A wooded, sloping lot in McLean made a smooth transition from dull yard to enticing gathering space with a few neat additions, including a rustic, stone-walled swimming pool with a travertine surround and a high-tech shade structure with louvers on automatic control.

Working with a triangular site that’s just under an acre, landscape architect Oomer Syed of Fine Landscapes designed the partially sunken pool as a horizontal focal point, making the narrow yard appear wider. Two water features add visual and aural interest; the larger of them handily conceals pool equipment. In addition, a motorized aluminum StruXure pergola with automatic pivoting louvers is equipped with heaters, fans and bug-proof screens to ensure outdoor comfort.

Intentionally impactful plantings such as multi-stem Burford hollies bolster privacy on the owner’s side. Syed then added uplights to showcase the complexity of the holly trunks.

For seasonal color, Syed chose vibrant, long-blooming perennials including red drift roses, irises, Black-Eyed Susans, Shasta daisies and fall asters. To sustain the view through winter, he relied on evergreens for structure and interest. Low boxwoods edge the patio and back wall of the pool.

Says Syed, “I design with the worst part of the year in mind so that when you look out the window, there’s always something to engage the senses.”