Lush Luxury

Enduring design meets modern amenities in a verdant landscape.  

As timeless as the evergreen trees that line its edge, this property’s detail-infused landscape strikes a graceful balance between classic and contemporary. In collaboration with the homeowner’s project team, a well-defined program guided Michael White, Principal at Symbio Design Landscape Architects, to develop a dynamic and elegant outdoor retreat for a family of five. His firm specializes in creating unique outdoor environments that celebrate their clients' sense of style with functional accommodations explicitly tailored to how they live outdoors.

White’s design echoes the architectural cues of the home in an embrace of clean lines, uniform finishes, and a formal, rectilinear layout. “When we started, there was no finished landscape work and the construction of the home had just begun,” White explains. “We got in early enough to start the conversation about interior space, and how it relates to the exterior space.”

(Photography: Chris Rucinski)

Strategic placement of the three-season porch was key to maximizing the visual impact of the surrounding landscape within the main living areas in the home. “In the kitchen and dining area, the view looks out over the gathering terrace, onto the lawn and landscape beyond,” says White. In turn, the seasonally-covered pool takes a more subtle position in the colder months. Adjacent to the terrace is an open lawn space ideal for sports and entertaining.

Navigating the nuances of the property to accommodate the extensive outdoor program posed a unique challenge, especially with a significant 40 feet of elevation change. White notes that careful analysis of the topography was essential in leveling the terrain and integrating new elements harmoniously within the surrounding landscape and neighboring properties. 

(Photography: Chris Rucinski)

“A big piece of conversation on this project—and any others with a pool—was determining the full pool experience that the client wanted,” White shares. Surrounded by chic black-and-white furnishings, vibrant plantings, and sleek granite decking, the rectangular pool offers an aquatic reprieve complete with an amenity-packed pool house. “The pool house provides a ton of functionality, and also elevates the overall experience of the pool area,” says White, noting the convenience of a poolside outdoor kitchen, shower, television, and storage. 

(Photography: Chris Rucinski)

The pool itself, installed and designed in collaboration with Environmental Pools, features a detached spa, pebble sheen interior finish, custom lighting, and a sleek aesthetic. “The pool is modern, but it's also timeless in the realm of how it's built and the color scheme around it,” says Andrew Everleigh, Owner and CEO of Environmental Pools, who also installed separate mechanical systems for the pool and spa to allow for year-round use of the spa. 

(Photography: Chris Rucinski)

To further ensure multi-seasonal vibrancy, White carefully curated a selection of plantings that would thrive in all seasons. “Developing a palette of evergreen shrubs, ground cover, and trees that created form and structure provided a solid base to work from,” says White. “We then worked with the client to add in color and texture through perennials and plantings that would flower at different times of the year.”

As the sun seeps into dusk, thoughtfully positioned outdoor lighting carries the beauty of the landscape into the evening, illuminating the precisely devised design flow at every turn. From the steps of the terrace to the lush natural contours that border the property, the landscape offers a serene place to enjoy all year long.

Landscape Architecture: Symbio Design

Pool: Environmental Pools

Photography: Chris Rucinski