‘Do bear in mind leaf or flower debris though,’ says Rachel Crow. And accept its invitation to step out, step down, jump in, enjoy.Shrubs and tall trees can shade the pool and double as garden screening creating privacy if the area is overlooked. To appreciate its cool, soothing palette, the blues of the water flowing into the greens of the garden with a judicious use of color. To enjoy its pleasing form and practical function. The family is able to sit in the house or on the covered terrace and look out over the landscaping. This newly-created space is an updated vision for a traditional garden that combines classic lines with the modern sensibility of innovative materials. From a practical standpoint, the pergola and arbor provide shade, especially when the vine becomes mature, a definite plus for the west-facing main house. The softening effect is further enhanced by the wisteria vine that will eventually cover both the arbor and the pergola. At the same time, it softens the hard edges of the house and unifies it with the yard. It, plus the pergola, extends the structural aspect of the house into the landscape. The arbor’s supports gently curve out and away from the house. We continued the ornamental pattern by building an aluminum arbor and pool security fence along the covered terrace. “In making this design choice and also by using the reclaimed brick in the pool area, we wanted to honor the architecture of the house,” says Halper. The Ramsowers had used reclaimed ornamental iron around their front yard and so we replicated its pattern in the pergola’s design. The pergola is made of solid aluminum, chosen for its durability, and painted black. To address the issue of the house’s prominence, we added a pergola to the main wing of the house. Additionally, we planted a rose garden around the illuminated basin and a color garden for seasonal color at the far end of the yard across from the covered terrace. Boxwood and limestone gravel were embroidered into a parterre design to underscore the formal shape of the pool. In the outer border along the fence line, we planted small trees that give the space scale and also hide some unsightly utility infrastructure. The entire sunken area is finished off with a border of ground cover that transitions the eye to the limestone walkway and the retaining wall, where we used the same reclaimed bricks found in architectural features of the house. Before putting down the grass, we installed a French drain using grid pavers that pulls water away, an action that keeps the soil from compacting and the grass from suffocating. What is inventive about this grassy area is its sub-structure. The pool is counterbalanced by a large plot of grass. (And the children think it’s great fun to play in them.) On the side of the pool, another fountain, an illuminated basin built of limestone, brick and stainless steel, feeds the pool through three slots. This moving water becomes a shield to block out urban noises and makes the scene lively. Jets of water emerge from these pedestals. Pedestals topped with urns anchor the pool and provide a place for spot color. At one end, we installed a spa, lining it with a contrasting darker blue glass tile. With the yard, we dug out the center of it to create a one-foot drop in elevation in which to build a sunken pool. When you get that kind of inspiration and dialogue, you end up with a project like this one.”įor Exterior Worlds, our design process addressed two main features of the original space-the blank surface of the yard surrounded by looming architecture and plain fencing. I get inspired by my clients who are engaged and focused on design like they were. While they didn’t know exactly what they wanted, they did push us to create something special for them. About working with the Ramsowers, Jeff Halper, owner of Exterior Worlds says, “The Ramsowers had great vision. When the Ramsowers first called Exterior Worlds, all they had in mind was an outdoor fountain. Followed quickly by desire and creativity and know-how and communication and collaboration. Then arrived fresh sight, seeing what was absent, seeing what was possible.
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