Hopkinton, MA
Entrance-way Remodel
This new terraced entrance was a beautiful garden just waiting to emerge. Look at the transformation of this garden in the following photos. The owners of this home wanted a new entrance that would be both functional and aesthetic. The existing timber steps were narrow and unsafe, the timber wall was rotting and unsightly.
Our challenge was how to incorporate steps around an existing large boulder. We designed oversized steps using beautiful, traditional bluestone for the treads of the steps and patio, and Pennsylvainia wallstone for the risers and wall. Our goal was to keep the look formal and complimentary of the traditional design of the home.
This photo shows how we expanded the usable area by incorporating a patio that serves as both a landing and a sitting area for the owner to relax and view the new garden. We reused some of the existing plants like the Iris and Peonies and two beautifully established Andromeda while incorporating new plants with form, color, and seasonal structure.
We used oversized bluestone to accentuate the new patio and treads of the new steps. This beautiful patio and wide steps extend the size of the space and really adds to the elegant feel of the new garden. We decided to take the boulder and emphasize its character as part of the landscape. The formal straight lines of the bluestone steps play well off of the boulder’s irregular form.
Here you can see how our plan was to overemphasize the steps with large deep treads. This new garden will continue to grow richer from season to season and as it matures we hope that the clients enjoy the garden for many years to come. We transformed this unappealing entry into a spectacular garden space that is now a functional and beautiful work of art.