Additions to homes are common – they typically add a new room, or expand an existing room, so the family has more living space. Increasingly homeowners are asking for additions to their landscape. These are not entirely new spaces that are separate from any existing landscape element. These are additions or expansions to an in place landscape element – most often involving an existing patio. A major reason for these additions is the client’s desire to add an outdoor kitchen or fireplace, or to create a separate seating/conversation area from the dining area. Adding seamlessly to a patio that is already in place is challenging, but Landscape Architect Deborah Cerbone did a masterful job at this Morris County home, and Statile and Todd installed the new addition. The design and installation happened very quickly – from the first client phone call to completion of the installation took less than one month.
A small patio existed outside the french doors, but the clients wanted more space to entertain family and friends, and they wanted a fireplace to extend the outdoor season. A critical requirement in the design was to provide a level lawn area where their three active children could play outside, and where a hockey rink will be installed for the winter months.
Deborah Cerbone realized that for the new lower patio to look like it was part of the old upper patio the transition had to start right at the edge of the old patio – in other words the stairs and rock walls from the old patio would have to be redone so that they became part of the new patio. The result is a seamless transition from old to new that really feels like one space, not two distinct patios. The level turf area created for the children can be seen in the upper right. The clients also want a hot tub/spa in the near future so the design includes a nook (right corner of the patio where the dining table is) that is sized to fit the hot tub, and plumbing/electric/cable TV have been routed to that nook to make the future installation easy.
There were significant grade issues in a very confined space. Some areas had to be lowered and others raised on a piece of property that had significant slopes front to back and side to side. A key design consideration was how to use the grade to the client’s and the patio’s advantage.
The design effectively used the grade to the client’s advantage in that it created a patio enveloped in low rock walls which added additional seating areas, planters, borders and a sense of intimacy, while using excess soil to level a grassy area in the back yard for the children’s play space. The rock walls also provided a seamless way to integrate the fireplace that the clients wanted.
Statile and Todd is exceptionally skilled at masonry work and we use only in-house employees on our installations. The result is superb quality masonry construction and no waiting for an outside mason to fit into the installation schedule. From the day the clients first called Deborah Cerbone it took less than one month to complete this project.
Locating the fireplace in the back corner of the patio and integrating it into the rock walls that surround the space make it fit and feel perfectly placed. The fire can not only be enjoyed from the seating area, it can be enjoyed from the upper patio, the kitchen and multiple rooms within the house.
The patio served as a focal point for a party the family had soon after the installation was completed and has quickly become a meeting place for friends in the neighborhood. Best of all the clients love it. The wife told us that “Before this project the words beautiful and our backyard could never be used in the same sentence – now they can”.
We designed and installed this driveway with a cobblestone edging, bluestone surface, and upright piers at the entrance from the street. We worked closely with the asphalt contractor to assure assure a perfect transition and finish to the asphalt section. The bluestone slabs on the driveway are 4″ thick and are mortared to a 6″ reinforced concrete base, over an 8″ crushed stone base. Prior to installation each piece of the bluestone was laid out and individually cut to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. There are uniform 1/2″ mortar joints on each side of every piece of bluestone. This is precision work that will last for generations even under the stress of vehicular traffic and snow plowing. The stone piers each hold a sandblasted and polished granite address inset, and both piers are uplighted. The driveway entrance makes a statement about the quality of the home that lays beyond.
The asphalt, cobblestone edging, and bluestone pavement come together at the front entryway to the home, mirroring the effect of the entrance at the street. The bluestone on the driveway blends seamlessly into the walkway to the front door of the home. This is well designed and elegant way to enter an estate home.
We worked closely with a stamped concrete contractor to create this driveway. Our stone piers with integrated wrought iron railings flank the entrance. The stamped concrete resembles slabs of natural stone. Radiant heating embedded in the concrete prevents the build-up of ice and snow. The interplay between the piers, driveway and stone on the house unites all three elements into a single theme.
The landscape architect on this project wanted more than just a paver driveway, he wanted a courtyard effect. We built his design to perfection and the combination of the piers, circular wall and pavers creates an effect that is timeless, elegant and unique.
The driveway to this Somerset County estate meanders through wooded areas and open meadows. Although the driveway generally follows the natural contour of the land there we performed significant shaping of the earth for visual effect and drainage. Meadow grasses that we installed add color and texture. There is a sense of wonder and suspense as you drive up to the home – and the home does not disappoint (
The driveway to the guest cottage is in the right foreground. We created the berm behind the tree trunks on the right side of the photo. The berm in combination with extensive specimen tree plantings screens the guest cottage from the main home. This landscape is less than one year old – but it looks as though it has been in place for decades.
