A Natural Setting for a New Build

The home was built on a bluff in a wooded ravine above a scenic river. The owners wanted the site design to blend with nature, not distract from it or the views. The result was a design that on the surface appears to be simple, but was built on a basis of careful analysis of the site opportunities and constraints, which varied greatly in each area.

Bright white and pink spring flowering trees are sprinkled along this long crushed stone driveway leading to the house

A springtime show of flowering native dogwood and crab apple trees appear just before large drifts of white-flowering shrubs burst forth below them.

The long, crushed-stone driveway points towards a blue sky and plantings, with spring pink trees and yellow wildflowers on both sides
A flagstone path leads around the house in a narrow lawn area and is sprinkled with spring flowering trees and pink, purple, and white

A soft path leads around to the large lawn area that overlooks the river.

A flagstone path in a lawn area stretching towards the driveway and passed a wooded area

In summer, the soft contrasts of varied greens is on display.

The early morning sun shows the varied greens of the landscape beside the house and driveway

Decorative colorful plantings are on one corner of the crushed stone driveway at the front of the house.

In the crushed-stone court in front of the house are decorative plantings of a small green tree and purple flowers
A soft, growing gro-low sumac and birch trees soften the stairs beside the garage up the hill

This rustic stone-stair paths reflects the surrounding natural environment.

Along the right side of the garage is a set of big, blocky, random length, natural stone steps
A rustic, solid stone set of stairs curves gently down through lilacs and ornamental tree planting
A rustic, winding set of solid stone steps twist up from a small limestone patio to two planter pots at the edge of an above lawn
A low stone wall slopes gently downward and is pierced with solid stone steps that transition to a small flagstone path winding through the lawn
The long loggia porch looks out onto the simple, beautiful sweep of lawn and into the bare trees of winter of the woods

No fussy landscaping needed with this beautiful view

The top of a swooping, long retaining stone wall to the right and a curved swooping flagstone path through the lawn on the left meet together at the intersection of the steps
In the shade of the covered loggia, the view towards the lawn and woods is beautiful
Close up of yellow wildflowers
A view of low woods planting on a slope with a round pot in the distance
A close-up of blooming nepeta and pink flowers

A simple, tapered stone wall lends order and focus to the surrounding woods, while holding back a sloped grade and a pathway draws the viewer to step beyond the garden wall.

A late evening view of the curving wall and curving limestone path with purple beautyberries on the right, highlighted by the soft glow of evening lighting

Photograph above by Michael Houghton Photography

From the low stone wall and rustic steps extends a small flagstone path winding through daffodil foliage towards the slope of a hill, with a view of the river beyond through early spring foliage of trees
A view through the early spring foliage of trees down to a rustic fire pit area at the river’s edge
A crushed-stone flattened area by a hillside along the river, with rustic boulders placed in the slope to serve as amphitheater seating of the view and fire pit
A view of the sunset above the river through the bare trees of winter

Large flat boulders fit into the slope to provide seating for this simple fire pit.

Sunset photograph above taken by the property owner.

Varied evergreen ball-shaped shrubs sit aside a piece of a patio with Japanese maple foliage above
Looking out through an oval pane of glass from inside towards Japanese maple, red foliage, and a small water feature
A view into a small courtyard with comfortable steps and soft planting

A calming water feature blends subtly with soft plantings and stone paving.

A Japanese maple’s red foliage contrasts with varied shades of softly rounded evergreens and warm-toned boulders with a gravel path moving through
A small stone spills water into a gravel bed with surrounding Japanese-inspired planting

A Japanese-inspired courtyard cozies into a narrow space between the house and a tall retaining wall.

Steps lead down from French doors into a stone-paved courtyard with Japanese maple trees that glow from the evening lights

This Master Plan shows how the landscape is unified as a whole. Detailed construction plans were also produced by Jacobs Grant Design ltd.

A plan view of an industritive concept plan showing driveway, house, and lawn in color illustration

Ohio Gardener Magazine article:

A magazine spread from the July/August 2012 issue of Ohio Gardener, entitled "Nature's Symphony" which describes this project
A late autumn view of the green lawn, low wall and bare trees with dark brooding sky beyond
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