This unique home provides a blend of nature and sophistication along the coast of Rhode Island. With several ecosystems on the property, the owners wanted a smooth transition from their luxurious home to the natural ocean view. They worked with Landscape Creations, based in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, to fill their needs.
For over a year, the Landscape Creations team worked on this challenging project, leading them to win a 2023 Gold Award of Excellence.
“As homeowners invest more in their properties, they seek landscape construction partners capable of meeting complex demands,” says Ann Gardner, marketing consultant for Landscape Creations. “Winning an NALP Award of Excellence sets us apart as we are up to the challenge. Landscape architects and potential clients can feel confident knowing we are nationally recognized for producing beautiful landscapes of the highest caliber. Additionally, this prestigious award is a great way to honor the incredible talent of our team!”
With such a prime location, the view was a top priority. Part of the home was facing the neighbor’s house, which wasn’t ideal. The owners wanted to shift the focus toward the ocean, so Landscape Creations installed a hedge of columnar hollies that would fill the need for salt tolerance and privacy. They also used this space to add walkways and drifts of ornamental grasses. Additionally, these extra steps added 25 feet of space next to the home.
The team made several improvements to the view between the house and the ocean.
“To support the designs, our team met with the governing body of coastal resources to gain permission for a view corridor on the property,” Gardner says. “To meet regulations, we cut an egress pathway and trimmed the coastal buffer down to four feet in height to ensure year-round water views. We also removed invasive species from an overgrown wetland buffer adjacent to the home and filled that area with native species.”
Between the house and buffer, you’ll find various outdoor rooms. An upper terrace provides a stunning vantage point, while an adjacent balcony offers more privacy with the same view. Beneath the terrace is a living room with spacious seating that leads to an outdoor kitchen and more patio space.
Retaining walls were also installed along the patios to manage the changing grades, along with a rain garden. In addition to controlling water flow, the rain garden softens the outdoor living area and guides the transition from the house to the coastal buffer.
While the ocean is a focal point, the entryway is hard to miss. Two oversized granite posts mark both sides of the farmgate entrance, letting visitors know this home stands out. As you reach the house, pathways run from the driveway to either side of the home. One path leads to a guesthouse, while the other heads to the backyard ocean view. Drifts of grasses and other perennials edge the paths to soften the look of the narrow lot.
Each goal for this property came with a challenge, starting with the narrow lot.
“The lot dimensions required us to finish as much construction towards the water as possible, so we had a very tight staging area as we worked our way toward the front,” Gardner says. “Our experience with complex projects equipped us with the expertise necessary to navigate these challenges successfully.”
This project took place while the house was being built, which magnified muddy areas on the property. Concrete walls were part of the design, but it wasn’t easy to access certain landscape areas. After a cost-benefit analysis, the team moved ahead with concrete footings and blocks to keep the project moving efficiently.
“There were also a few instances when heavy rains resulted in mud that made it impossible to plant,” Gardner says. “Based on experience, we have phases and work continencies planned, so we’re ready to move to a different area of the job when issues like this arise.”
For the Landscape Creations team, the installation was only the beginning of their relationship with the owners.
“The clients were extremely complimentary about our work, and we continue to manage the health of their landscape through our Estate Care services,” Gardner says. “It’s gratifying to be involved in building something so beautiful and to have a hand in helping it evolve and mature beautifully, too.”
Interested in participating in the Awards of Excellence? Be sure to enter your projects when entries open in early 2025.
