Pathways through the Garden

This lovely property in Alexandria appears from the street to be a charming cottage, which belies the surprising scale of the house and grounds at the rear. The owners, a couple who entertain frequently, requested a significant outdoor kitchen, reorganization of the backyard, and a comprehensive planting scheme. The new plan also formalized the front entryway, added paddock-style fencing around the perimeter, and completely transformed the back garden.

Comprised of a steep grade divided by a creek, a three-level garden flows from the rear elevation of the home, which permits views from a roof terrace, a wrap-around porch on the main living area, and a ground-level, semi-circular dining/entertaining patio. Boxwood, fothergilla, hydrangea, and liriope fill the beds and add a cultivated texture to existing native trees and shrubs. The cooking area rises above an elegant lawn terrace, which is encircled by a serpentine retaining wall. Below the wall, stone paths with grass or ajuga-filled joints circumnavigate through the lower woodland parts of the garden and up along the sides of the house. Distinctive but discreet lighting shows the way. 

  • Interior Designer: Edith Gregson Interiors
  • Lighting Consultant: Outdoor Illumination
  • Landscape Contractor: Rosemont Landscaping
  • Photography: Kate Wichlinski
A large, multi-story white house with double balconies stands behind a lush garden. A stone path leads through the foreground, framed by trees with autumn foliage.
A large, white multi-story house with double balconies stands nestled among trees. A stone path leads through a lush, tiered garden toward the homes illuminated windows at sunset.
A two-story white house with a double-gabled roof, a wraparound porch, and a second-floor balcony. The house overlooks a grassy backyard featuring stone retaining walls, lush landscaping, and a patio area with outdoor furniture.
A large, two-story white house with double gables and a full-width covered porch. Below the porch, a patio features a round table with chairs set on a lawn bordered by stone retaining walls.
A two-story white house with a raised wraparound porch featuring a wooden railing. A stone path leads up to stairs nestled beneath the porch, surrounded by lush green shrubs and a large hydrangea bush.
A stone patio with a round wicker dining set sits next to a white house with a porch. In the background, a terraced garden features a built-in stone grill and lush trees.
An oval dining table with eight woven chairs sits on a stone patio. A lush garden with mature trees and a lawn borders the patio under a clear blue sky.
A landscaped garden features a manicured lawn with curved stone pathways leading toward a dense, wooded area. Lush trees in early autumn colors surround the shaded walking paths and a shallow, stone-lined ditch.
A sunlit garden features a central tree with vibrant yellow-green leaves. A stone-lined path meanders through lush foliage, ferns, and small shrubs.
A stone retaining wall curves along a garden path. Tall grasses and a large tree with yellowing leaves stand behind the wall.
A garden with a stone-edged lawn in the foreground leading to a rocky path through dense trees and shrubs. The scene is illuminated by sunlight, highlighting a small tree with yellow-green leaves in the center.
An outdoor stone patio features a stainless steel grill station and two wicker armchairs. The patio is elevated by a large natural stone retaining wall and sits beneath the shade of mature trees in a backyard setting.
A winding stone path leads through a lush garden toward a sunlit lawn. The path is bordered by rounded shrubs and framed by large trees against a clear blue sky.
A stone pathway winds through a lush, shaded garden alongside the white brick wall of a house. Sunlight filters through the dense trees and flowering shrubs bordering the stairs.
A stone path leads upward through a garden toward a stone retaining wall and a small boulder structure. Trees with autumn-tinted leaves frame the view of the lawn behind the wall.

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