Urban Tranquility, Melrose, MA
Natural, Inviting Front Entry
Located within the suburbs of Boston, our clients wished for a natural, immersive landscape design to compliment their newly renovated home. Their front yard was previously dominated by three large oak trees, all of which were removed during the home renovation. This cleared the canvas for us to design and install a new inviting, accessible front entry garden. The design features a reclaimed granite path off the main sidewalk, encouraging neighborly visitors from the street. This path is also accessible from the driveway and side yard, by use of playful step stones winding through a lush, immersive garden. Our client’s young grandchildren love to play throughout the step stone paths, playing hide and seek and exploring among the tall plants and boulders. This inspired us to use step stones throughout the entire property, allowing for playful exploration from the driveway to the front entry, around the side yard and throughout the backyard gardens.
Zen Oasis
Our clients wished for their backyard to become a tranquil escape from the “hustle and bustle” of the nearby city. Their original landscape consisted of rigid, linear walls and a formal brick patio. Inspired by the philosophy of Chinese gardens and the practice of Feng Shui, our new design opened up the backyard’s full potential, breathing life into the landscape by weaving together natural elements of water, fire, stone, and plants.
We partnered with Trellis Structures, a garden structure designer and manufacturer in Templeton, MA to design a backyard shelter, entry arbor, and an additional window structure to enhance their overall privacy within the home. Surrounded by natural stone, lush perennials and tall grasses, the cozy backyard shelter provides a tranquil space for our client’s yoga practice, to meditate under a calming rainstorm, or to gather around a small fire.
The design also features a unique boulder fountain water feature and a beautiful cedar barrel sauna. These features are seamlessly connected with our mix of locally sourced natural stone flagging, along with a variety of lush native and Asian - originated plant material. With our design-build team and talented partners, we are proud to say our clients now have the best of both worlds - the lively hustle and bustle of Boston only a few miles away, and an escape into their own Zen Oasis just outside their back door.
