This Queen Anne style residence features a new addition, a complete interior and exterior renovation, and a thoroughly modern landscape scheme. The new garden plan reinforces the historic character of the neighborhood and improves the utility of all the outdoor spaces for a young family who enjoys entertaining and gathering at the fire table lounge for making s’mores.

At the front, improvements include terraced plantings along the slope leading up to the house. New dry-laid brick for the stairs and entry path are in keeping with the era of the house and a pair of existing birch trees were retained to frame the restored 1890s façade. The classic white, picket fencing was moved up to embrace the house and provide a clear enclosure for the rear yard, which underwent a major transformation.

From the front porch, a pathway of stone bands leads to the picket gate and into the private, rear garden. Screening evergreens, hydrangeas, and massings of blush-colored astilbe, cat mint, yews, and boxwood define the edges along the putting green, a cooking/dining patio, a lounge area with the fire table, and a swath of lawn. The landscape lighting plan emphasizes the uplighting of majestic trees and moonlights the ground plane, which creates welcoming outdoor rooms long past sundown. Of interest perhaps, is what is not visible. Stormwater management dictated the placement of all elements and required a balance of environmental sensitivity and design ingenuity.

Landscape Architect: Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture; Architect: GTM Architects; General Contractor: Structure; Landscape Contractor: Chick Landscaping; Photographer: Kate Wichlinski