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editors note

From May through October it serves as a gathering spot for friends and passersby and as a home base for neighborhood-wide scavenger hunts. By the time the Joe Pye weed opens its pale pink panicles in midsummer, my porch also becomes a well-concealed perch from which to watch the world go by while surrounded by blooming beds of native plants that dominate what I like to call my front yard. Chances are, youre a lot like me and you have an outdoor space thats just begging to be recruited into service as the outdoor room of your dreams. Thats where we come in. Weve gathered some of the most inspiring locations featuring great-looking outdoor rooms and backyard getaways for the entire family: decks, patios, re pits, outdoor kitchens, swimming pools and spas, even rooftop retreats. Whether you work with a design professional or create the look yourself, we want to inspire your imagination to get the outdoor space of your dreams.

My front porch is my favorite room of the house. So what if I can enjoy it only six months of the year?

Editor James A. Baggett

6 elevated beauty 14 bluestone haven 20 living large 28 room by room 34 backyard evolution 38 pool party 46 timeless appeal 52 natural approach 58 california dreaming 66 up on the roof

contents 72 home to play 76 garage revival 84 zoned for fun 90 an ideal blend 96 simply serene 102 all about the outdoors 110 perfect pitch 116 upstairs, downstairs 122 private resort 128 last look

Dream Decks & patios2

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elevated beautyA rugged hillside gave way to this garden haven, thanks to the strategic and beautiful use of retaining walls and terraces.

DREAM DECKS & PATIOS 7

WRITTEN BY ANDRIA HAYDAY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED GOHLICH

PRODUCED BY ANDREA CAUGHEY

Bejeweled with a 1236-foot

lap pool, a lush terrace clings

to the hillside below Deborah

Szekelys California home.

Above: Deborah often brings her work to this sunny

patio. Above left: foxglove blooms tall in its bed.

left: this patio is easily accessible from a guest

room as well as Deborahs home offce. opposite:

lush plantings surround the patio, including the

towering magenta bougainvillea.

California naturalism. Its a ftting retreat

for a well-traveled woman who became a

doyenne of the modern spa movement.

In 1940, when she was just 18, Deborah

founded the Rancho La Puerta spa in

Tecate, Mexico, with her husband, Edmond,

a Hungarian expatriate. In 1958 she

launched a second spa, the Japanese-style

Golden Door near Escondido, California.

Like the gardens of her now-famous

spas, Deborahs home landscape has

evolved over time. She bought her

Craftsman-style house and 3 untamed

acres in the 1950s for just less than $15,000.

The property still had a milking shed for

goats, says Deborahs daughter, Sarah

Livia Brightwood, a landscape designer and

current president of Rancho La Puerta.

By the mid-90s Deborah had added a

Japanese garden to the upper slope with

the help of designer Takendo Arii. But the

old kidney-shape pool looked sad, and the

propertys brickwork pitched and rolled

like the sea, so Deborah asked her daughter

Perched on the sun-drenched shoulder of a San Diego canyon, Deborah Szekelys multilevel garden interweaves Japanese design with

Dream Decks & patios 9


to overhaul the area. In the pools place,

Brightwood installed a long, narrow lap

pool. Edged with slate coping and lined

with a dark, pebbled bottom, it doubles as

an understated refecting pool. A built-in

hot tub inhabits one end, and a discreet

automatic cover extends from the other.

The surrounding garden posed a greater

challenge. The existing terrace was long

and narrow, just like the new pool, and to

Brightwood, the combination suggested

a landing strip. To create the illusion of

greater breadth, she called for an emerald

swath of grass running diagonally across

the terrace and softened the edges with

curved beds.

When her mother requested a potting

shed and a meditation room styled as a

teahouse, Brightwood extended a deck and

two outbuildings roughly 12 feet beyond the

canyons nearest edge, setting them atop

piers that plunge deep into the hillside.

The transition between the pool area

and the Japanese garden above was still far

from smooth, however. A steep, straight

staircase descended from the homes upper

deck, and the backdrop for the pool was an

impassable slope. Brightwood replaced the

old steps with a more graceful brick-and-

timber stairway farther from the house. She

also refned the slope with a granite-clad

retaining wall at the base.

Above the wall she planted a sun-loving

array of plants in a palette of pink, purple,

and white. Groundcovers include Geranium

incanum and white-fowering Erigeron

karvinskianus. Pink Watsonia, Cistus, and

hybrid musk roses mingle with white roses

such as Iceberg and Jeepers Creepers.

The garden is a retreat for Deborah, who

is still active in her 80s. My garden is not

just an adjunct to my home, she says. Its

a primary destination. When I wake up and

walk outside, it seems as though God is in

the heavens, and everything is right with

the world.

above: a ceramic bas-relief by Rhoda Lopez dresses up a wall in the upper garden. The adobe brick wall

and towering bamboo offer privacy from the street. RighT: a brick walk curves past a venerable jacaranda

tree and a shady fowerbed, leading to a deck with a meditation room on the left and potting shed on the right.

My garden is not just an adjunct to my home. Its a primary destination.

DEBORAH SZEKELY, homeowner

OPPOSITE: A brick-and-timber stairway connects the entry garden to lower patios near the pool. Sculptor Alber De Matteis created the naturalistic handrail, which

was inspired by sensuously curved branches. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Separated from the pool by a patio, the outdoor kitchen offers expansive work and

cooking surfaces. Retaining walls of rustic stone are of minimal height and blend into the landscape. A swath of lawn stretches diagonally across the space so the

narrow garden appears larger in the view from Deborahs home (at left). A pretty slat fence offers a boundary between planting beds and the brick walkway.

DREAM DECKS & PATIOS12

bluestone haven

An Illinois couple create privacy for a new perfect-for-entertaining patio while preserving the views.


WRITTEN BY PENELOPE OSULLIVAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRITSADA

PRODUCED BY SHIRLEY REMES

A koi-filled pond

adds a soothing

ambience to Greg

Marino and Irene

Pagoniss lower patio.

An upper patio

contains additional

dining space near the

renovated outdoor

fireplace, glimpsed at

the upper left.


ABOVE: Red and gold hues of annual geraniums, impatiens, Kong coleus, tropical hibiscus, and

caladium accent the decor. OPPOSITE: Broad stone steps connect the lower patio with the upper

level; flowers soften the stones and add warm color tones.

family room on the top tier of a charming

three-level bluestone-clad landscape

overlooking the Boulder Ridge golf course

in Lake in the Hills, Illinois.

The smart new bluestone patio with its

luxuriant landscaping hugs the pond and

waterfalls. Fieldstone steps lead across the

pond to a side-yard bocce ball court. The

old patio measured 800 square feet, Greg

says; the new one is about 3,000 square

feet, including water features and

planting beds.

Before the lot was landscaped, the

backyard consisted of a tree, a boulder

wall, and a patio made of pavers, Greg

says, adding that it had no water, no

owers, no privacy, and no room to

entertain. The couple brought in Bob Stell,

owner of Evergreen Landscape Associates.

Screening was a big issue. We took a

look at areas that were overexposed, Irene

says. We wanted to ensure privacy and

prevent golf balls from coming into the

property. The next-door neighbor could

see our whole backyard. She and Greg

solved that problem by planting a wall of

limber pines between the yards. Around the

garden, strategic placement of shrubs and

trees guarantees privacy while keeping golf

course views intact.

Irene wanted the upgraded outdoor

space to be used for relaxation and

entertaining large groups of friends.

