The garden, between the house and pool, offers an elegant setting for parties.
During the remodel of a grand Alexandria, Virginia, house, the owners tapped Botanical Decorators to create a landscape to match, with a historical feel, spacious lawn and places suitable for large-scale entertaining.
Most of the land was in front of the house. “We created powerful geometry and a real pull towards the front with a formal flower garden and fountain centerpiece,” landscape designer Morgan Washburn explains. The property also encompasses a pool, pool house and sprawling lawns bordered with shrubbery and flowering trees.
The garden, between the house and pool, offers an elegant setting for parties. Guests mingle among tree hydrangea, standard lilac, boxwood, Russian sage, salvia, and Persicaria. Flagstone steppers edged with mondo grass surround the pool, while the pool house is actually two structures containing a changing room and kitchen, connected by a seating area and brick fireplace.
Dogwood, redbud, Sweet Bay magnolia and weeping cherries offer low-maintenance color throughout the year. Romantic Deodar cedars evoke the look of Spanish moss for the owners, who hail from Richmond and New Orleans.
Brick pillars adorned with gaslights and wrought-iron fencing create a stately side entry. A flagstone terrace atop the garage is a unique perch on which to relax and watch the kids playing below.
AWARD: Grand, Craftsmanship (Design/Build). LANDSCAPE DESIGN: MORGAN WASHBURN, Botanical Decorators, Olney, Maryland. POOL HOUSE ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION: CHRISTOPHER CAHILL, Cahill Design Build, Olney, Maryland. POOL: Sunset Group, Crofton, Maryland.
Writer Karen Watkins is based in Bethesda, Maryland.
For a list of all LCA 2014 residential awards click here.