This majestic new home was constructed on 17 acres of oceanfront property on the north shore of Massachusetts. The landscape architect was involved from the inception of the design, working with the architect to site the home, new drive, pool and cabana. The terraces and gardens immediately surrounding the house are formal in nature, closely tied with the architecture. As one moves further from the home, a more rustic appeal was sought to blend in with the rugged site.
The entry drive begins at a custom automatic gate and traverses a meadow dotted with fruit trees. A circular drive at the front of the house drops you at a bluestone walk leading to limestone steps. Cut granite walls with limestone caps circle the house, containing the bluestone terraces and plantings. A fountain off the living room provides a wonderful focal point and leads one's eye to perennial beds at the edge of the lawn and the ocean view beyond. The beds are filled with the colors of the sea: white, blue, purple and gray.
The walls leading from the house to the pool are rougher in nature (built of salvaged stone from the site), eventually surrounding the pool in a gentle arc which is echoed by the curved front of the pool cabana. A naturalistic swimming pool was carved out of the existing ledge and pieces of salvaged ledge provide accents around the edge of the pool and spa. Rough granite from Maine provides the perfect natural terrace to complement the ledge stone. Extensive plantings including a colorful array of summer-blooming perennials, ornamental grasses and vines clamber over the weathered cedar fence.