Mountain Retreat is a Landscape Dream

By Michelle Brown, consultant to Pavestone Company

The owner of The Lodge, a mountian top retreat in Georgia, requested a backyard with a flat lawn area, a fire pit and a water feature?EUR??,,????'?????<
Photos courtesy of Pavestone Company

It has been said that many times good things do not come easy. Landscape architects learned this when they were tasked with creating the outdoor living space of a homeowner's dreams. Many challenges were faced in this Ellijay, Georgia, project, but in the end a landscape masterpiece was created that enhances the natural beauty of the property and may only be rivaled by the breathtaking views from the mountain ridge in which it sits.

''The Lodge,'' as it is known by those close to the project, is a one-of-kind mountain retreat that is indeed the stuff that dreams are made of. The project itself had the potential of being a nightmare. The house itself is located on top of a mountain ridge, providing for exceptional awe-inspiring views.

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A mixture of three colors of tumbled Venetian Stone?EUR??,,????'?????????????? was used for the driveway?EUR??,,????'?????<

Steep topography was not the only complication faced in bringing the homeowners vision to fruition. Additionally, weather conditions and the shift from natural materials to man-made materials also caused considerable headaches. A steep transition from street level to a lower garage and parking area was also a chief concern. ''We decided to incorporate concrete bands into the paver pattern to help with the structural design of the paver system and provide a decorative pattern to break up the large expanse of the paver field,'' says Pete Bilson of Bilson and Associates, a landscape architect based in Marietta, Georgia.

In spite of the challenges, Bilson strove to meet client needs while providing a design that looked timeless. Bilson says he proposed a series of retaining walls to provide for a flat area in the backyard that extended approximately 30 feet from the residence. The design included a meandering garden wall with natural landscaping for year round interest. The varying sizes of planting areas were proposed to break up the long rectilinear shape of the backyard. The walls created two levels: the upper level with a large patio area is directly accessible from the residence and could be used for gathering and entertaining; and the lower level, which includes several landscaped areas and a round fire pit with built-in stone seating. The fire pit is centrally located just below the large expanse of living room windows so that those indoors could enjoy its ambiance as well as those outdoors. The space makes for a perfect place to build a fire and congregate with friends or family, enjoying cool evenings as the sun sets as well as with great views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

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The terrain of the property brought considerable challenges to the table in regard to site access, views, elevation changes, plant material and hardscape features that needed to be overcome. A steep transition from street level to a lower garage and parking area was also a chief concern. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The backyard design also includes an impressive pondless water feature with a series of weirs pouring water out of a large stone wall.

The water drops down into a basin filled with river stone that is surrounded by landscaping, varying sized boulders and cut tree stumps. The boulders and stumps add to the natural character of the property and serve as seating areas near the fountain. It provides yet another focal point to entertain guests or simply get back to nature and relax while listening to the soothing sounds of the dripping water.

To further enhance the beauty of the landscape, many native and shade-tolerant plants were included in the design. The main focus was placed on evergreen materials in a variety of colors, textures and blooming cycles. ''We also incorporated deciduous plant material to balance the design and keep the property looking full and interesting throughout the year,'' says Bilson. ''We chose deciduous plants that would offer year-round interest with vibrant fall color, showy spring blooms, and appealing bark color or textures''. Foliage like Yellow and Red Twig Dogwood shrubs, Oak Leaf Hydrangea, and a variety of native plants were used. ''The plant selections not only offer year round interest, but they provide focal points throughout the property much like sculptures in the landscape,'' explains Bilson.

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he landscape architect proposed a series of retaining walls to provide for a flat area in the backyard that extended approximately 30 feet from the residence. The design included a meandering garden wall with natural landscaping for year round interest. The varying sizes of planting areas were proposed to break up the long rectilinear shape of the backyard.

Bilson says the inspiration for this project was several historic lodges around the country, as well as the natural beauty of the site itself. Since the main building material for the house is timber logs, the design intent was to incorporate other natural materials for the hardscape which would blend the site with the features of the house.

''The hardscape materials we chose included stone walls, large stone steps, crushed granite and pavers'' says Bilson.

''During the design process, we found that Pavestone offered a selection of materials that could be incorporated for the driveway, pedestrian pathways and lower patio areas while maintaining the natural character of the site,'' says Bilson. A mixture of three colors of tumbled Venetian Stone?EUR??,,????'?????????????? was used for the driveway--Chicago Blend, Heritage Buff and Chattanooga Sandstone--along with a Mocha Blend Venetian Stone?EUR??,,????'?????????????? for a 12" x12" border. These were chosen to complement the incredible amount of natural stone on the house. For the walkways from the driveway to several entrances, front patio, rear patio and walkway, elevator entrance with ADA accessible ramp, and fire pit, Plaza Stone rectangles and squares in Chattanooga Sandstone were utilized. ''These provided the best selection of colors and style for this project, ''says Bilson. ''They complemented the overall design and, most importantly, satisfied our client's needs.''

While projects like this can provide increased levels of complexity and frequently require changes in the field based on conditions or architectural changes, they also can provide a higher level of satisfaction when completed. ''Overall, we are very pleased at the final outcome of the project, and are proud to have been involved with the design and construction of this beautiful mountain retreat,'' says Bilson.