Irene used Boulder Ridge, where we live,

as the patios theme, Greg says. She

incorporated the existing boulders into the

landscape and created a waterfall through

them. Day or night, the couple can listen

Even summer storms cant keep Greg Marino and Irene Pagonis from enjoying the delights of their beautiful backyard. When it rains, the couple retreat to a covered loggia o the


ABOVE LEFT: Irene loves to entertain on

the upper patio, where the strong

architectural elements of the house and

the landscape converge. ABOVE: The

couple can survey the upper and lower

patios from a small covered loggia.

OPPOSITE, LEFT TO RIGHT: The

impressive hood adorns the outdoor

fireplace. Irene treats yellow Allamanda,

a tender woody vine that grows up to 10

feet long, as an annual. The refined

stone steps lead from the upper patio to

the seating area off the family room.

to the tranquil sound of falling water; for

parties, music lls the patio, emerging from

speakers hidden in rocks.

Because we love to entertain, we

extended the patio as much as we could

without interfering with the golf course,

Irene says. She and Greg chose random-

set Pennsylvania bluestone as ooring.

The smooth surface forms a stable base

for tables, chairs, and foot tra c, and

its serene neutral hues complement the

boulders and brick walls of the house.

Once laid, the outer edge of a bluestone

terrace can be sawed into custom curves, a

characteristic that worked to the couples

advantage in the patios owing design.

On the upper patio outside the kitchen

is a barbecue and striking replace, which

stretch the patios usage. Greg and Irene

changed the replace mantel from wood to

rustic stone. They added a large chteau-

style hood, which dominates the view

toward the house.

For their guests comfort, Irene chose

furnishings with overstu ed cushions

and pillows in the sitting area. All the

chairs around the tables are rockers. We

entertain a lot on the patio, Irene says.

We made sure there is plenty of seating.

[We put] a table upstairs for eating and a

table downstairs thats smaller.

To make the terrace consistent with the

inside of the house, Irene repeated her

interior color scheme outdoors. Im a very

earth-tone person, she says. Red, burnt

orange, golden yellow, chestnut, and brown

are her chosen hues, and she uses them

for the furniture, upholstery, and patio

plants. Yellow owers, including daylilies

and black-eyed Susan, and red ones, such as

geranium, kalanchoe, and impatiens grow

in pots and at the waters edge.

These warm hues bring contrast and

decoration to the bluestone terraces. Greg

and I love ponds and water, Irene says.

We love the sun and use umbrellas for

shade. Sun or shade, the couple can enjoy

the beauty and privacy of their new retreat.

living largeA Connecticut family finds fun and relaxation in stylish outdoor rooms.


A pergola, fireplace,

bluestone flooring,

and comfortable

seating turn Karla

and Tim Roofs

backyard patio into

a cozy, appealing

outdoor room. wRiTTen By PeneloPe oSullivAn PhoTogRAPhy By MATThew BenSon

PRoduced By KARin lidBecK-BRenT


ABOVE LEFT: A spot under the pergola

is perfect for kaffeeklatsches with

friends of the family. ABOVE: Plantings

and an organic shape soften the edges

of the pool. OPPOSITE, LEFT TO

RIGHT: Karla prefers the aged,

distressed finish of this painted blue

tableset for a buffetto furnishings

that appear new. Metalworker Steve

Rosenberg created an old-fashioned

wrought-iron latch for this wooden gate.

Three graceful chaise longues offer

comfortable seating on the back lawn.

a at lot with no gardens, an antiquated

swimming pool, and a concrete slab. The

pool was 30 years old, and where the hot

tub is now, there was a waterfall that

looked like a big pile of rocks, says Karla,

whose family moved to the stucco house

in Westport, Connecticut, over a dozen

years ago. Water never fell over the rocks

because the waterfall was old and broken.

Setting out to create the warm

surroundings she imagined, Karla read

gardening magazines for inspiration.

She also drove around neighboring

communities, taking pictures of fences and

patios that appealed to her. She wanted a

garden that seemed as if it had been there

since the house was built. What her yard

lacked, she decided, was a connection to

natureto the hilly, rocky New England

countryside of the property.

With the help of Tony Femia, a

stonemason and landscape professional,

Karla tackled the challenge of creating

a naturalistic landscape and giving the

kidney-shape swimming pool in the side

yard the feel of a natural pond. Femia

replaced the waterfall with an egg-shape

hot tub, mounding soil around it for a

change in elevation and adding three

rugged stone steps. I wanted an egg-

shape tub because its warmer than an

oval, Karla says. I like when you look at

something and it gives you pause.

To the formerly plain backyard, Femia

and Marcus F. Carpenter, an architectural

woodworker, added an outdoor shower

and a pergola-covered dining area and

living room with a massive stone replace,

transforming the area into a welcoming

living space.

Karla and Tim Roof dreamed of a lush landscape where their family of ve could play, relax, and entertain friends. What they had when they bought their remodeled 1930s home was


above left: the Roofs enjoy their egg-shape hot tub through octoberand in warm years until

thanksgiving. above Right: Clematis climbs the pergola. opposite: seating areas are tucked

in and around the naturalistic pool and its plantings.

Because the Roofs desired the look of

an established landscape, Femia chose

stones from old walls and worn granite

boulders, many of them covered with moss

and lichen. He protected the rocks during

construction to prevent damage to these

organisms. Boulders make a landscape

look like it belongs, and the moss gives

a mature, organic look, he says. The

property tells me what it wants.

Today huge irregular pieces of multihue

Pennsylvania bluestone pave the poolside

and patio. Not only are these pavers

proportionate to the house, but they also

are consistent in scale with light-catching

ornamental grasses planted throughout

the gardens. Practically speaking, Femia

says, larger paving stones mean fewer joints

and, consequently, fewer opportunities for

water to permeate and lift the rock when

the ground freezes and thaws.

Karla keeps the plantings informal to

soften the powerful presence of stone.

All the plant shapes are loose, she

says, referring to the grasses as well as

perennial clumps of Gaura lindheimeri and

Rudbeckia spp. I prefer no perfectly square

or perfectly round plants, and Tony made

sure something was always in bloom for

color. I put the vegetables and herbs

in the gardens around the pool, so now

there are cucumbers climbing up the

rosebushes. The garden is a work in

progress because were always moving

plants and accessories around.

Landscape construction ended eight

years ago. The plants have flled out and

matured, and the cedar pergola has aged to

silvery gray. Patio tables and chairs, which

stay outdoors year-round, have developed

a fne coat of moss, and the hoped-for

landscape has become a real place where

children swim and neighbors unwind by

the hearth.

The garden is a work in progress because were always moving plants and accessories around.

karla roof, homeowner

top, left to right: the outdoor shower features a brass, rain-style showerhead. Copper artichoke finials look striking on the wall behind the grill.

the handcrafted wrought-iron latch looks right at home on the gates weathered wood. above, left to right: this lantern is one of a pair on the

fireplace mantel. the stone weight pulls the gate closed. a double gate separates the swimming pool from the backyard living area, which includes

the fireplace and dining area. opposite: stonemason tony femia added interest by building the grill base with mossy stones in different sizes.



room by roomA spacious terrace was transformed into a series of small, inviting garden roomsall with a serene style.


left: An intimate reading nook fills a corner

between the dining terrace and knot garden.

Hypertufa planters form subtle walls, blending

seamlessly into the setting amid pea gravel.

written By AndriA HAydAy

PHotogrAPHy By KritsAdA

Produced By elAine MArKoutsAs

every room overlooking the backyard has at

least one French door leading outside.

Landscape architect Drew Johnson,

however, had a diferent idea. Theres

nothing more boring or overwhelming

than a big sea of hardscape, says Johnson,

a designer with Rocco Fiore & Sons. The

secret to pulling of a large space is to break

it up into smaller elements.

