Patio of the Week: New Design Flows With Midcentury Architecture
A landscape designer found on Houzz provides spaces for dining, lounging, movie viewing and making s’mores
Becky Harris
June 27, 2020
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
A 1970s brick patio for a family in Hingham, Massachusetts, did not match the home’s midcentury modern architecture. In addition, the steep slope beyond the patio had a bad erosion issue, and there were dangerous drop-offs without railings and invasive nonnative plants on the property. The homeowners found landscape designer Amy Martin on Houzz, and she remedied all of these problems while giving the young family comfortable and stylish places where they could eat, lounge, play, watch movies and make s’mores outdoors.
“After” photos by Danielle Robertson
Patio at a Glance
Who uses it: A family of four
Location: Hingham, Massachusetts
Size: 800 square feet (74 square meters)
Designer: Amy Martin Landscape Design
Before: The existing patio off the lower level was a sea of brick installed in the 1970s. “There was too much [brick], and it was not midcentury modern at all,” Martin says. Above the patio, there were some dangerous grade changes and high retaining walls. The lack of railings made these areas hazardous for the homeowners’ young children.
The house was built on a slope that drops off steeply toward a ravine off the back of the patio. This slope was eroding due to the lack of proper plantings to hold it. This was also a concern because wetlands at the bottom of the ravine needed protection. The grading and drainage system on the property also contributed to this problem whenever there was stormwater.
The town of Hingham’s Conservation Commission is an environmental agency responsible for protecting the land, water and biological resources of the town. “Whenever we start a project, we go straight to the Conservation Commission’s office and present what our clients would like to do, to get their input and approval,” Martin says. Because of the wetlands at the bottom of the slope, she had to have the plans approved at a Conservation Commission hearing.
“They require native plants to filter water as it flows down the slope, as well as [the use of] a filter barrier at the top of the slope throughout construction to prevent debris or runoff from entering the wetlands. We presented our plan in a hearing, and it was approved on the spot because of our familiarity with their requirements and our careful planning,” she says. “They were pleased that we were going to improve the stormwater runoff situation and replace nonnative plants with native plants.”
Find a local landscape designer on Houzz
Patio at a Glance
Who uses it: A family of four
Location: Hingham, Massachusetts
Size: 800 square feet (74 square meters)
Designer: Amy Martin Landscape Design
Before: The existing patio off the lower level was a sea of brick installed in the 1970s. “There was too much [brick], and it was not midcentury modern at all,” Martin says. Above the patio, there were some dangerous grade changes and high retaining walls. The lack of railings made these areas hazardous for the homeowners’ young children.
The house was built on a slope that drops off steeply toward a ravine off the back of the patio. This slope was eroding due to the lack of proper plantings to hold it. This was also a concern because wetlands at the bottom of the ravine needed protection. The grading and drainage system on the property also contributed to this problem whenever there was stormwater.
The town of Hingham’s Conservation Commission is an environmental agency responsible for protecting the land, water and biological resources of the town. “Whenever we start a project, we go straight to the Conservation Commission’s office and present what our clients would like to do, to get their input and approval,” Martin says. Because of the wetlands at the bottom of the slope, she had to have the plans approved at a Conservation Commission hearing.
“They require native plants to filter water as it flows down the slope, as well as [the use of] a filter barrier at the top of the slope throughout construction to prevent debris or runoff from entering the wetlands. We presented our plan in a hearing, and it was approved on the spot because of our familiarity with their requirements and our careful planning,” she says. “They were pleased that we were going to improve the stormwater runoff situation and replace nonnative plants with native plants.”
Find a local landscape designer on Houzz
After: Martin and her clients shared ideabooks to visually communicate some of their ideas to one another. The homeowners’ wish list included a large, open space off the lower level broken up into different rooms, a fire pit for toasting marshmallows and room for their kids to play. Most important, they wanted this to be a safe place for the kids — as mentioned, the existing patio did not have railings to protect them from the ravine’s drop-off.
Martin covered the new patio in large-format porcelain tiles that suit the home’s architecture. “These tiles have a much more modern look,” she says. They also complement the busier and more colorful bricks on the home’s facade. The scope of the project included replacing a small deck off the main floor with a larger one and connecting it to the patio with a new outdoor staircase. Steel cable railings make the area safe with attractive modern style and preserve the view out to the conservation land.
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Martin covered the new patio in large-format porcelain tiles that suit the home’s architecture. “These tiles have a much more modern look,” she says. They also complement the busier and more colorful bricks on the home’s facade. The scope of the project included replacing a small deck off the main floor with a larger one and connecting it to the patio with a new outdoor staircase. Steel cable railings make the area safe with attractive modern style and preserve the view out to the conservation land.
Hire a masonry and concrete contractor
The patio is divided into three zones with plenty of room for play in between them. The “living room” is in the foreground, the conversation area around a fire pit is in the center, and a lounge zone is at the far end.
Two large modern planters hold an eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) and a foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’).
Two large modern planters hold an eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) and a foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’).
