The land was already home to a large house, swimming pool, patio and swaths of natural woodland. When the homeowners decided to add a party barn to the mix, they reached out to Terren Landscapes in for a design that would enhance the flow between various zones on the property and make the most of undeveloped areas.
Most of the land was well maintained when Carolyn Palmer, Terren’s senior landscape designer, began working on the plan. But a significant portion had been overtaken by multiflora rose, an unruly and invasive weed prevalent in our local woodlands.
Palmer’s solution: Clear the undergrowth and introduce a shade-tolerant, no-mow lawn. “This small change opened up the longer views of the property and made it feel so much larger without compromising the integrity of the woodland,” Palmer says.
The party barn also serves as a guest house. It was built into the hillside, allowing for a two-story structure that doesn’t appear taller than the main house.
The owners were also looking to address persistently wet areas on the property. Despite living on a hill, they couldn’t figure out why so much of their lawn wouldn’t stay dry. “Our investigation uncovered a high water table and bedrock approximately 12 inches below the surface in some places,” Palmer says.
To mitigate the soggy areas, the team combined attractive swales with underground drainage systems to help move water into areas where it could percolate back into the soil. Crews with jackhammers spent days creating the channels in the bedrock.
The party barn also serves as a guest house. It was built into the hillside, allowing for a two-story structure that doesn’t appear taller than the main house. Boulders, steps and walkways bordered with plants and flowers provide circulation and connections to the house, the pool and an entrance from the driveway. “Boulder walls serve a structural purpose and also allowed us to tie into the existing planting beds, creating a soft perennial garden which complements the existing palette,” Palmer says. “The goal was to create a seamless integration that felt timeless.”
Boulders, steps and walkways bordered with plants and flowers provide circulation and connections to the house, the pool and an entrance from the driveway.
