PROJECT SUMMARY: Residential Landscaping Potomac, MD

The client had lived in their Potomac area home about for fifteen years but had never addressed the landscape in the back yard. There was a large existing pool that was completely bare and uninviting, in full view of the house. There were no patios except the pool patio which was a large amorphous shape with no “sense of place”. The south facing façade of the house baked in full sun all day long.

The client wanted to create outdoor living spaces that would invite people outside and create an environment to welcome and entertain friends and family.  She had traveled extensively for business and had stayed at some of the world’s finest resorts.  Now she was ready to stay home and wanted to create a home that would feel like a resort where she could host her large extended family. So she contacted Botanical Decorators, a landscape design-build firm who specializes in creating resort style oasis landscapes in the Potomac area.

The design started with the concept of a large pergola outside the family room to provide shade and evolved into a series of garden rooms with different purposes and levels of intimacy.  These rooms create views from every important window and door and encourage outdoor living. 

There is a sunny breakfast terrace off the kitchen for intimate dining. A few steps down from that the large loggia will provide shade. Here there is the outdoor kitchen and a “living room” and large “dining room” that share the cooling sounds of a fountain. As a finishing touch, outdoor furniture was chosen. The dark brown resin wicker pieces tie the rooms together, provide flexibility in changing the rooms around for larger functions and add that resort flavor that the client was looking for.

Through an archway in a tall brick wall another short flight of steps leads to the “Spa Garden” with its own small patio.  A large new staircase links the outside spaces to the lower level family room with its pool room, home gym and screening room.

Finally, the pool was renovated and a new patio designed to create more intimate spaces. Island beds directly adjacent to the water create the feeling of a natural pond and help to define these spaces.