Play up Curb Appeal
The owners of a one-acre Vienna property were tired of its drab, unwelcoming front yard. They enlisted McHale Landscape Design to plan and implement a makeover. 

Crews regraded the lawn to improve drainage and tested and corrected soil quality before applying healthy new turf. Lush, layered greenery unfolds along the existing brick path. “Preparing the entire planting area—not just individual holes—creates healthier root systems, better establishment and long-term success,” advises McHale COO Phil Kelly.

The path guides guests to the entrance—now framed by symmetrical shrubbery and seasonal containers that enhance the home’s timeless appeal.

Landscape Design & Contracting: Anthony Cusat, Anthony Barbarino, Nora Sennett and Nick Fanelli, McHale Landscape. 

Get Fired Up
A custom kitchen featuring a pizza oven, grill and warming drawers was integrated into an outdoor retreat completed by Kane Landscapes in The Plains, Virginia. Tall evergreens screen the cook space from an elevated swim spa. 

Before planning an al fresco kitchen, landscape architect Alan Blalack advises homeowners to invest in a proper foundation as well as grading, drainage and utilities. “These unseen elements protect the kitchen from water damage and premature wear,” he says. “Also, choose durable, weather-resistant materials and don’t forget adequate storage.”

Landscape Design & Contracting: Josh Kane; Alan Blalack, RLA, Kane Landscapes. 

Make a splash
Landscape architect Shari Depasquale designed a three-acre escape in Fulton, Maryland, where a new pool and surrounding seating areas installed by Rolling Acres Landscaping focus on family fun. Garden walls made of natural fieldstone envelop the inviting pool while concrete pavers ground the adjacent patio.  

When choosing hardscape materials, says Rolling Acres’ John Hyman, “we prioritize safety and durability with slip-resistant materials that stay cool underfoot and hold up well to water, chemicals and weather.”

Landscape Architecture: Shari Depasquale, RLA, ASLA, Stone Hill Landscape Architecture. Landscape Contractor: Rolling Acres Landscaping. 

Add a focal point
Colao & Peter Luxury Outdoor Living conceived a resort-like refuge on a 3.5-acre property in Hamilton, Virginia. Near the custom pool, two fire features create a focal point. “They add warmth, drama and reinforce the project’s symmetry. They also frame the view, creating a connection to the natural scenery beyond,” explains landscape architect J.R. Peter. Whether it’s a fire element, specimen tree, water feature or sculpture, he adds, “a focal point should complement and not overpower the architecture and surrounding landscape.”

Landscape Architecture: J.R. Peter, PLA, Colao & Peter Luxury Outdoor Living.

Build a water feature
Surrounds designed and orchestrated a natural pool, custom spa and boulder waterfall as part of a comprehensive Vienna, Virginia, project. Structurally reinforced ledges support three-ton boulders, placed one by one with precision atop a pool beam. Landscape architect Howard Cohen guided boulder placement to ensure the desired look. “This project was more difficult given that the site was flat,” he notes. “The trick is to use the largest rocks that can be handled and to set them in a way that might mimic real life.”

Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Howard Cohen, PLA, Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction.

Create a destination
Starting with two-plus bare acres in Baltimore, Bob Jackson Landscapes set out to create modern, contemplative outdoor spaces layered with rich woodland plantings. A patio extends from an ipe deck while bluestone pavers in a checkerboard pattern lend a contemporary twist. When devising an al fresco destination, “keep it balanced,” says landscape designer Douglas Conyers. “Sometimes less is more. Make sure that frequently used spaces are easily accessible, and select a mix
of materials and a color palette that are cohesive with existing elements.”

Landscape Design & Contracting: Douglas Conyers, Bob Jackson, Bob Jackson Landscapes, Inc.