So Johnson created a sequence of

rectangular rooms, from a cozy seating

nook and an intimate dining terrace to

a spacious lounge. Framed by low walls

of clipped boxwood, each room is well-

defned, but the connections are broad and

the rooms fow together freely. Its ideal

for a party, Johnson says.

As it happens, the new owners were

planning to host an outdoor charity event

when they called him for help. The rear

lawn was lush, but the garden immediately

behind the house had been destroyed over

the years. After a recent remodeling, all that

remained was a pile of construction debris

and a disheveled bluestone patio.

The new layout is a natural extension

of the rooms within the house, mirroring

their fow and proportions. For example,

a grand solarium with a freplace opens to

an equally grand stone terrace with several

seating areas. The family room opens to a

At frst glance, the back of this Chicago-area home seems like the perfect place to install a patio spanning the length of the house. After all, nearly


above: The garden is divided into five rooms, including the seating area; the rooms provide

customized spaces for specific activities. opposiTe: shades of blue in the shutters, tableware,

bluestone pavers, and blue-gray succulents carry the color theme through the dining area.

formal knot garden lined with pea gravel.

And the doors of the kitchen and breakfast

area give way to a bluestone dining terrace.

Most of the bluestone was recycled, and

pea gravel makes up roughly a third of the

hardscape, extending from the knot garden

into the reading nook. If we had made

everything bluestone, it wouldve been

overpowering, Johnson says.

Like the house, the garden is formal

but not overly stif. Each boxwood in the

hedge is loosely clipped by hand. Symmetry

often reigns. An identical cast-iron urn

punctuates each corner of the large terrace,

and four inset globes of boxwood accent

the corners of the foyer. The knot garden

is symmetrical, with four curved hedges

arranged around a central urn of cast stone.

Paving and plant choices echo house

materials. Gravel matches the limestone,

while blue and lavender-pink blooms

complement blue-painted wooden shutters

and vintage wrought-iron furniture. It was

important to build a sense of permanence

and age, Johnson says.

Mature plantings ensured that the

garden looked well established from

the start. Instant age also comes from a

collection of artifcial-stone hypertufa

troughs flled with neon-green Scotch

moss and intriguing succulents. Rugged

tufts of sedum, Sempervivum, and Scotch

moss sprout from the nearby pea gravel,

suggesting that plants in the troughs have

reseeded themselves over time. In truth,

each upstart was hand-planted.

Shortly after Johnson completed the

design, the homeowners unearthed an

old photo of the house. The original rear

garden bore a striking resemblance to its

current design, with a low boxwood hedge

setting it of from the lawn. It showed just

how right this garden is for the houseit

fts perfectly, Johnson says.

It was important to build a sense of permanence and age.

DREW JOHNSON, landscape architect

TOP, LEFT AND RIGHT: Echeveria and other succulents and mosses fill hypertufa troughs and planters. ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Boxwood and

squares of grass lead from one of the homes French doors. Pink plantings complement the blue-gray color theme found throughout the garden. A

vintage chaise offers a relaxing spot and adds to the gardens sense of permanence. OPPOSITE: Upright boxwood and large urns filled with Temari

Patio Rose verbena and Surfinia Sky Blue petunias flank the entrance to the terrace seating area.


backyardUndaunted by her lack of experience, a new gardener transformed her backyard into a family Eden.

WRITTEN BY KAREN WEIR-JIMERSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRITSADA


evolution

OPPOSITE: The warm flames and beauty of a gas-powered fireplace invite lingering outdoors on

chilly evenings. ABOVE LEFT: Annuals such as sweet potato vine, vinca, and petunias enhance

seating. ABOVE RIGHT: A butterfly house sits amid nectar-laden salvia and lilies.

Golfers tend to speed up, late for their tee

times, Marie says. I couldnt stand it.

To shield her viewand save her

sanityshe built a visually pleasing

barrier that would block tra c noise and

create a sense of privacy. Very simply,

she planted a hedge. Im from Ireland,

Marie says, so she borrowed a staple of

the Irish landscape. Her mixed evergreen

hedge created the desired privacy from the

street tra cand became the backdrop

for a gardening project that eventually

transformed the Smiths entire backyard.

The outdoor living area didnt happen

all at once. When the Smiths moved in, the

one-story bungalow needed to be bumped

up to two stories to accommodate four

children. The home renovation gave the

family the living space they needed, but it

blew any chance of a landscaping budget.

We didnt have a penny left over for a

garden, Marie says. What made things

worse, she adds, was that the existing yard

was dismal: There was only grass and a

half-dead tree.

Inspired by a garden she knew in

childhooda garden dating to the 1500s

at the boarding school she attended

she dug in and started the landscaping

herself. She got advice from her brother,

a landscape architect, who helped her

tweak the backyard design to t her

familys needs. I wanted something

di erent, drew it out, and went to work,

she recalls. The neighbors thought

I was crazy.

Although a self-trained gardener, Marie

followed some essential gardening tenets.

A home near a manicured golf course might seem an enviable location, yet Marie Smith of Frankfort, Illinois, found herself vexed by all the cars rushing past her home to the links.



She started with great soil. When we rst

moved here, the soil was really bad, she says.

I put in a lot of compost, dug the soil out,

and added mulch to it. Then she started

planting. You dont have to have a million

dollars, she says. I brought a lot of plants

from my old house.

Another cost-saving measure included

dividing perennials. I transplanted them,

then I split them again and made a bigger bed

every year, she says. Marie also sows seeds.

I love cleome, she says. I throw the seeds

out and let them grow wild by the back deck.

People are always asking what they are. She

also created her backyards focal point. We

built the pergola ourselves, she says. My

whole yard cost less than $10,000.

Marie selects plants she loves, and she

readily admits she doesnt always know

some of their names. Nomenclature is less

interesting than the plant attributes. I put

in owersI dont even know what they

arebut if I like their smell and look, I plant

them, she says. Her beginners gamble paid

o and at the same time helped her learn

more about which plants excel in her yard.

About 90 percent of what I have put in has

ourished, she says.

With ample privacy and space to spread

out, the Smiths backyard is an ideal spot for

entertaining. Featuring seating for at least 20

people, the yard includes a lounge area with a

gas replace and chandelier. I tell you, says

Marie, in the summer, thats where we are

every day.

The garden is also a place where Marie

fuels her creativity. Its so exciting for me to

change things around every year, she says.

Her time outdoors is enhanced by natures

abundant ever-changing surprises. Watching

the butter ies and birds in the morning with

the children is beautiful, she says.

Now the golfers slowly cruise by her home,

and they seem less concerned with tee times.

Everybodys always trying to see in, Marie

says. And shes ne with that.

ABOVE LEFT: Containers filled with variegated grass and colorful annuals add a formal flair atop a stone

wall that defines the yards multiple seating areas. ABOVE RIGHT: Golden Joy lilies glow. OPPOSITE:

All-weather wicker furniture in a neutral hue with thick, striped cushions brings indoor comfort outdoors.

pool partyWhat to do when a pool is exposed and has no ambience? One homeowner answers with vibrant plants to create inviting outdoor rooms.



left: Christie Buziak (in white) enjoys her

swimming pool with friends. She considered

balance, scale, and texture in forming her

Connecticut backyard escape.

written and produCed By tovah martin

photography By roB Cardillo

pied--terre in northwestern Connecticut.

An exposed kidney-shape pool within

spitting distance of an untouched 1960s

ranch house might not have struck anyone

else as a dream confguration, but Christie,

an interior designer, liked the proximity

between shelter and splash: She saw it as

an invitation to add outdoor rooms to the

unadorned space.

