February 2006

New business avenue for designer leads to rave reviews in community

By Kyle Schultz, Staff Writer

	As this January view of West Avenue Grille in Jenkintown shows, even when outside dining is out, Baker provides a colorful approach for those heading in. Beautiful exteriors are a year-round concern for a business that cares about first impressions. And from the window seating throughout the restaurant, the designs add to the meal experience.

Bradley Baker loves his work. For almost 20 years, the Wyncote resident has taken his adulation for both horticulture and his community, and created a business that is changing the look of Montgomery County each day.

" It's like a doctor delivering babies," Baker said. "It has to be one of the most satisfying jobs."

Baker and his company Baker Creative have been developing landscapes for residential areas all over the county for nearly two decades. But his work has impressed so many in the community that businesses began hiring him to help make their storefronts more attractive to customers.

Over the past two years, Baker has begun to break more and more into commercial territory and currently upkeeps about 10 different businesses. And the effort seems to be paying off. "Everybody comes in and says how nice it is,” said Bob Katz, who co-owns West Avenue Grille in Jenkintown with his wife, Hope.
Baker's creative and decorative use of Winter Berry Holly, Nandina and Witch Hazel along the outside of the restaurant has garnered many compliments from customers for its natural look.

The bright and colorful changes not only please the patrons but the employees as well. "It really brightens the soul for the employees who have to come in to work every day,” Baker said. Baker has been landscaping for West Avenue Grille for almost a year. But he does more then merely keep up with watering the plants and replacing flower pots.

Baker compares what he does to "changing a window display," so what you may see today could be totally different next month.

" One of my main goals are to keep things dynamic," Baker said. "So things are ever-changing.

Being a good landscaper can also get pretty involved, Baker explained. Actually, it's more like being an engineer of the landscape.

Baker says his job involves citing up a system to water the plants and making sure drainage works.

And it's not always about making something look nice. Baker says he hopes his work around the county will open people's eyes and inspire them to create their own landscaping ideas using whatever they have.

" I want to showcase some of the unique things a landscaper could do." Baker said, “and show them how to make things safe and beautiful."

Baker describes his work as an "awareness tool" to teach residents that no matter what season, anything is possible.

" People think that there's nothing to do in landscaping at this time,” Baker said. "I want to make people more aware of other landscaping possibilities."

Baker said that at any given time, he is responsible for maintaining 300 to 400 different properties and has undertaken more than 2,000 projects since his business began.

But for Baker, the biggest reward is just being able to do what he loves.

" I enjoy being outside and helping people use the space in their house to be enjoyable and useable," Baker said. "I get satisfaction out of the happiness from my customers."

For more information, visit Baker's Web site at www.BakerCreative.com.

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