Dear Homework: We love our urban neighborhood and are currently renovating the interior of our almost 100-year-old, four-square limestone home. Next on our agenda is updating the exterior and landscaping. The lawn’s steep slope on both sides makes mowing a challenge. An ailing sycamore that sits on the curb is slated to be removed.
We are considering adding a retaining wall but would love your suggestions on how to soften some of the heaviness of the home’s design and make lawn upkeep more manageable.
Sincerely,
—Take the Edge Off
Dear Take the Edge Off,
I think I understand the intent behind your request, but I love the power and strength of the architecture of your home and would like to ‘complete it’ with landscaping, rather than soften it.
As you can see in my revision sketch, I have leveled out the lawn using a two-tiered stone retaining wall and removed the existing street tree, replacing it with two new trees aligned with the main ground-floor windows. Pink dogwoods at the corners of the lawn add color, but don’t block the façade. Flower pots at the steps and terrace add detail.
This now has even more stone and formality than before, but by distributing the plantings to the edges and by having a hierarchy of plants (ground covers to hedges to trees), I think we now have a visually harmonious scheme that is much more welcoming, yet still strong.
Thanks for asking,
—Homework
Homework is penned by Paul Doerner, Founding Partner of the Lawrence Group. If you would like your home critiqued, contact us at homework@townandstyle.com.