After renovating the homes interior,

painting the exterior, and expanding

windows so she could have a clear view of

the water, Christie turned her expertise to

integrating the pool into the 13-acre parcel.

Installed by Jim Scott of Scott Swimming

Pools, the pool was ahead of its time in

design, with natural boulders set into its

granite coping. It was also built to last

and needed only a minor facelift. Christie

updated the pools edging tile and kept the

color efervescent aquamarine, a nod to her

California roots.

The pools surroundings, however,

needed considerable help. Originally laid

bare with nothing but an apron of lawn

between the water and the driveway, the

pool needed breathing space. It looked

like a skating rink, Christie says. So she

ordered enough bluestone to create a

generous skirt. Woods stand between me

and my neighbors, but you need a color and

A place to swim came right after a good location on Christie Buziaks roster of wishes. Christie and her husband were searching for a

Bulk plantings were

imperative for

achieving the

screening Christie

wanted. Color keeps

the area adjacent to

the home festive.


above left: Christie serves up her

primary colors in small, effective doses.

Rather than worrying over pillows on

lounge chairs, she uses bath mats,

which are soft and washable. above:

the pavilion is painted the same color

as the house for continuity; it also

echoes the homes angles and metal

roof. oPPoSIte left: at the grill,

Christie keeps a lid on backseat

barbecuing by distracting company

elsewhere. oPPoSIte RIght: across

from the vegetable garden, a gravel

pathway leads to a bench.

texture break against all that green, she

says. The bluestone relaxes the senses, and

it hems the garden.

With the foor in place, the area needed

function. Given New Englands famously

unpredictable weather, Christie installed

a pavilion to ofer shelter for outdoor

dining. But for sunny skies, she wanted to

encourage guests to mingle rather than

huddle and to lure company away from

cooking stations. So she furnished the pool

area with fashy red umbrellas to match the

red metal patio freplace. She added plenty

of lounge chairs, outdoor sofas, and easily

movable, lightweight modern chairs to

accommodate impromptu gatherings.

Although parties happen often, for

day-to-day duty Christie wanted privacy.

Her solution was lush walls of perennials.

As temperatures rise, so does the privacy

screen. I go for girth, she says. Theres

no place in my life for little fussy things.

Knowing that ornamental grasses would

take up a major footprint, Christie gave

them room to expandthus avoiding

arduous digging and dividing later. She

also wanted famboyant hues that would

electrify the slate gray of the buildings.

Monarda and pink Echinacea are recurring

themes. Joe Pye weed, phlox, and purple

Buddleja scatter themselves around.

And raging sunny-yellow Rudbeckia

reseeds itself.

Sedum connects the pool area and

another outdoor room, a breakfast nook

surrounded by herbs and spilling with

nasturtiums close to the kitchen. A

blueberry hedge cushioned in Agastache,

daisies, and alliums leads from the

breakfast nook past vegetable gardens via a

gravel walkway to a bench.

Christie now has a place to swim that

ofers privacy and bountiful ambience. As

the green walls bulk up, they might need

to be thinned and redistributed. But the

previously bare pool area has become an

inviting space for guests as well as for a

secluded swim.

Woods stand between me and my neighbors, but you need a color and texture break against all that green.

CHRISTIE BUZIAK, homeowner

TOP: Twin containers flank the gravel walkway that leads from one outdoor space to the next. ABOVE LEFT: A larger-than-life rooster keeps watch

over the vegetable garden. ABOVE RIGHT: Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium dubium) is one of many perennials that shield the view from neighbors.

OPPOSITE: Christie plants lambs-ears and Euphorbia right up to the flagstone paving, where an elegant tuteur provides an architectural element.



timelessappealSmart design and classic materials ensure this outdoor living space wont go out of style anytime soon.

Dream Decks & patios

left: the outdoor kitchen and grill area is the

hub of this multilevel space. Concrete counters

provide stylish and durable work surfaces.

47

written By Julie A. MArtens

PhotogrAPhy By JAMie hAdley

ProduCed By sArAh AlBA

where they found a home with ample

space for outdoor entertaining. Perched

above the backyard, the house ofers

wonderful views, but its position presented

a challenge for a gracious transition from

interior spaces to exterior living and garden

areas. An interior designer, Christopher

collaborated with landscape designer

Penney Magrane to transform the acre yard

into a sanctuary.

To tame the elevation changes, the

designers developed a maze of pathways

punctuated with individual outdoor living

spaces. The level of the guest suite and

interior dining room features a private

meditation garden, which segues to the

main dining patio via a fight of cast-

concrete paver stairs. The dining patio

fows into the outdoor kitchen with bar and

barbecue overlooking the swimming pool.

A descent from outdoor kitchen to pool

accommodates a planting bed and weirs

that trickle recirculated pool water from a

sandstone wall. Wide stairs with a shallow

rise allow guests to shift from the outdoor

dining room to fre pit or a bay laurel-

embraced spa tucked in a far corner.

A path near a teak dining table wends

up the slope from the backyard to the

guest auto court. The decomposed granite

trail weaves through vegetable, rose, and

In a bid to escape San Franciscos foggy, chilly summers, Christopher Hoover and partner George Rosenfield headed north to Sonoma,


opposite: Cast-concrete pavers are set on compacted fill to form the multiple levels. above

left: simple sliding doors enclose the outdoor kitchen. above RiGHt: the main level of the

house opens onto a large deck that is one level above the main garden.

butterfy gardens and ofers guests great

views. Plants arranged in layers, from tall

to short, form living walls in the small

gardens. Hedges of Japanese holly (Ilex

crenata Convexa) corral the lush plantings.

The greenery- and fower-flled walls

cultivate a sense of privacy and disguise the

elevation change.

Chic, weather-resistant raised steel beds

maximize vegetable garden space and form

eye-catching geometric patterns. We

frequently entertain here, Christopher

says. The best element we included is the

seating wall bordering the dining room and

fre pit areas. Most of the wall runs under

the oak canopy, making it one of the cool

parts of the garden in the hot summer.

The Cinderella story of the property

is the outdoor kitchen and pool

house, initially a trailerlike art studio.

Transforming the building into the hub

of cooking and conversation began by

removing an end of the studio to make

room for a bar and barbecue.

Sliding doors shift aside to reveal an

open-air kitchen, complete with dishwasher

and refrigerator, as well as a bathroom

and pool storage. Outside the kitchen, a

poured-concrete counter fanks the bar,

which includes an icemaker and sink.

The outdoor living areas feature durable

materials that blend with the palette of

interior rooms. Sandstone walls, concrete

pavers, decomposed granite, glass pool

tilesall shrug of dirt, promise long wear,

and will never look dated. We wanted

to create an exterior space that was

approachable and inviting yet convenient

and enduring, Christopher says.

Christopher and George were surprised

at how their ofseason garden dons a very

diferent look when leafess trees and

pruned roses present a stark image against

evergreen hedges. The garden is flled with

structure in the winter and is still enjoyable

to be in, Christopher says. We aimed for a

yard with understated elegance, and thats

what we have createdin every season.

We aimed for a yard with understated elegance, and thats what we have createdin every season.

CHRISTOPHER HOOVER, homeowner

TOP LEFT: The bar area makes entertaining easy with an icemaker, a sink, and seating space. TOP RIGHT: An Equisetum hyemale hedge lends

privacy to a crushed-gravel terrace in the guest suite garden. ABOVE LEFT: Herniaria glabra, Heuchera Geishas Fan, Sarcococca ruscifolia, and

Goldflame spirea surround the spa. ABOVE RIGHT: Sculptural elements such as the fire pit invite lingering. OPPOSITE: Adjacent to the dining

table, a large sandstone wall presents an artistic tableau with built-in niches that house candles.



naturalapproachHandsome paths and dry-stack stone walls enhance a terraced woodland retreat filled with colorful blooms.


left: A dry-stack stone wall anchors the

plantings and embraces a warm welcome at

Steven and Barbara lewiss front entry.

written By Julie A. MArtenS

PhotogrAPhy By cAMeron SADeghPour

ProDuceD By Shirley reMeS

terraced retreat complete with secluded

seating areas and a welcoming entry. Local

landscape designer Pat Francissen tamed

grades with retaining walls and punctuated

paths with relaxing patios.

