Landscaping around a home on a small lot with close-by neighbors can be a challenge. With special features on the wish list, there is an extra layer of coordination, and that was the case with this home in the WestHaven community in Franklin.
We talked with Gardens of Babylon landscape designer Ryan Fogarty to get her insight about how the plan took shape:
What did the homeowners want?
“The homeowners wanted a private but beautiful backyard with a new pool,” Fogarty says. The front yard was completed by the builder, and the homeowners called on Fogarty to design the landscape and hardscape plan.
The backyard design is what makes that part of the home destination-worthy. The pool is just a few steps away from the spacious back porch – the homeowners’ outdoor room that includes a fireplace — and features a hot tub with a fountain that spills into the pool water. The deck provides enough space for relaxing, and for setting up a poolside basketball goal.
A request for plantings that are pollinator-friendly was also high on the list of priorities, she says.
“We enhanced the front yard with evergreens and perennials such as Rudbeckia, coneflower, catmint and cotoneaster.” There are also boxwoods, laurels, crape myrtles and other classics that enhance the design of the home.
The backyard is a combination of hollies, Northwind switchgrass, and a ton of perennials “to add pops of color around the pool,” and tall evergreen Arborvitaes – enough to provide a bit of privacy from nearby neighbors, but not so many that they obscure the peaceful view of the hills in the distance.
What was the biggest challenge?
A complex design can have a lot of moving parts, and that was the case with the construction of the pool, which was installed by SiteWorks, Fogarty says. “The new pool, irrigation installation, landscaping, and the pool decking — it took a lot of coordination from SiteWorks and our project managers.”
What do you think is the project’s best feature?
“The best feature is, hands down, the pool.” Fogarty says of the centerpiece of the homeowners’ backyard oasis. “And I think the landscaping does a great job of softening the hard lines and edges of the pool.” Fogarty’s design called for stone and pavers to complement the color of the home’s brick exterior.
In spite of the challenges, the end result is a design that enhances the home and makes the backyard a private hangout spot for family and guests.
The Gardens of Babylon landscape design team is ready to help with you landscaping needs. Click here to book a phone consultation with a member of the design team.
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