Essex, MA
An Inviting Entrance...
Our mission was to revitalize this entrance space and add a touch of contemporary flair while still paying close attention to creating a garden that matches the architecture of the house, highlights the owners collection of art, and closely relates to the natural setting. The existing brick entrance path was narrow, difficult to shovel, usafe to walk on as a result to winter heaving, and too traditional for both the space and the client’s taste. The timbers were rotting, and the garden was a little too monochromatic.
We widened the path to add an inviting feeling. We paid close attention to detail by creating a path like we were designing a carpet. We combined natural material with contrasting textures like large pieces of New England pavers and dark washed river bed stone and edged the walk with recycled cobbles.
We focused on the use of foliage and texture and contrasting plant combinations and arrangements to enhance the garden space so it would look good during all the seasons The plantings also soften the art of the path and enhance the art pieces highlighted at different levels.
The walk is softened by the interesting plant arrangements that provide beauty and delight from every angle like the swaths of Carex ‘Ice Dance’and Boxwood. When combined with the focal point of the Potted Fir extends the garden well into the winter months. The addition of a new contemporary handrail while being a necessary request was custom designed to add a modern element and works juxtaposed against the rustic natural materials of the walk.
Low voltage landscape lighting was added after the garden was completed to add both safety to guests and another dimension of nightscaping.