“Well begun is half done,” Mary Poppins was fond of saying. For new construction landscaping, “well begun” means a home has curb appeal and gorgeous front and back yards right from the outset.
For a new group of homes in Hyde Park, Seiler’s had the opportunity to manage the development of the sites. One goal was to make all the outdoor living areas around the houses flow together. And, of course to give each of the homes plenty of curb appeal.
Challenges and Opportunities
From the side entrance, a stepping-stone pathway leads past curving foundation planting beds to a covered porch.
This home’s steep site presented us with an opportunity to create a multi-level landscape design. The outdoor living area is accessed from the side of the home at the top of the slope.
The outdoor living space, complete with fireplace, built-in grill and comfortable seating, sits up high and overlooks the backyard and surrounding treeline.
Part of the landscape plan called for curved retaining walls to create terraces on the downward slope.
A large planting bed softens the stairs that lead from the outdoor room down to a lower level patio.
The home’s lower-level office area opens onto the back patio, giving the owners a sunny spot to take a break from work. This patio has easy access to the lower levels of the yard.
New Construction Landscaping for Outdoor Living
One of our goals for new construction landscaping is to keep sightlines and views from windows and patios in mind. Whether the owners are indoors looking out, or enjoying time out on the covered porch, we aim to create beautiful plantings to look at both nearby and farther out in the lawn. As construction on this home progressed, we visited the site to check views from the kitchen and bay windows as well as the lower level sliding doors.
Another one of our goals for new construction in general is to make sure the materials we recommend for the site match the style of the home. We always strive to complement the designers and homeowners design direction.
If you’re building or moving to a new home, we would love to talk about your landscaping options. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.