When Steven and Barbara Lewis

contacted Francissen, they were searching

for a patio pick-me-up. The concrete

patio behind the house had sunk and water

collected there, Barbara says.

The goal with the entire landscape was

to maintain the sites natural feeling of

a home tucked into a woodland setting.

In the sitting areas, we preserved and

enhanced a vista into the woods while

creating a sheltered feeling, Francissen

says. Each area creates a respite, a place

where youre nestled in the garden but can

look out and beyond nearby plantings.

Choosing the right hardscape material

proved vital. The garden needs to ft the

macro environment, Francissen says.

Natural stone materials, such as cut stone,

patterned bluestone, and fagstone blend

beautifully with the yards surrounding

woodland environs.

The backyard renovation began with

shifting earth to redirect water fow away

from the house. A dry-stack retaining wall

crafted from 8-inch drywall stone quarried

in Wisconsin corrals the sloping site and

A divide-and-conquer approach connected small spaces with winding paths in this sloping yard in Batavia, Illinois, transforming it into a


OPPOSITE: Bluestone in various sizes provides an even surface for a table and chairs. ABOVE

LEFT: Once the blooms fade, the tulip foliage is hidden by groundcover. ABOVE RIGHT: A curving

flagstone path offers a shortcut between the driveway and porch.

creates a design element that links the

front and back yards. Francissen traded

the existing concrete dining patio for a

bluestone one in the backyard.

From the patios perch among lawn,

boxwood hedges, and formal planting beds,

patterned bluestone segues into a agstone

landing that prefaces a bark path winding

through the woodland. Oak eld drywall

stone stacks neatly into a bench tucked

among the trees.

A winding path, boxwood hedges, dry-

stack wall, and landing areas transformed

the steep front-yard slope and house-

hugging entry into multilevel scenery. The

wall combines with the landings to project

the house forward, Francissen says. Its

almost as if youre entering the house the

moment you step on the path.

Plant choice played a key role in crafting

the setting; to begin, the Lewises focused

on selecting specimen trees. We spent two

years observing trees at the nearby Morton

Arboretum, Barbara says. We looked

at tree shape, needs and habitat, and

seasonal changes.

The tree roster in the Lewises backyard

includes understory species that thrive in

the low light of a tree canopy: hornbeam,

redbud, pagoda dogwood, and serviceberry.

Woodland shrubs, such as Fothergilla,

Cornelian cherry dogwood, double le

viburnum, and summersweet also provide

seasonal interest and shelter for birds.

Bloodroot, Hepatica, Scilla sibirica,

bluebells, bleeding heart, and celandine

poppy ll spring with come-and-go color.

In late spring, mayapple and Solomons seal

enter the woodland scene.

Even when pushed to name her

favorite plant, Barbara cant choose.

My favorite part of a woodland garden

is the experience, the ongoing change,

she says. Its the re ection on what

was, the appreciation of what is, and the

anticipation of what is to come.

My favorite part of a woodland garden is the experience, the ongoing change.

BARBARA LEWIS, homeowner

TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: Hyacinths offer a vibrant burst of spring color. Tulips are underplanted with pachysandra. A fountain tucks into the retaining

wall structure. ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: A stone bench provides a stopping point along the woodland path; the bench needs no upkeep, and any

patina that develops enhances it. Spring flowers fill the garden. Adding mystery to the garden with curving paths was the brainchild of landscape

designer Pat Francissen. OPPOSITE: Perennials and bulbs embrace the patio with living color.


california dreamingA pool, a pergola, and rustic touches imported from the Mediterranean dress an intimate courtyard with old-world charm.

The view from

pergola to pool

follows a steady,

clean line. The pool

is sited for maximum

sunlight while leaving

adequate space for

landscaping and

outdoor dining.

Pavers set diagonally

subtly twist the

courtyards right-

angle geometry.

wriTTen By Julie A. MArTens

PhoTogrAPhy By ed gohlich

Produced By AndreA cAughey



OPPOSITE: Water rushing from the antique French wine-barrel spigot disguises neighborhood

noise. ABOVE: A tiled dining table rests on stone pedestals with a Santa Barbara stucco finish,

producing a handcrafted look replete with subtle variations in color and texture.

of a dated courtyard design into a classical

retreat. World travelers, the homeowners

renovated their Spanish-style ranch to

re ect their passion for Mediterranean

communities. Clearing the courtyard

for construction opened doors for their

daydreams about the 4070-foot space.

They envisioned a pool, fountain, shaded

seating area, and lamps for the evening.

Tony Crisa is principal architect with

Island Architects in La Jolla, the rm that

designed the home. Crisa collaborated

with the homeowners to craft the courtyard

into a lush, livable escape. The design

concept was function and exibility, he

says. I wanted the visual environment

to remain simple so that someone could

understand fairly easily whats going on.

The uncomplicated geometry of the design

unfolds along right angles, forming a grid.

Basically we established the functions for

the space and let the homeowners, who are

design a cionados, nish it out, he says.

Early decisions in the design process

embraced complex and deliberate risks.

The swimming pool, for instance, abandons

traditional appearances with its elevated

stance. The raised pool introduces a

vertical aspect in the con ned space

that eases the transition from patio to

surrounding walls, trees, and house.

Raising the pool 18 inches above the

terrace also provides function, Crisa says.

The wall becomes a bench for entering the

pool or for chatting with someone whos

in the water. The homeowners especially

enjoy the pools raised architectural

pro le, which gives it the feeling of a pond.

Mediterranean air reigns in this courtyard in sun-splashed La Jolla. The San Diego neighborhood enjoys ocean views and a mild, Riviera-like climate, which inspired the transformation

left: the curve that unfurls at the top of the

focal-point pergola offers an elegant contrast to

the courtyards strong angles. the grill area is

clad in stone designed to match the patios

antique pavers.


They love to relax by the water, watching

refections and listening to birds.

Another key choice in the early stages

of the design was the pergola. The

homeowners found their inspiration for the

structure on a South African wine estate,

Vergelegen, built in the early 1700s. With

its oversize dimensionsroughly 2012

feet and 9 feet tallthe pergola might have

overpowered the small courtyard. Covered

with grapevines, however, it brings a

big amount of greenscape right up to the

house, Crisaf says. It provides a good

transition from structure to garden, almost

like planting another tree.

The homeowners use the pergola space

for formal entertaining. A large entry to the

courtyard showcases 8-foot-tall antique

Italian plank doors featuring reconditioned

original hardware. The gate gives the

property a feeling of security and enhances

privacy on the street side, along with

hedging and vines that grow along an open

ironwork fence. The gates century-old

wood whispers of the past.

Warm-tone, antique terra-cotta paver

tiles and a stone trough fountain infuse

the patio with a vivid Mediterranean

ambience. The fooring and fountain were

imported from a company in the LIsle-

sur-la-Sorgue area in the South of France.

Iron furnishings ofer sturdy seating

and complement the stone. The earthy

combination gives the courtyard a tranquil,

old-world feel.

Artful embellishments indigenous to the

Mediterranean shine in the simple design,

gracing the courtyard with enduring beauty.

