Deerfield Residence
The wooded setting suggested a naturalistic oasis that could be viewed from the full-height windows of this mid-century modern home. A quiet waterfall and stream pull the viewer’s eyes toward the rolling golf course beyond. Garden ornamentation consists of found objects, antiques, and things that attract birds and beneficial insects. A richly layered plant palette includes both native and exotic plants, all combined to suit the gardens varied microclimates. From early spring through late fall, this garden is a tapestry of contrasting foliage and harmonic color combinations.
 

Highland Park Residence (1)
A romantic garden setting softens the traditional and formal architecture of the home.  Stone walls, terracing, and walks provide the bones of this garden – clothed with loose, casual plantings that reflect the friendly style of the garden owners.



 

Highland Park Residence (2)
A true woodland garden on a beautiful ravine.  Our first charge was to “unlandscape” the site by removing the front lawn and flat hedges.  The driveway brickwork was layed to give the illusion of an old brick drive under a new asphalt surface – to impart the patina of age on this naturalistic setting


 

Hinsdale Residence
Lovely Tudor home with Arts & Crafts details, and a sunken garden inspired by the work of Gertrude Jekyll. A stone-lined canal with fountain figure and waterfall, is surrounded by brick walks, perennial borders, and a panel of manicured lawn. The geometry of garden architecture and sheared boxwood provides order to beds billowing perennials, arches covered with rambling roses, and containers overflowing with colorful seasonal displays.

 

Kennilworth Residence
A garden for plant-lovers – as is evident from the first views of this home.  Our charge was to create a garden that incorporated a huge collection of new and existing plants: better-arranged and integrated with the architecture of the home. The exuberant eclecticism of the garden was organized with several new features – including twin boxwood parterre along the front walk that echoed the pattern of the front door sidelights.

 

Northbrook Residence
Linking the classic modern style of the home to the site was our challenge.  Rough wooded edges of the property initially clashed with mown turf.  Over the years, our job was to blur the edges so the turf was a link between spaces – not the main focus of this cultivated naturalistic landscape.  The front entry court was fully paved, but once reduced in size, became an entry garden. A drainage problem was solved by creating a dry-stream garden that accommodates stormwater runoff.

 

Winnetka Residence (1)
This 19th century country gentleman’s manse (designed originally by Solon S. Beman), was expanded and remodeled many times during the 20th century, but lacked period-appropriate garden spaces.  We added a new motor court with shrub parterre, a crabapple orchard with monumental urn, and a dooryard cutting garden with restored garden shed.  A sunken garden behind the house was reinterpreted with new plantings, an axial fountain element, and a new trellis screen terminus.

 

Winnetka Residence (2)
A modest but stylish new home, designed to integrate with an historic neighborhood. A curving drive and front walk add interest to the symmetrically-balanced façade, and a flagstone path with stone seat bisects the lushly-planted entry garden. Carefully selected site elements compliment and enrich the home’s architecture, and a boxwood hedged “room” with Belgian fence espalier screen connects the terrace to an oval lawn beyond – creating the illusion of greater depth and expanse.

 

Winnetka Residence (3)
A new woodland garden nestled on the edge of a ravine.  Fieldstone from New York was used to solve retention and access issues and to “settle into” the site with its soft colors and shapes.  This garden is visible from the house year-round so the layered composition of the planting provides for continual change and multi-seasonal interest.

 

Winnetka Residence (4) 
A contemporary renovation to a mid-century home nestled on a  private road abutting a nature preserve.
 

Winnetka Residence (5)
A grand old house on a long parcel of land inspired the layout of this garden.  The owners requested a ruby-toned color theme that was carried throughout the property’s various garden spaces.  Large island beds, viewable from the home, provide dramatic color and textural interest throughout the year.