Country Club Sexy
Complete Outdoor Living Space | Pool & Spa | Sunken Fire-Pit | Pergola Shade Structures | Outdoor Lighting | Bed Swing | Matrix and Screening Plants
Located off a country road in LaPorte, Indiana, this forty-acre estate draws one away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Here, the sounds of wildlife replace the honking of cars and the sirens of emergency vehicles. As you pull through the gated entrance gravel crunches under the tires. Soon, the guest house comes into view, surrounded by old gnarly apple trees. Continuing, the driveway becomes asphalt and circles in front of the main house, dressed with a front porch adorned with rocking chairs. Take a deep breath, you have arrived.
Project Description
When asked what vibe they wanted their space to have, ‘Country Club Sexy’ was the descriptive response. We loved it so much that it became our design inspiration for the plans. A twenty by sixty-foot gunite pool sets the tone for this backyard retreat. With its dark finish and clean lines, it welcomes you for a plunge. At one end sits the hot tub for easy access from the house in the winter months. A perennial border oozing with color stretches along the entire back side of the pool, bursting with lavender, butterfly milkweed, allium, and yarrow.
Two pergolas bookend the pool. To the west, a large dining table sits under the pergola with room for the whole family to dine alfresco. To the east, the pergola holds two full-size bed swings. Here, all the grandkids pile up and enjoy story time outside. The pergolas are covered with retractable awnings to provide more cover when desired. Full planting beds provide a vibrant backdrop to each pergola space, mixed with evergreen trees, flowering dogwoods, viburnum, hydrangea, ornamental grasses, catmint, and hyssop.
Beyond the pergolas to the north, a sunken gravel patio creates a hidden destination. Here, a central fire pit is a favorite spot for late-night talks and roasting marshmallows with the grandkids. Outfitted with a gas starter, this wood-burning fire pit comes alive with ease.
A hill stretches down from the fire pit space down to a wooded border below. A significant portion of an existing fieldstone retaining wall was removed with the new pool build. We saved the stone and repurposed it for a boulder scramble on this hill. The scramble provides natural play opportunities for the grandkids.
Moving from day to night is a smooth transition with the comprehensive landscape lighting system here. Paths are lit for safe travel, and the landscape glows. Shadows dance, and the garden takes on a whole new mood.