Before
A couple with two daughters tapped landscape architect Daniel Robey to create a “vacation home in Potomac” by adding outdoor living spaces, a pool, water features and a pool house to their under-utilized backyard.
| Then | Now |
| The barren lawn was primarily used by the owner’s dog, who enjoyed romping around on the grass. | Owners and guests can relax in the pool and spa and gather in the open-air pool house, equipped with a kitchen, fireplace and built-in TV. |
| Though the owners used their existing terraces, they had no reason to venture into the rest of the backyard. | A dining area under a new pergola and terraced living spaces make full use of the property’s outdoor terrain. |
| The empty backyard did nothing to enhance the visual or sensory appeal of the house. | Stone walls, planting beds and flowering crape myrtles lend the yard the feel of a resort, while a fountain comprised of a trio of clay vessels creates the soothing sound of cascading water. |
Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Daniel Robey, McHale Landscape Design, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Pool: Town & Country Pools, Springfield, Virginia. Photography: John Spaulding.