Whether the courtyard is the backdrop

for reading the morning newspaper with a

cup of tea, dining alfresco with friends, or

watching frolicking grandchildren in the

pool, the space welcomes with its easygoing

seaside style.


I wanted the visual environment to remain simple so someone could understand whats going on.

TONY CRISAFI, landscape designer

TOP LEFT: Decorative planters on the wall add visual appeal. TOP RIGHT: Providing a nice foil for the plane of the courtyards surrounding walls,

decorative iron scrolls curl around the edges of the pergola. ABOVE LEFT: Layering vines, shrubs, and trees produces a feeling of privacy poolside

despite local codes stipulating that fences remain 75 percent open. ABOVE RIGHT: Potted citrus treesorange, lemon, and kumquatenhance the

spaces Mediterranean flair. OPPOSITE: A pretty stone bench nestles among the plantings.

up on the roofThis rooftop deck was transformed from a lifeless, flat space into an inviting open-air retreat.

THIS PHOTO: Double

Knock Out roses

and Rudbeckia Irish

Spring abound.

OPPOSITE: Built-in

features and a

triangular pergola

give this rooftop oasis

a cozy feel.

WRITTEN BY ANDRIA HAYDAY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN KIRKMAN



opposite: A dining table commands center stage during frequent entertaining.

top: patrick McKeever (seated) and Beth Foley (far right) gather with friends, including

landscape designer Rinda West (second from left). ABove: An acrylic solid-surfacing

material tops the built-in cedar buffet.

converted the roof of their fat-top garage

into a garden getaway. Crowned by

planters and a pergola, the rooftop is a

breezy refuge where they entertain, enjoy

a glass of wine, or just hang out and read.

The couples Chicago rowhouse has a

minuscule backyard, and the detached

garage consumes most of it, but to Beth

and Patrick, its a lavish space. We were

both living in lofts before, with no outdoor

space at all, Beth says. We bought the

house with the idea we could turn the

garage roof into a nice outdoor room.

The prior owner had laid decking atop

the roof and extended a stairway. But even

after Beth added a table, an umbrella, and

a few planters, the space felt uninviting. So

she and Patrick asked landscape designer

Rinda West to take a look at it.

The frst thing West noticed was the

unappealing views on one side, and the

beautiful sights on another. To block the

bad view and draw the eye toward the

good, West suggested a triangular pergola,

mimicking a wing or sail. Its lighter and

more dynamic than a traditional pergola,

she says. To further enhance the view,

Sometimes the best place for outdoor living is high above the ground. Thats what Beth Foley and Patrick McKeever discovered when they



lattice panels extend below the rafters to

form a shady, sequestered nook.

If it gets too hot on the rest of the deck,

the owners can pop open an umbrella. The

upper windows of the house overlook the

garage, and the smaller pergola preserves

the garden view.

Beth and Patricks wish list for the

roof included dining space, plantings,

storage, and seating. Fitting everything

into the 1520-foot space took careful

planning. West included a series of space-

saving built-ins along the perimeter, with

planters, benches, and a long bu et.

West gave the benches generous

proportions and lined them with soft

cushions. Beths red-and-yellow umbrella

helped determine the rooms palette. I

knew I wanted something plush with a lot

of color, Beth says, but neither she nor

Patrick had any gardening experience.

At one point, she says, Rinda used the

description a stained-glass e ect for the

plants, and it was perfect.

West treated the planters as a mixed

border, including shrubs for year-round

structure. Elsewhere, tall perennials and

climbing vines provide screening and

vertical interest. Ornamental grass rustles

in the breeze on the rooms north side,

and stately red cannas accent a corner.

Annuals and trailing sweet potato vines

complete the lushly layered look. Its a

classic arrangement for containers, West

says: thrillers, llers, and spillers.

Chicago winters are especially rough on

container plants, so West lined the sides

of the cedar planters with insulation.

In the coldest months, the evergreens

wear burlap coats. As the days lengthen

and warm each year, West returns to

install new annuals. But Beth tends the

garden day to day. Regular watering,

using a hose that runs up to the roof, is a

summer necessity.

I love having another reason to go up

there, Beth says. In fact, we made a pact

last summer. We decided wed travel the

absolute minimum so we could spend as

much time as possible on the deck.

ABOVE, LEFT AND RIGHT: A round portal accents each lattice panel below the pergola.

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Hinged seats on built-in benches make the most of

the small space. The gate shields the stairway. Low-voltage downlights accent planters after dark.

Dishes and garden gear stow neatly below the buffet.

We decided wed travel the absolute minimum so we could spend as much time as possible on the deck.

BETH FOLEY, homeowner

home to playA sloping backyard doesnt have to bethe pits. This family kicks back in a sunken living room that leaves the perimeter wide open for play.


LEFT: The multilevel haven behind this Laguna

Beach, California, home allows homeowner

Jean Kawahara and her family to play, read,

and enjoy their yard in comfort and beauty.

WRITTEN BY SANDRA S. SORIA



oceanfront properties have little or no

backyard. When Jean Kawahara and Dean

Dunleavy moved their family of ve into

one of these cli -hugging homes, they

faced a small, cantilevered backyard that

had been landscaped more for drama than

family fun. Chunky rock borders carved

out a patio area that featured a built-in

grill and a long, low trough-style fountain.

The water feature added visual drama, but

the fountain didnt work about as often as

it did. To make matters worse, the water

feature made it unsafe for children to play

unattended out back.

Our home is only about 2,400 square

feet, Jean says, so we really wanted to

expand the living and play space for our

family of ve.

Clearly it was time to make changes. The

couple called landscape designer Chris

Fenmore of Garden Studio Design, who

sized up the situation. The homeowners

really didnt use or enjoy the yard at all,

Fenmore says. But it seemed a shame to

pull up the whole yard and start over, so we

decided to work with what we had.

Fenmore converted the fountain into

a generous lounging sofa, keeping the

footprint and avoiding demolition. This

really opened up the yard and made it

useful, he says. The couch is directly

The residences in the seaside Southern California town of Laguna Beach are oriented to marvelous views of the water. The downside? Most of the



ABOVE LEFT: A generous spot to lounge draws the family for relaxed dinner preparation. ABOVE

RIGHT: Succulents offer pretty color and texture with little green thumb needed. OPPOSITE, TOP

AND RIGHT: Built on the scale of a garden shed, this cheerful playhouse is large enough for an

adult to stand in. OPPOSITE LEFT: A large ceramic container houses a soothing fountain.

o the family room, and it invites people

outside to enjoy the sunshine. To further

link the outdoor family room to the one

indoors, fabrics and nishes re ect the

fresh sherbet hues that punctuate the

home. Even a newly built playhouse

patterned after surf shackswears a coat

of zesty lime green to punch up the space.

As a natural grounding to the cool

colors, Fenmore suggested neutral

cushions for the lounging spaces to

transition to the simpli ed stonework and

smooth stucco nishes. The charcoal-gray

background walls outline and de ne the

lower living area, giving the space an

architectural pop. My goal is always to

nish o a yard with the same attention

to detail that you see on the inside of a

home, Fenmore says.

The intriguing layering includes artfully

selected plantings that add structure,

color, and softness. Wispy kangaroo paws

stand out against the deep-gray walls. Low-

maintenance succulents and grasses add

structured shapes to the design, while ferns

soften hard-to-grow areas under trees.

But its Fenmores attention to sensory

details that elevates the space from good

design to true destination. For example, the

spare re pit doubles as a modern sculpture

and o ers heat and a focal point when the

sun sets. A simple bubbler made from a

ceramic vessel and an underground pump

replaced the old fountain and o ers the

peaceful sound of moving water without

the maintenance.

