Comfort Zone
Patio and Outdoor Living Space | Matrix Planting | Swing Set | Jacuzzi & Pool
At our very first meeting, our clients shared that one of the main reasons they purchased this property rested on the fact that the backyard felt safe. It was fully fenced and this enclosure gave them a sense of comfort. This conversation inspired our design parti and we sought to create a space filled with all sorts of enjoyable things that brought coziness, warmth, and security. The design result centers on a pool surrounded by various activities for easy, pleasant summers outside of the city chaos.
Project Description
The first thing that captures you upon entering the space is undoubtedly the deep blue pool. It sits on an angle to accommodate its size adding a relaxed energy. The pool has a small sun ledge and therapy bench for lounging and ample room for floating. A retaining wall stands behind the pool creating a terrace above for an intimate fire pit. Here you enjoy a unique view looking back at the house and the pool creates almost a pond-like effect.
One of the asks in the design program was to incorporate a hot tub. The family uses the home all through the year and a hot tub brings warmth in the winter months. The plan sunk it halfway below grade with a low deck platform for easy access into the tub. A gabion wall serves as a backdrop to this water element re-purposing existing stone on site. Above the wall slopes a no-mow lawn area for easy maintenance.
A generous textured concrete patio replaced the small irregular flagstone one that our clients inherited with the house. The unevenness of the stone, their small size, and the large joints between them made placing and moving furniture difficult. They wanted room for a seating area and several chaises to sit poolside. The new material makes for barefoot walkability.
Plants fill the edges with texture, color and movement. Preferred colors of yellow, pink, purple and white dominate with a few splashes of red. The mix of yarrow, allium, catmint, coral bells and hydrangea do the painting. Low maintenance staples like boxwood and ornamental grasses add structure to the planting beds. Beautiful existing trees, Pine, Spruce and Maples gave instant scale and a settled presence from the start to the softscape.
Off to the side behind the hot tub a swing set pergola rises in a patch of lawn. Here two swing options hang ready to delight and spark peals of laughter. It was a special request for our client’s son being one of his favorite activities.