Landscape Design
Patio of the Week
Yard of the Week: Woodland Retreat for Privacy and Relaxation
Lush foliage, strategic screening and a series of outdoor rooms give a Canadian landscape a serene, secluded feel
This landscape feels like a natural woodland clearing, with plants and boulders perfectly situated to accommodate a narrow lap pool, a deck for dining and other outdoor features. In reality, Hutten & Co. Land and Shore designed everything in the yard — located in Southampton, Ontario, Canada — nearly from scratch, save for a few existing trees. The team worked with the homeowner to carefully sequence the spaces and select native and other appropriate plants, resulting in a private forest escape at a new-build home.
A set of natural stone stairs leads to the front door, softened by billowy foliage and boulders that add a naturalistic feel. A paved strip of the same stone, set on a concrete base with polymeric sand joints, runs across the front of the garage and connects to another short set of stairs that leads to the side yard and the rest of the landscape.
This front deck sits just on the other side of the plantings seen in the first photo on the right side of the driveway. And though the deck is right off the street, densely planted trees and a soothing water feature (not pictured) give it a private, tucked-away feel. The decking used throughout the project is Thermory Benchmark ash, a thermally modified, long-lasting wood that is sustainably harvested.
Browse outdoor dining furniture in the Houzz Shop
Browse outdoor dining furniture in the Houzz Shop
Walk back across the driveway, up the stairs and through a metal gate, and you’ll reach this side yard. The narrow space features a rectangular lap pool — requested by the homeowner — a lounge area and a pool house with a screened dining room.
Dense plantings and woodland views give the yard a secluded feel, even though the home next door is just beyond the fence line to the left. “Careful selection of trees helps create privacy in key areas, like alongside the pool patio, by the dining deck and at the home entrance,” says Mark Hutten, owner and CEO of Hutten & Co. Land and Shore.
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Dense plantings and woodland views give the yard a secluded feel, even though the home next door is just beyond the fence line to the left. “Careful selection of trees helps create privacy in key areas, like alongside the pool patio, by the dining deck and at the home entrance,” says Mark Hutten, owner and CEO of Hutten & Co. Land and Shore.
How to Create Privacy in Your Yard With Plants and Structures
The same natural stone from the entry walk forms the patio. The team used a vinyl liner and a steel wall for the pool to give it a clean, modern aesthetic, finishing it with a natural stone coping to match the surrounding paving.
Diverse plantings add texture, interest, layers and privacy throughout the property. “Native plants were important in some areas,” Hutten says. “The homeowner had many specific plants that they asked to be introduced to the plan. We also provided our own design and recommended plant palette, and married the two lists together.” Everything is watered via drip irrigation, and new underground pipes aid drainage.
Learn more about growing native plants
Learn more about growing native plants
A path continues from the side yard and lap pool, along the back of the house, to another outdoor gathering area. Here the paving transitions to irregular stone slabs, creating a more rustic, naturalistic effect.
This small deck just off the back of the house offers forest views and the soothing sounds of a water feature below. “The water feature is very simple, just designed to add a little bit of ambient noise, woodland interest and a place for the birds to splash,” Hutten says. Assorted rocks camouflage the mechanics of the fountain, which recirculates water through a small basin at the base.
15 Stylish Small Decks That Elevate Outdoor Living
15 Stylish Small Decks That Elevate Outdoor Living
The deck overlooks a backyard that borders a natural woodland. Native plantings, mulch paths and a water feature blur the boundary between the designed landscape and the natural area beyond. “We managed the two by selective removals and thinning along the woodlot, then careful reintroduction of other plants, trees, shrubs and perennials to create a soft transition,” Hutten says.
About 50 feet from the home, an intimate fire pit lounge backed by a shed forms the last, and most secluded, seating area. The homeowner, who is a master carpenter, built the shed.
Here, you can see how the landscape takes on a different feel at night. All of the brass and bronze low-voltage LED fixtures are by Illumicare. They are controlled by a low-voltage device and an astronomical timer, which is programmed to turn the lights on and off when needed.
Overall, the landscape is now “a very special garden property with many calming spaces to relax in and enjoy,” Hutten says.
Here, you can see how the landscape takes on a different feel at night. All of the brass and bronze low-voltage LED fixtures are by Illumicare. They are controlled by a low-voltage device and an astronomical timer, which is programmed to turn the lights on and off when needed.
Overall, the landscape is now “a very special garden property with many calming spaces to relax in and enjoy,” Hutten says.
You can see the driveway and entry garden in the lower-left portion of this site plan, with the front dining deck on the right side. The narrow lap pool runs along the upper-left side of the plan, and the naturalistic garden follows the back edge of the house.
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More on Houzz
Read more stories about landscape design
Browse landscape photos
Hire a swimming pool contractor
Shop for your outdoor spaces
Yard at a Glance
Location: Southampton, Ontario, Canada
Size: About one-third acre
Landscape designer and builder: Hutten & Co. Land and Shore
The team considered all aspects of the landscape, starting with the driveway. The paving is an exposed aggregate, with lush plantings and carefully placed boulders framing both sides. Stately trees and shrubs create privacy from the street and screen a secluded dining area in the front yard.
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