Project Description:
Initially, the owners focus was creating a backyard retreat they could enjoy without escaping to a far away vacation home. Since the homeowners traveled a lot the last thing they wanted to do was get home from a long business trip, hop in the car and drive for hours.  So they commissioned us to design and build their own private backyard oasis. Their main request was to provide an outdoor living space that felt intimate yet accommodate gatherings for 100+ people.  

They wanted the materials to look natural but refined. They also asked that some of the plantings come up to the edge of the pool tying into the natural setting of the site. Some of the site amenities the client requested include a pool for the family, an outdoor grill and a porch swing. They wanted to be sure that the mechanicals would be low maintenance and as energy efficient as possible. The client felt it was best to give us, the landscape architects, complete control of the project.

The main challenges of the projects design development was the existing drainage swale in the middle of the yard, the six feet of grade change and the proximity to a forest conservation easement. Coming up with a creative design in such a limited and restricted space was the most challenging aspect of the entire project. Every measurement and elevation point had to be precise for the project to work correctly. The pool was the main hub of the design. The 45 degree orientation of the pool captured the long views the site had to offer and made the space appear larger. All patios, walkways, retaining walls and site amenities were developed around the pool. To work with the grade change, the space was divided into three levels: the upper level which mainly serves as pedestrian flow/gathering area, a dining/spa level which is the main entertaining space and the pool level.  A 2’ raised bond beam was constructed between the main gathering area and the pool to provide a separation between the two areas and a waterfall for the spa.  

With the design process complete, it was time to select materials for the project. The home had a formal interior and exterior feel so we used random geometric flagstone with bull-nose wall cap and step tread for the upper level close to the house.  Down at the gathering/dinning and pool levels we switched to irregular/broken Pennsylvania flagstone for the patios with a flame torch relief edge for the wall caps, coping and step treads.  This helped give the pool a more natural setting and maintain the formal theme of the home.   Smooth Pennsylvania river boulders and a local Maryland quarry stone matching the facades of the home were used for the walls.  Repeating the existing material found on the home really made the area feel like an architectural extension.  To give the pool a natural lake-like feel, Ocean Blue Pebble Sheen was used for the interior pool/spa finish. MasterTile Rainforest tile was chosen for the waterline to blend with the quarry stone and pool coping.  

The construction process began in October of 2006 with the pool dig. It was our client’s goal to be swimming by spring time so it was a must that we had the pool shell shot before winter set in.  Working with Custom Home Pools in Ellicott City, MD we marked out the pool location and set the pool elevations.  Custom Home Pools installed the pool shell, tile, plumbing, pool equipment and pool finish under our management. Once the bulk of the pool shell and mechanical work of the pool was completed our masonry, carpentry and landscape crews came in to finish the details.  One of the last details and notable challenges to the project was getting the fencing installed.  Because of the natural feel and grade change throughout the site the fencing installation was critical.  Black Alumi-Guard industrial grade fencing was chosen for the project for its ability to blend with its environment and its architectural connection to the homes existing materials.  With the level lines of the patio and retaining walls it was important to get as much of the fence as level as possible.  Working with Frederick Fence in Frederick, Maryland to install the fencing, custom brackets were welded to portions of the posts so we could mount them on top of some of the retaining walls.  This along with the skillful installation produced a final fencing project that blends in beautifully with its setting.
 
The things we feel made the project extraordinary are the custom details, effortless transition between the spaces, the pool’s relationship to the surrounding landscape and our ability to exceed our client’s expectations. When we asked for a quote to close out the job they responded “If we’d known ahead of time what we wanted this would have been it."