Design Notebook: April 1999

DESIGN SOLUTIONS. Once the design requirements and the types of spaces were defined, the design had to entail a logical progression. Entertaining areas were established for small, intimate gatherings, formal meetings and large entertaining parties. Levels were created from the elevation change that flowed together while presenting three distinct settings.

The first area – the casual terrace with a pond and waterfall – has a pergola for shade, and the stone terrace sitting area blends with the stone and boulders used in the water garden. Water is recirculated to a split waterfall for relaxing sound effects and aeration for the aquatic plant material and fish.

From this terrace, an arch and a 42-inch spindle fence define the formal lawn terrace, taking on a touch of the European garden feel with a border of more than 20 varieties of perennials and annuals. This menagerie of color provides a pleasant foreground view from the living room of the house.

The lawn terrace then flows down into the main entertaining area of the property consisting of the pool, spa and accompanying cabana.

This level was set 5½ feet lower than the lawn terrace to minimize the height of the retaining wall on the backside of the pool. Wide, gracious, stone steps allow for a gentle transition and provide a focal point from the living room to the spillway of the spa.

Back dropped by three, 14-foot Southern Magnolias and flanked by a Dissectum Japanese Maple cantilevering over the pool beam, the spa with night lighting creates a dramatic view.

Each post of the cabana is anchored by a 36-inch stacked, stone column to match the pool and terraced stone, and four 6-inch by 6-inch rough cedar posts blend with the surrounding trees.

On the opposite side of the cabana, a large stone terrace is provided for lounging and sun bathing with adjoining lawn space allowing for pedestrian overflow. The fescue lawn ties into the adjacent meadow as the defined gardens of the backyard blend into the balance of the property.

A multitude of plants and flowers embellish the garden spaces such as a purple wave of petunias cascading over the double-tiered, stacked stone retaining wall. Heavy use of typical Georgia plant material such as flowering dogwoods, varieties of Kurume and Indica Azaleas, and Magnolia species truly relate the southern charm of the area.

Due to the nature of Georgia’s red clay, all beds were over cut to allow for a minimum of 12 inches of custom blended garden soil compacted in 6-inch lifts. This special soil back fill and mix allowed the plants to establish quickly and resulted in 100 percent plant viability.

The author is a landscape architect with LTI.

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