Home & Design
Swimming Pool - /m/083vt
Swimming Pool - /m/083vt

A covered pergola provides a shady gathering spot with a view of the pool.

Deck - Backyard
Deck - Backyard

A variety of plantings adorn the large, winding mahogany deck.

Wall - Patio
Wall - Patio

Western Maryland stone clads the ample outdoor kitchen.

Landscape design - Landscape
Landscape design - Landscape

The pond's natural look is enhanced by lotus, astilbe and liriope.

Meter - Patio
Meter - Patio

A dogwood offers shade and a natural divide between the dining area and the pool.

Backyard Bonanza

Town Creek Landscaping creates a backyard retreat fit for a family

Backyard Bonanza MAY/JUNE 2011

 

When Steve Clancy of Town Creek Landscaping first saw this Glenwood, Maryland, property, it was a blank slate—nothing but grass and a pool. The homeowner wanted to provide his large family with a backyard in which to gather, play, swim and eat, and he tapped Clancy to design a space that would accommodate all their needs. Now, the two-and-a-half-acre property is a serene yet lively family retreat complete with an outdoor kitchen as well as a sport court for tennis and basketball. It’s well suited to the family-oriented homeowner—who also owns a plant company adjacent to the home.

“The whole area was designed to have a lot of outdoor rooms,” says Clancy. “It’s very unassuming when you pull up to the front. It’s when you go out back that your jaw drops.”


A sprawling, elevated deck with a mahogany floor complements the owner’s ranch-style cedar and stone home. Scratch-resistant clear panels inside the rail ensure unimpeded views. There’s plenty of seating—including a circular bench built around a tulip poplar that provides a naturally shady spot. A curved mahogany and stone bench near the sport court took three days to build; each slat of mahogany was meticulously cut, planed and bent to fit the surrounding stone.


According to Clancy, he initially wanted to relocate the swimming pool, but the homeowner “didn’t go for that.” Instead, he moved three large spruce trees away from the pool, then updated the concrete surround with pavers that complement the deck and stonework to “really pull the whole project together,” Clancy says. Large, perpendicular stones comprise a diving board, while more stones are scattered throughout the yard. A blue moss cypress topiary, hand-trimmed each year, provides a striking focal point.


A nearby waterfall cascades down irregular stone ledges to the natural-looking pond, providing a peaceful, trickling sound. On the edges of the pond, boulders offer perches for the family to dip their feet and view the koi, protected by artificial herons after a real one devoured the first batch. “The kids had even named them,” says Clancy. Adjustable jets create a quiet stream or a more powerful waterfall effect.


Clad in Western Maryland stone, the outdoor kitchen was designed around an existing dogwood tree, and is the setting for al fresco meals prepared on the stainless steel Viking grill. A bar, topped with a gray-and-rust-hued marble surface, runs the length of the kitchen, which also houses a refrigerator and beer tap. The family can dine there or move to the shade under a cedar pergola complete with fans and recessed lighting.


Dogwood and magnolias herald the start of spring. Red cherries show off not only white blooms, but deep purple foliage. Easy-care grasses and perennials like sage give long-lasting color and texture.


But the garden’s real stars come from the homeowner’s plant company. “The highlight of this whole project is his annuals,” says Clancy, who brings them over by the truckload. “He has different varieties every year. After a week or so, it looks like they’ve been there for five years.” 

 

Karen A. Watkins is a Bethesda-based freelance writer who frequently covers gardening. Photographer Anne Gummerson is based in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Steve Clancy, Town Creek Landscaping, Ellicott City, Maryland.


**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and landscape design ideas.  Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas, and outdoor spaces to life.

 

 

You may also like:

A Seamless Blend
Large Bath - Best of Class Award
A Timeless Design
Small Bath - Best of Class Award
Indulgences
The good life in food, fashion and travel
HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

The company also publishes an annual H&D Sourcebook of ideas and resources for homeowners and professionals alike. H&D Chesapeake Views is published bi-annually and showcases fine home design and luxury living in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

Stay Connected with HOME & DESIGN Newsletter

Copyright © 2024 Home & Design. All rights reserved. | Back to top
magnifier