Wasmer Project

The homeowners, having just completed an interior remodeling, asked the landscape architect to renovate their landscape to complement the craftsmanship of their reinvigorated home. New French doors from their living room prompted the need to rethink circulation from inside to new entertaining spaces in the backyard. The client’s wishlist included a firepit, grilling area, flexible patio space, a water feature, new fencing, landscape lighting, irrigation and low-maintenance plantings.

Hardscape materials of bluestone wallstone and patterned bluestone pavers were selected for their rich color and architectural integrity. The existing spatial qualities of the backyard required a solution of stepping down in a series of terraces as you moved from the house to the alley. A gas firepit was incorporated as an integral element within the stone sitting wall and becomes a focal point from any vantage point in the backyard.

A secondary sitting area off the main terrace is created using thyme interspersed between bluestone pavers. A custom at-grade water feature was created with low bubbling jets that, at the homeowner’s request, can be walked through. Angle iron was welded 4 inches below the top for a stainless steel screen to be used to support Mexican beach pebbles.

At the homeowners’ direction, all new plantings are simple masses of architectural interest. Ornamental grasses, groundcovers and low-maintenance perennials soften edges and add layers to the stonework and the property boundaries.

The success of this project can be found in the strong collaboration between the landscape architect, landscape contractor and homeowners. Through consistent communication and a breadth of expertise, this complex custom project resulted in a deceptively simple, elegant landscape solution.