“We interviewed 8 landscape architects and Thomas was the clear winner. He did an incredible job for us by both painting a vision of our end state property master plan that we immediately fell in-love with (we had 3 disparate lots before) and then creating a practical plan to get us there. 3 key comments in what Thomas was able to do: 1) quickly brought together our 3 separate properties into one coherent and beautiful designs, 2) listened and interpreted our direction as well as brought his own ideas, and 3) collaborated well with our multi-party group (there were 4 of us all with strong opinions).” - Client 5-star review
After a significant renovation, this home called for a landscape rethink. Sited in an open clearing in the middle of a forested area, the theme of a "meadow in the woods" presented itself. Under a ring of old growth oaks, evergreen borders of majestic Cryptomeria, white pine and lush ferns provide year-round privacy. In the middle, a lush lawn calls out for a croquet game. And in the sunniest part of the yard, a blue-grey pool coped in simple bluestone dances and shimmers in the sunlight.
A charming cottage suffered from neglect- but not by the deer. Replacing ravaged foundation plantings with evergreen Buxus sempivirens, Andromeda japonica and Pachysandra brings new lushness to the entry. In the back, superb Japanese maples shade a newly graded and seeded lawn ringed with stunningly large Rhododendron Roseum Elegans. Other shade loving and extremely low maintenance woodland classics fill in to provide absolute privacy for casual outdoor dining, poolside lounging, and hammock daydreaming.
Perched high on a hill that rolls down to a pine forest, this house had great views - but almost no access from the main living floor into the yard. By regrading the entire rear of the house to expose the foundation, new doors were added and the lower level was opened to the yard for an effortless inside-out flow.
The front yard appears at the end of a pebble stone driveway that gives a satisfying crunch on the approach. The imposing stacked stone entry wall is softened by elegant rhododendrons above and newly sodded grass below. Around the house are boxwood, peonies, hydrangeas, and ornamental grasses impervious to the hungry deer.
In the rear, a deer fence protects a mixed evergreen screen of Cryptomeria, firs, hollies and cypress. A newly sodded lawn floats into the distance. Local rocks create anchor points and beds of juniper and roses snuggle the pool. Ornamental grasses create a flowing sweep and a young chestnut tree stands sentinel.
Several porches and decks created in the redesign all get their own views designed to maximize the natural beauty of the site.