Martin placed the homeowners’ top must-have in a central location — a wood-burning fire pit for warming themselves up and toasting marshmallows. Modern Adirondack chairs surround the fire pit, making it a great spot for conversation, especially on chilly nights.
The modern fire pit adds a splash of red to the mostly neutral hues on the patio.
Astrofire wood-burning fireplace: Modfire
Shop for a fire pit
Astrofire wood-burning fireplace: Modfire
Shop for a fire pit
Two large round woven chairs form a more intimate lounge area on the far side of the patio. To conceal the retaining walls, Martin designed two wood-paneled walls that play off the home’s architecture; one is seen here. The paint color is Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore.
The homeowners love to host outdoor movie nights — they move the chairs out of the way and project movies onto a screen along this new wall. The black object on the wall is one of several outdoor speakers.
The higher area behind the lounge was also a problem area. “It was as if when they excavated rocks to build the house, they just piled them up and put soil on top of them,” Martin says. “We took truckloads of stone out and regraded this area to make it flat for a play area and a trampoline.”
The homeowners love to host outdoor movie nights — they move the chairs out of the way and project movies onto a screen along this new wall. The black object on the wall is one of several outdoor speakers.
The higher area behind the lounge was also a problem area. “It was as if when they excavated rocks to build the house, they just piled them up and put soil on top of them,” Martin says. “We took truckloads of stone out and regraded this area to make it flat for a play area and a trampoline.”
One of the homeowners works in a creative field and chose the furniture and accessories. “She has a really great eye for design,” Martin says.
Seen here is the other wood-paneled wall. Some of the panels are removable so that the family can use the area underneath the deck for storage.
Browse outdoor lounge furniture
Seen here is the other wood-paneled wall. Some of the panels are removable so that the family can use the area underneath the deck for storage.
Browse outdoor lounge furniture
Martin also added the stone retaining wall seen past the deck on the right. This wall created a flat area where the kids can play. It resembles the Colonial-era stone walls seen all over the historic town.
There is lighting on the deck and the stairway, and the existing holly tree on the right has uplighting.
There is lighting on the deck and the stairway, and the existing holly tree on the right has uplighting.
Martin added plants all around the property, including shrubs and a tapestry of colorful ground covers in the front and side yards, and evergreens along edges of the property for privacy. But the most crucial plantings are on the steep slope just beyond the patio’s railing. These plants help to prevent erosion. “This slope leads down to conservation land. We worked with the Conservation Commission to designate native plants that would hold the slope and filter stormwater runoff,” she says. These include Bowles’ golden sedge (Carex elata ‘Aurea’), ‘Northwind’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’), ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’) and coastal sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) shrubs.
Another part of the project was stormwater management for the entire property. “We had to add the proper downspouts and pipes so that the water was not rolling over the walls,” Martin says. Some of the water goes into dry wells, which allow water to return to the earth, while some gets filtered as it passes through the plants on its way downhill. Martin worked closely with landscape contractor Drew Connall on the engineering aspects of the project. “We rely on him so much from start to finish on any project, especially for his expertise on grading and drainage,” she says.
Another part of the project was stormwater management for the entire property. “We had to add the proper downspouts and pipes so that the water was not rolling over the walls,” Martin says. Some of the water goes into dry wells, which allow water to return to the earth, while some gets filtered as it passes through the plants on its way downhill. Martin worked closely with landscape contractor Drew Connall on the engineering aspects of the project. “We rely on him so much from start to finish on any project, especially for his expertise on grading and drainage,” she says.
The family has all the fixings for making s’mores.
The flat area created by the new stone retaining wall is seen in the foreground of this photo. There is another new retaining wall underneath the new deck to hold back the soil. The decking, posts and railings are made of a composite material called Fiberon. It is composed of recycled wood (scraps and sawdust) and recycled plastic.
The deck is located directly off the kitchen, making it the perfect outdoor dining spot. Bold yellow shell chairs and hot-pink sculptural stools have a playful midcentury modern spirit. “Because the deck is viewed from the dining room and living room, it is a big part of the indoor experience,” Martin says. The steel cable railings maintain the view of the leafy backdrop beyond the deck.
This photo also provides a good look at the way Martin integrated lighting into the posts.
This photo also provides a good look at the way Martin integrated lighting into the posts.
Because of the sloped topography, the deck has beautiful tree canopy views. The chunky wood tabletop connects the dining area to the surrounding woods.
The homeowners weren’t the only ones who were pleased with the results. “There had been a huge erosion problem, and we got rid of a lot of nonnative plants. The Conservation Commission was so happy,” the designer says.
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The homeowners weren’t the only ones who were pleased with the results. “There had been a huge erosion problem, and we got rid of a lot of nonnative plants. The Conservation Commission was so happy,” the designer says.
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Browse thousands of landscape photos
Find a landscape architect or designer
Shop for your outdoor space
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Gorgeous patio and lovely plantings. Where could I purchase the wicker sofa/chair set? They are beautiful.
Nice work using native plants on the slope!
Gorgeous and beautiful views i really like it .