This generous parcel is in an established neighborhood in McLean, VA. The land surrounding the house did not serve the owners’ needs or desires, but they lived in the house for a decade before transforming the entire landscape in lieu of buying a vacation property. With Richardson & Associates, they embarked on creating a resort for themselves, their kids, and their friends, right there at home. 

The project was constructed beginning with the rear yard, which includes a large pool terrace with a woodland meadow backdrop. The pool house, painted a deep charcoal gray, serves as the perfect focal point for the garden while offering a fireplace with seating, an open bar, and an outdoor shower. These amenities, along with the pool, terrace, and spa can accommodate a lively crowd. Ten to twelve people fit easily in the spa and the stainless-steel scuppers are a water feature that continuously provides sound. For such an exposed area, pavers and steppers of concrete remain cooler underfoot than stone and establish a modern sensibility. A long concrete accent wall reinforces the design intention and is a foil for the vibrant perennial beds beyond. The texture of the wall is illuminated by a light channel while privacy all around is provided by a staggered evergreen screen of Arborvitae, hydrangea, Karl Foerster grass, and flowering accent trees. Snug against the property line to allow for more lawn, an infiltration bed helps direct drainage.

The second phase addressed the front yard. Rudbeckia, salvia, echinacea, and Liguria are massed to create an attractive perennial garden with drifts of Hydrangea quercifolia and Clethra alnifolia in the background. A new stone walkway and a large boulder salvaged from the property complete the scene and mark the address.

Landscape Architect: Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture, General Contractor: Winn Design-Build, Landscape Contractor: Black Pearl, Photographer: Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography