An Austin-stone residence in the Greenway Parks North area of Dallas, the backyard was devoid of character with only an outdated wood deck and converted garage studio as features. The owner, a Texas native who had moved back after years in Malibu, California, was referred by his Architect to Landscape Designer Patrick L. Boyd-Lloyd, APLD, with David Rolston Landscape Architects, to maximize the small backyard with feature’s he loved from days spent in the year-round outdoor environments he’d become accustomed to: Lounge Pool, with spa jets and heater, Check; Natural-gas Firepit (no smoke here!), Check; Outdoor Screen-wall for viewing Movies, Check; Lounge and Dining Spaces, Check; Lush and Textural plantings, Check. All tied together with a low maintenance Ipe wood Deck and custom cut random rectangle Oklahoma Flagstone.
A ledger stone fountain wall gives this pool area a spectacular focus–while muffling traffic with water music and screening views of the parking area and neighbor’s yard. The back yard, while overlooking a beautiful golf course, formerly ended a few feet from the back door. Raising the whole pool terrace up both provides privacy from golfers and creates a dramatic entertaining and living space.
A walled courtyard screens this lawn from the runners and bikers around White Rock Lake, while leaving the panoramic views from the house open. Quiet gravel walks and simple plant material complement the Frank Welch-designed house. A small pool looks much bigger because it is designed with a forced perspective–tapering from 12 feet wide by the house to 10.5 feet in the distance, working an amazing trick on the eye.
This house and landscape are designed to take advantage of the natural beauty of Bluffview, as well as utilize the topography of the site. A deteriorating, outdated lagoon pool was removed to make way for a new architectural pool and cabana that draw you out into the landscape. The strong architectural lines of the Bernbaum Magadini house are softened by liberal use of waving grasses, flowering shrubs and vines.
A Contemporary Spanish / Mediterranean eclectic home in the Park Cities area of Dallas had a very basic front yard, and only grass and some mature Magnolias and a Pecan in the backyard from the previous home. We added a new front entry at the sidewalk, using the brick and cast stone from the house for replication, and expanded the plantings to include more texture and color. In the back yard a medium sized dipping pool, using Ann Sacks glass tiles and dark plaster, with a raised wall and scuppers makes a focal point to the existing outdoor living areas.
This landscape was designed by Patrick L. Boyd, Senior Design Associate with David Rolston Landscape Architects