The existing built-in outdoor kitchen

was treated to simpli ed nishes.

Fenmore switched out carved ceramic

tile for a smooth and subtle limestone

backsplash. The concrete counter was

repoured with softer shades and texturing.

With simple and serviceable

improvements, this backyard looks as

good as it lives. And it passes the true

test of success: Young family members

and their friends often spill out into the

backyard to play.

My goal is always to nish o a yard with the same attention to detail that you see on the inside of a home.

CHRIS FENMORE, landscape designer


WRITTEN BY ANN WILSON


PRODUCED BY BARBARA NIELSEN

garage revivalFollow the lead of this Texas couple who turned a forlorn carriage house into an amazing outdoor living space.

An old garage

became a fair-

weather entertaining

station. Lushly

growing wisteria atop

the summerhouse

blends the structure

into the landscape.

above: Homeowner Linda austin, a teacher, often nestles in this chaise to correct papers.

opposite: to create the portal in the austins summerhouse but retain the walls strength and

character, landscape contractor John Gibson carefully wielded a handheld sledgehammer to start

an opening in the wall.

property now hums with melodious

rhythms that direct eyes and feet from the

front walk through a handsome gateway

to a hospitable backyard entertaining area

anchored by a deck and summerhouse.

The serene environs are a far cry from

the scene the couple came across when

they purchased the Georgetown, Texas,

property in 2002. Unoccupied for four

years, the house was engulfed in plantings

running amok, and the yard was flled with

junk. But the couple peered through the

overgrowth and saw possibilities in both

the 1916 bungalow and its surroundings.

A nine-month home remodeling project

began with a hired crew removing scrap

metal and overgrowth from the front

and back yards, leaving 11 large trees and

sweeps of bare dirt. During the cleanup,

the couple uncovered a buried treasurea

stone-wall carriage house that later served

as a garage. The garage was so ugly, Linda

says. There were two chicken coops beside

it, and it was flled with scrap metal and

two rusted Model Ts. My frst thought was

Get out the wrecking ball!

They credit landscape architect David

Bost with their decision to preserve and

repurpose the four-bay garage. David gave

us the idea that we could use it, Greg says.

He drew up a plan that worked around the

back deck and utilized the garage structure

as part of the landscape.

By removing the tin roof and garage

doors, Bost created a 2040-foot open-air

structure composed of three stone walls

and a doorless stretch of wall supported by

concrete pillars and an overhead beam. The

An array of outdoor living options in a once chaotic and cacophonous homestead satisfes the owners love of peaceful, easygoing spaces. Linda and Greg Austins



pillars and beam were sheathed in cedar to

bring the supports into the woodsy palette.

New concrete foors laid the foundation

for a relaxation and entertaining station.

Roof trusses fashioned a rafterlike pergola

overhead, and cedar-clad walls turned the

fourth bay into a potting shed outftted

with kitchen cabinets, a salvaged sink, and

new plumbing. Most notably, the facelift

included busting a hole in a sidewall of the

summerhouse to open the interior to views

of nearby gardens.

We thought we might take down one

part of the wall so it would look like a

crumbling ruin, but we needed the front

beam to hold up the structure, Greg says.

So we created a portal with a fagstone

access; the portal creates an unusual visual

end to the space.

The fagstone path bisects blowsy

perennial borders and leads to the front

gate and stagger-board fencechosen for

its privacy-promoting properties. Both

the fence and gate work with existing

structures and new additions to convey

an organic attitude in keeping with the

summerhouses stony countenance.

Bost and his associate, landscape

designer Beebe Pickens, used similar

materials for a cohesive look. Bricks that

match the homes chimney and front steps

edge sidewalks, the summerhouse foor,

and gate columns. Easy-care plantings fow

from front walk to back fence.

Greg and Linda wanted a look that was

neither formal nor manicured, Bost says.

That casual look lent itself to curvilinear

fowerbeds and informal fagstone

pathways. The couple opted for setting

rough-back limestone amid the lawn. By

setting the rocks into dirt rather than

mortar, they saved a considerable amount

and created natural-looking pathways.

The paths have proved essential to how

well the landscape works. The paths direct

you from the front walk through the gate

to the deck and summerhouse, Greg says.

When were hosting a party, we just throw

open the front gate, and guests follow the

paths and the noise to the party out back.

opposite: the curved deck was built from maintenance-free polymer planks that have the look

of wood. above left: a fountain fashioned in this pot spills water into a pit with a recirculating

pump. above right: the rough-edged portal allows views of the garden and gate.

When were hosting a party, we just throw open the front gate, and guests follow the paths.

GREG AUSTIN, homeowner

TOP LEFT: A Dutch door, cedar siding, and an awning window accent the summerhouses potting shed. TOP RIGHT: Red petunias and trailing ivy

add interest. ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Truss beams support Chinese and evergreen wisteria. Iron wall sconces lighten the mood. Plants supply a

vibrant color scheme and help create energetic spaces. OPPOSITE: A table in the summerhouse allows the homeowners to host sit-down dinners.


zoned for funA backyard landscape broken up into designated recreational areas accommodates favorite family activities.

Dream Decks & patios

The view from the

rear windows of Mike

and Cara Daniels

home takes in lovely

rose-covered arbors, a

swimming pool, and

this garden-set patio.

85

wriTTen By Ann wilson

PhoTogrAPhy By eD gohliCh

ProDuCeD By AnDreA CAughey

above left: a stepped-up patio

provides a shaded spot where Cara and

daughter Mallory enjoy pool, pond, and

gardens. above: appearing as one

large body of water, the pond, spa, and

pool are separate features with their

own filtration systems. opposite left:

ledger-stone facing, made from local

Cameron stone, defines a curved bench

near the master bedroom window.

opposite right: the fire pit,

surrounded by a ring of drought-tolerant

perennials, is a favorite entertaining

space for kids and adults.

and their two teenagers need only step out

their front or back doors to enjoy myriad

relaxation stations that harmonize with

their homes mountainside site and their

laid-back lifestyles. Sheltered benches near

the front entry invite folks to sit awhile

and enjoy garden views. Out back, family

and guests lounge on pool- and pondside

patios, mingle around an outdoor kitchen,

relax on boulders circling a fre pit, or settle

on the lawn near a ground-level trampoline.

All this is on just a half-acre of fat ground.

When the couple bought the Alpine,

California, house in 2000, they added a

curving path lined with plantings to make

the front entryoutftted with a half-wall

and concrete patiomore welcoming.

We made an entrance to the entrance by

adding latticework and a pergola to the

half-wall entry, Mike says.

Next the couple turned their attention

to the backyard. They called on Melanie

Jauregui, owner of Biomirage, a landscape

and garden design frm, to help make their

recreational vision a reality. Cara and I like

to entertain, so we wanted lots of diferent

places for people to gather, Mike says.

We wanted an elegant swimming pool and

a pond set near the pool so it looked as if

both were one body of water. Cara and I

threw ideas at Melanie, asked her to make

it fun for the kids, and she pulled it all

together and made it look natural.

First Jauregui drew sight lines from

the house outward. That was critical to

deciding on placement of the pond, spa,

and patio, she says. I also used the sight

lines to fnd spots for things that dont

say gardenlike the trampoline and the

outdoor kitchen.

Airline tickets and brochures for exotic lands dont bring much temptation in the Daniel household. Not when the family has its own outdoor pleasures a few steps away. Mike and Cara Daniel


ABOVE: A seating area near the pool is defined by a Cameron stone floor designed to look like a

natural extension of the pool coping. OPPOSITE: Topped by rose-covered arbors, this secluded

seating area supplies an aromatic spot for sharing conversation or kicking back with a book.


Jauregui then de ned garden room

borders while visually connecting one

space to another. A curving concrete

walkway moves tra c from the house and

barbecue patio to the pool deck, through

gardens and a bamboo grove, out to the re

pit, and around the orchard.

An arbor-covered alle leads to a cozy

seating area. A bridge spans the walls

separating pool and pond. Each element

ts easily into the environment. It all

needed to be beautiful and have the feeling

of the surrounding mountains, Jauregui

says. We extended the ledger-stone pool

walls into the garden so the walls seemed

to disappear into the landscape. We chose

rocks and plants that picked up the colors

of the mountains to blend outdoor rooms

with what was beyond.

The area beyond moves closer thanks to

the serenely still waters in the swimming

pool. Its this peaceful feeling that draws

parents to the pond and pool while the

kids head farther a eldto the trampoline

and re pit. Its awesome, and we love

everything about it, Mike says.

an ideal blendA balance between formal and informal elements permeates this welcoming garden.


this photo: the

original lot ended at

this mulberry tree,

which now serves as

the gateway to the

rest of the garden.

oppositE: A

concrete pedestal

was poured as a base

for mounting the

copper urn fountain.

writtEn And producEd By Judi KEttElEr

photogrAphy By roB cArdillo


ABOVE LEFT: With its curved landings,

the new deck spills seamlessly onto the

old lower deck. ABOVE: The couple

surrounded the pool with the same

granite cobblestones the landscaper

used for edging the formal beds.

OPPOSITE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Donna

Wilson and husband Craig Mossman

share a love of gardening. Donna, a

graphic designer, applies her artistic

sensibilities to her garden, including

accents such as this sundial. The

couples home is a classic.

I wanted something softer than squares

and something reminiscent of those big

curved Victorian porches, Donna says.

Architect Charlie Hammock drew up a

plan for a two-story deck with staircases

opening onto curved landings. Having the

deck changed my life immediately, Donna

says. Because the structure is right o

the kitchen, it paved the way for outdoor

entertaining, and an attractive, layered

garden was suddenly right at hand.

Donnas rst garden ended at a large

mulberry tree at the edge of her property.

But she later purchased the lot directly

behind her home and had a landscaper

create the basic designincluding a

walkway and stone wall. Later she added

the ornamental beds herself.

As the garden matured, Donna had the

landscaper create a more formal garden

area on the left side of her property. I

didnt have any shrubs or things that stayed

looking good in the winter, and I wanted

some architectural interest, she says.

Boxwoods established the bones

for the beds, and granite cobblestones

provided the structure. Donna knew the

formal area needed a centerpiece, and she

commissioned a local artist to create a

woven copper wire fountain that lights up

at night. The rst time I saw it, it blew me

away, Donna says. The fountain played

another pivotal roleas a background for

wedding pictures when Donna married

Craig Mossman, a fellow gardener.

These days, the couples lives are all about

entertaining. The fountain is the eye candy,

but the multistory deck is the gateway to the

garden. It makes for wonderful living in the

summer, Donna says.

The idea of attaching a big square deck to the back of her 1893 Italianate-style home in the historic riverside district of Covington, Kentucky, was less than appealing for Donna Wilson.


I wanted something softer than squares and something reminiscent of Victorian porches.

DONNA WILSON, homeowner

TOP LEFT: A salvaged church steeple sits among Stella dOro daylilies, a pink spirea hedge, and oriental lilies. TOP RIGHT: Donna often uses

Oxalis Merlot in containers. ABOVE LEFT: A hypertufa trough displays red and pink impatiens. ABOVE RIGHT: Terrier Addison enjoys the deck and

its furniture. OPPOSITE: A Red Flash caladium contrasts with hostas.

simply sereneAn Asian-inspired courtyard becomes a personal sanctuary with ample space for relaxing and entertaining with ease.


The expansive

fireplace in Lori

Gentile and Joe

Grecos courtyard

replicates the look of

an interior wall while

screening the outdoor

kitchen from view.

WRITTEN BY KIMBER MITCHELL VAN HEUKELOM



ABOVE: Lori fashioned an airy backdrop for the scored-concrete fountain using two styles of

ready-made panels found at a local lumber supply store. OPPOSITE: A statue of Quan Yin, the

Buddhist goddess of mercy and compassion, imparts an air of solitude over the koi pond.

she could easily see beyond the cramped

deck and an unwieldy patch of cacti.

My goal was to create a modern Zen

atmosphere that would tantalize all the

senses, she says.

With the help of landscape designer

Melanie Jauregui, Lori created a quiet

courtyard in a U-shape nook between the

garage and two sides of the house. The

space caters to comfort with a living room,

dining area, and cooking zone, all designed

around a large cus tree.

Natures subtle hues provide a tting

muse for the courtyards soothing color

palette of green and gray punctuated by

black and chocolate-brown accents. Lori

uni ed the courtyards living and dining

rooms with soft gray ooring made of

porphyry pavers.

In the living room, a clean-lined,

contemporary replace made of pumice

stone, granite, and black glass beckons

guests with its dramatic scale and crackling

warmth. The replace walls dimensions

also solved a critical design challenge

where to put the fresh-air kitchen.

Guests are now serenaded by the

trickling tempo of a fountain. The sound

of water has tremendous healing power, so

it was important to me to make it a focal

feature, says Lori, who fashioned the

wooden screen backdrop with ready-made

lattice panels. These simple yet striking

details bring Loris vision of serenity

full circle. We practically live outside

from the rst cup of morning co ee to

afternoon sunbathing to dinner under the

stars, Lori says.

As an interior designer, Lori Gentile enjoys transforming properties into harmonious retreats. So when she and husband Joe Greco bought their Encinitas, California, home,


We practically live outsidefrom the rst cup of morning co ee to dinner under the stars.

LORI GENTILE, homeowner

TOP: A ficus tree, salvaged from the couples previous landscape, and a pot of corkscrew rush (Juncus effusus Spiralis) lend sculptural intrigue in

the outdoor kitchen. ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: The fountain spills into the koi pond. Repeating elements in multiple rooms is the key to creating

cohesion. A simple palette of materials offers a welcome respite from the hectic pace of daily life. OPPOSITE: A mesmerizing collage of rocks and

shells turns an ordinary concrete seating wall into a work of art.


The monumental

stone fireplace

anchors a much

larger pool, deck,

and outdoor

kitchen space.


all about the outdoorsA generic-looking custom home in Southern California gets an exterior facelift, transforming it into a family-centric space.

WRITTEN BY NAN STERMAN


opposite: the flames of the pit in this

seating area rise as the sun sets over the

ocean. above left: a pot filled with licorice

plant, yellow Argyranthemum, Bacopa, and

english ivy softens the surrounding hardscape.

left: teak cabinets line the walls; the roof is

made of tongue-and-groove cedar. a teak table

hosts family and friends for barbecues.

in around a stone fre ring and alternately

watch dancing fames and the sun turn fery

orange as it melts into the blue ocean.

The spot was created as part of a garden

makeover by landscape architect Gary

Stone and contractor John DeMaria of

DeMaria Landtech, Inc. Two decades

earlier, the couple built their young

family a custom country-French-style

home on this sloping 3-acre lot. Toward

the end of construction, as their budget

dwindled, they turned their attention to the

hardscape, softscape, and pool.

The original garden was dominated

by pathways of faux rock islands that

traversed seas of lawn and encircled a koi

pond and the kidney-shape pool.

Fast-forward 20 years, and the faux

rock had run its course. The children were

grown and grandchildren were on the way.

The familys golden retrievers loved to be

in the pool but

dream decks - patios - spring 2014 usa

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