The existing patio was crumbling and framed with old, unsightly shrubs.

Our clients’ magnificent home, built in 1903 for Gordon L. Pirie and Samuel Carson (of Carson, Pirie & Scott), is built on a steep slope from the front of the house to the back alley. A two-story, four bedroom coachhouse was located in the back of the property but felt disconnected to the rest of the site. The existing concrete patio and stone steps were crumbling and screened with leggy, unsightly shrubs. A screened porch situated next to the patio also waited to be used. Finally, the asphalt driveway along the side of the home was no longer used for cars. Our clients wanted to meet their goal of integrating these various elements into a usable outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining.

The new hardscape, built with natural limestone, defines the space while adding an air of elegant permanence befitting the home.

After extensive site visits that involved measuring grade changes, a structural engineer and drainage plans, our designer created a terraced patio using natural, loosely laid limestone and dry-laid limestone walls and steps. A wall of Brussels Block at the back of the patio retains soil and plantings, while adding extra seating. Loosely laid limestone walks connected the new patio to the coachhouse, and the screened porch to the side yard.

A former asphalt driveway was no longer used and converted to a beautiful, terraced viewing garden.

In the former driveway, our designer created a terraced viewing garden using more limestone steps and dry-laid limestone walls. A palette of shade perennials such as hosta and ferns thrive here, while the addition of fastigiate yews, flowering lilacs, a hydrangea tree, ornamental grasses, pachysandra and an expanse of new lawn create an outdoor space meeting our clients’ expectations.

The new limestone patio is softened with cutouts for groundcover and surrounded with lush plantings.