Yard of the Week: Room for Swimming, Lounging and Entertaining

They added a hot tub to the back corner of the property adjacent to the existing pool to fill what used to be wasted space. “It was going to be a daybed space, but when they talked about wanting a water feature, we brought up the idea of having a spill-over hot tub,” Porco says. “The water sounds are really nice.”

The revamped outdoor space also includes laser-cut privacy fences from Ikonik around the pool and on the deck for consistency. “The homeowners are higher up than everyone around them, with a lot of properties backing onto theirs, so these added some filtered privacy,” Porco says.

With their pattern on top and solid base, the screens prevent the space from having a boxed-in feel. “At the bottom, they’re full privacy, and at the top, there’s a filtered pattern,” Porco says.

Adding to the homeowners’ existing trees, Porco’s team planted some ‘Fastigata’ European hornbeam trees (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’), and lilac shrubs that will eventually grow tall enough to cover the whole fence line. ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’) provides soft texture between each privacy screen.

Why You Should Consider a Landscape Screen for Your Yard

Porco’s team installed interlocking pavers around the pool deck and throughout the space, breaking things up with a transitional border to add interest.

The homeowners wanted a dedicated spot for a gas fire pit they had already purchased, so Porco tucked the seating area into the natural corner of the pie-shaped lot. “It worked perfectly there,” she says. “I like how cozy the fire pit feels.”

This corner of the yard is shady, so the team planted hydrangeas, rhododendrons and hostas to fill in around the mature pine trees. “They like mostly white and green, and these plants will give them pops of white at different times,” Porco says.

Pavers: Melville collection, Permacon

For the new upper deck, Porco chose Trex composite decking in Island Mist, so the homeowners would have zero maintenance to do. “We did framed glass railings so we’re not cutting the view off as much; it makes things feel lighter,” she says.

They reused the homeowners’ existing steel staircase, relocating it so the pool isn’t blocked off for guests entering the yard.

A new pathway of armor stone leads from the driveway down to the yard, bridging the grade differences between the front and backyard.

“We planted some hakone grasses [Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’], hostas and hydrangeas so that they’ll eventually get some height and color along the fence line,” Porco says. “And there’s a wood privacy screen at the back so that they can tuck their recycling and garbage bins away.”