanket Roses, Artemisia and Euonymus. Special attention during plant selection was required for heat tolerant plants, low water use and plants, which didn’t require maintenance during the six-week event.

The playhouse features a Living Wall with lush succulents planted within vertical plastic panels to enhance a solid exterior wall. A small bubbling fountain draws additional interest. (Living Wall and fountain available from Armstrong Growers)
Photos courtesy of Rasmussen Design Inc.

Architect Ryan Ghere offered a relatively new concept of “The Living Wall.” Lush succulents planted within plastic panels were mounted vertically on one of the playhouse exterior walls creating an aesthetically pleasing view from all sides.

A hands-on approach to the landscape continued during the playhouse setup day, which started at 5 am. With assistance from Southern Exposure Landscape Management, Kelly Rasmussen unloaded over 300 shrubs, vines and tress, which were donated by Norman’s Nursery. The design vision transpired over 14 hours of stacking shrubs, setting decorative urns and fountain, and installing the Living Wall and low voltage lighting to accent the playhouse in the evening.

Rasmussen Design Inc. extends their appreciation to Southern Exposure Landscape Management, Garden Art International, Norman’s Nursery, Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting and Armstrong Growers for their donations and commitment to HomeAid Orange County’s Project Playhouse® fundraiser. Please visit www.rasmussendesigninc.com to view the company’s expertise.