1. Bird’s eye view of the back patio area and landscaping. Curved lines were incorporated into the design to mimic the arches in the portico and around the windows. Senzo Costano pavers span the 1,500 square foot patio and walkway. To compliment the homes design, white Vetter stone was brought in from Minnesota to border the walkway.

2. To date we have landscaped three out of the five acres, bringing in over 10,000 tons of fill dirt to regrade the entire property. This includes the 1,500 square foot patio, 16,000 square foot pond, 162-foot waterfall, and 23,000 square foot driveway.

3. Spanning the approximately 830-foot driveway is a combination of series 3000 black granite, Courtstone, Senzo Costano and Senzo Cremo pavers. Courtstone pavers were chosen to highlight the bridge and provide an interesting sound effect when driven over.

4. For stability reasons the pavers were laid on a mud slab, weep holes were drilled to ensure proper drainage and the sailor course was then mortared to ensure clean lines and durability.

5. The only existing landscaping left of the property are the London planetrees that border the driveway. It was of upmost importance to the homeowner that we preserve these trees at all costs. To protect their shallow root system, we restricted access during construction and installed retaining walls around their base.

6. The waterfall measures approximately 160 feet in length and has multiple layers of falls before filtering into the pond. It can be viewed best while crossing over the bridge and provides the grand entrance feel the homeowner was looking for.

7. The 16,000 square foot pond is an intricate part of the property’s drainage system. Proper grading and perforated drain tiles were installed around the pond to ensure that no surface water could enter. Instead, only clean water from the home’s downspouts is routed to one of two entry points around the pond.

8. Drainage tiles placed throughout the entire property direct water into one of six buried cement basins that then divert the water into a creek that borders the property. Due to constraints the waterfall and pond were constructed at different times and connected later. The floating garden bed was installed to conceal the pumps and filters needed for the pond.

9. At its peak this garden bed measures 18 feet tall, creating privacy from the neighbors and allowing room for an approximately 280 square foot bunker to be dry set below. The bunker contains the controls for the entire property including irrigation, lighting, security, and electrical.

10. The grand entrance features a stunning 90-foot diameter circular plaza elevated 10 feet in the air and retained on the east side looking out into the pond. We had to dig down 5 feet below the plaza level for the retaining wall to ensure a harmonious relationship with the planned pond water level, which was yet to be built.

11. At the entrance we installed three 3-foot-high dry laid black hills walls and landscape lighting. The walls were dry laid to make it easy for lighting changes and fixes to occur. A dual staircase leads guests up to the main entrance.

12. Prior to renovations, the hillside on the south of the home was too steep to navigate across. The homeowner desired to create walkable space for ease of access to the backyard and mowing purposes. A series of three retaining walls, ranging in height from 4-6 feet tall, were constructed leaving space for a green path between the top and middle tiers.

13. Tackling an approximate 22-foot elevation change, the three retaining walls at their longest point measure 130 feet spanning a combined total of 366 feet. To provide color and texture to the area a variety of weigela, Norway maples, spirea, and dwarf fountain grasses along with a weeping cherry and pear tree were planted.

14. Scenic view showing the native plantings by the pond, elevation change, and landscape lighting highlighting the London planetrees. Several seating areas were created around the pond and waterfall to capture the 360 views of this property.

15. Picture of the temporary road that was constructed to avoid undue stress and compaction on the London planetrees. This road ran through where the current pond sits. As much landscaping as possible was completed before removing the road to dig the pond.

16. Before photo where the walkway, patio, and garden beds now sit. Prior to any landscaping plans, significant grading and drainage issues needed to be addressed on the property, including runoff rainwater from the neighboring home.

17. This is the original concept design in ¼ scale. Changes were made during the construction per homeowner request.