See our recipe for old homes stories:
1 part preservation +
2 parts clever reinvention
As is often the case with our clients… once the dust has settled on additions and renovations.. we have the opportunity to come back and shape outdoor rooms, pools, terraces and gardens.
Not enough can be said about the rewarding experience and beautiful outcome of working with known collaborators and friends over time. Our work began on this back in 2014.
The Owners we have known for 20+ years and she has remarkably good taste and cares about all the small details, the team w trusted interior designer Mark Taylor assured that all the outdoor furnishings were just right and Connie Lydon of Lydon Landscape and design worked on the space planning and even colors of plantings to assure that plantings complemented the architecture. The selection of exterior materials was carefully specified to replicate historic brick, stucco and the custom blue window color original to the house. As the roof is predominant, it too has a color range and style to mimic that of old slate but to tie all together.
This is a small city lot- w streets on 3 sides and a raised brick wall that elevates the yard from the street on one side.. we continued the concept of brick walled secret garden spaces and created ” rooms” with different purposes and so the yard enfolds and has some intrigue as to what is behind the next turn. The pool and bluestone terrace was designed and installed a few years after a 2016 addition to a 1920s house. Even in early planning stages for the addition and interior renovations .. there was consideration for outdoor space ….
Each inch was carefully weighed to balance the size of outdoor rooms, the pool, sun deck, barbq spot and grassy patch for putting and plantings to screen for privacy
The terrace design and drainage was carefully arranged to allow the use of rain chains to guide storm water from a new screen porch set with reclaimed brick paver floor . It has a view of the semicircular arbor designed to support an old wisteria.. While the blooms only last 1 week in Mid may the green shade canopy set with twinkle lights offers a wonderful spot for dining for 5 months of the year
At the opposite end of the yard.. another arbor was created and planted with climbing roses to announce another quiet garden room where pool equipment is also tucked away.
Custom iron gates pick up on the repeated diamond pane lattice and diamond pane windows original to the house such that home and garden work together as an experience, views out and inward are all beautiful
Beautiful Iron Gates
Designed with diamond patterns replicate historic diamond pane leaded windows.
100 year old wisteria
The vine required support. A semi-circular arbor provided much needed shade. Mahogany rafters feature a traditional Ogee detail
Mahogany wood doors
These doors replicate traditional carriage garages. Seedy glass is admired by passerbyers