The owners of this Arts and Crafts-style home needed a backyard entertaining space to complement the architecture. A new arbor structure and trellis screens views of parking and sets off the stone patio, creating privacy and a quiet oasis for dining and relaxing.
The beauty of this location is the ‘borrowed view’ of parkland, which extends the vista to infinity. It was a barren lot with two-foot wide beds around the edge and one tree in the middle when Dave and his wife bought it –but after sixteen years of experimenting, this property is a lush oasis. Wide sweeps of lawn lead you down to hidden pools and fountains, bordered by a profusion of plants for texture and flowers. A recently added green roof cools both the porch below and the bedroom next to it–while creating an aerial lawn for camping and stargazing.
An old decaying pool hogged this whole backyard, leaving little room for entertaining or play. Now a formal spa with a fountain creates a focal point at one end, opposite a fireplace and dining patio across a crisp new lawn.
An urban setting in the very desirable M-Streets / Greenland Hills section of Dallas, a circa 1920’s cottage was updated to a more modern feel, but needed a landscape to fit. Patrick L. Boyd-Lloyd, APLD, a designer with David Rolston Landscape Architects, worked with the clients to bring some privacy to the front of the house, featuring a wall of windows, and bridge the back of the house to the pool, which is accessed across the driveway.
The covered structure on the back replaced an old wood deck, and is anchored by the intimate outdoor fireplace. To keep the north facing space from feeling dark and claustrophobic, skylights were added to the standing seem metal roof. The concrete driveway was broken up with Oklahoma Flagstone and brick to create more entertaining space and connect the pool with the house. An pile of rocks that was an old fountain for the pool was replaced with Oklahoma ledge-stone and scuppers for a more timeless, updated look. The rich plant pallet is kept to the understated side to act as a simple backdrop, with accents of color popping out. Texture is added with Agaves, Yuccas, and variegated Ginger.
The landscape accentuates the pool without overwhelming it. Multiple textures from both the plants and stonework gives a feeling of coziness and intimacy while still having open and bright qualities.