Existing umbrella pine trees (right) at the front entrance were supplemented with understory plantings of native dogwood, rhododendron, Siberian cypress and myrtle.

One of the major challenges was creating many different outdoor experiences within the long, narrow lot, roughly 140 linear feet at its widest by 250 feet in length. The narrow lot also presented challenges to providing privacy from the road and from neighboring properties. Other challenges were the location, construction and visual screening of the above-ground components for the onsite wastewater treatment system; regrading the northern portion of the site to give access to a basement-level indoor garage; and the installation of utilities around an existing ledge to service such outdoor amenities as fire bowls, fire pits, gas grill and site lighting.

The front entrance is centered on a circular driveway of exposed aggregate concrete with blue and brown colored stones and accents of blue-green glass that reflect the colors in the cultured stone used for the house surface treatment. Privacy from the road was attained by combining new and existing vegetation and the addition of privacy fencing. A front courtyard is framed with a low picket fence and planted with a mix of ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The steps lead from the front courtyard down to the service driveway and underground garage. A custom ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The northern end of the front courtyard leads via steps to a service driveway and basement level garage. A security gate was installed at the top of the lower driveway with self-closing loops that tie into a custom white cedar fence that surrounds the entire property. The service driveway and service area are screened from neighbors by this cedar fence and a row of arborvitae. A multistory ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The rear of the property has direct access to the water and the rocky coastline via an existing dock and waterfront deck. These areas were updated with new pavements, site lighting and site amenities. Landscaping was kept to a minimum using a selection of largely salt-tolerant coastal plantings. Other outdoor areas in the rear of the house include a patio and outdoor kitchen directly adjacent to the indoor kitchen and dining areas, and an outdoor water feature and veranda entertainment area adjacent to the living room. The design challenge for this side of the property was to break up the narrow, linear quality of the lot and provide smooth transitions between these three outdoor areas.

This view of the backyard from the second floor shows the custom ?EUR??,,????'?????<

A wooden pergola was kept and updated to provide shade for the outdoor kitchen and patio, which were renovated. Other kitchen improvements included a resurfaced floor, new lighting and a refrigerator. Wood elements were stained and sealed to match other elements in the new house construction.

The new fountain feature serves as an auditory and visual accent between the outdoor kitchen and the veranda. The fountain is visible from the second floor decks on this side of the house and consists of an upper pool with a spray feature and waterfall cascading into a lower pool. The fountain is recirculating and has accent lighting. The square pedestals in the lower pool of the fountain are mirrored in three free-standing square pedestals just beyond it in the lawn. This geometry of the square became the module in the design and layout of much of the landscape and it was used as an accent detail such as in these square pedestals and the small step stones in the lawn.

The front entrance courtyard is enclosed by a custom white cedar fence. Plantings include a bosque of heritage river birch and understory of rhododendron ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The outdoor living space is located to the south side of the fountain. This rear veranda entertainment area was added (approximately 26 x 32 feet), which consists of a large structure of galvanized steel beams encapsulated in Dryvit to support a Italian-made retractable roof. When retracted, the roof is covered by a copper roof enclosure. The structure is supported by two galvanized steel post, also encapsulated in Dryvit and stone. The retractable roof is powered by a handheld remote control. The floor is surfaced with paving stones. The area is accessed by tiered ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Looking south along the shoreline in the distant center is an existing black locust tree recently pruned. The shorefront patio is at lower left.

The owners access the private outdoor patio and the outdoor spa from the lower-level bedroom areas on the south side of the house. The outdoor spa has direct views to the water. The seawall was rebuilt in the spa area, and a new patio created of one giant block of concrete with walls on it. The spa is on a wooden deck and sits below a low retaining wall of cultured stone and evergreen plantings. The spa unit is framed by cultured-stone posts with a custom steel arch. The steel design and material matches the railings on the upper decks of the house.

The spa is located on the southern side of the property. Providing privacy and creating aesthetically pleasing outdoor areas were challenges. The abutting property had a public coastal access right-of-way that needed screening. The solid board fence with a top band of pickets provides a screen to six-feet in height. The privacy screen is further enhanced with plantings of evergreens.

Leading to the waterfront deck are granite pavers in ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The second challenge on the south side involved screening the sand filter, or above-ground elements of the onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS). A sand filter is a raised rectangular structure comprising pressure treated 6 x 6 inch wooden ties that enclose layers of sand and crushed stone designed and engineered to filter sewage effluent from the residence. This sand filter or OWTS serves as the leach field/septic system for the residence. These structures are designed and constructed by certified professionals and the design permits must be approved by the Rhode Island?EUR??,,????'?????<

The outdoor kitchen improvements included a resurfaced floor, new lighting and a refrigerator. Wood elements were stained and sealed to match other elements in the new house construction.

The vegetation for this project is geometrical and sculptural in layout and form, in keeping with the owner?EUR??,,????'?????<

Espied from the second floor are the backyard fountain feature, covered veranda entertainment area and steps to the lower level waterfront patio (at left). The recirculating fountain has an upper pool with a spray feature, a waterfall cascading into a lower pool and accent lighting. The square pedestals in the lower pool of the fountain are mirrored by three free-standing square pedestals just beyond it on the lawn.

Evergreen shrubs and trees?EUR??,,????'?????<

The back veranda, constructed of galvanized beams, sports a custom Italian-made awning. Boxwoods provide an evergreen backdrop for perennials and annuals. A homestead elm is in the upper planter.

The plant palette was chosen for its tolerance to a windy coastal environment. As the entire property is enclosed with fencing, the landscape architect did not need to be concerned about using ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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About the Firm
Landscape Elements LLC is a certified woman-owned (WBE) and disadvantaged business (DBE) in Warwick, Rhode Island and Stonington, Conn., holding landscape architectural licenses in both states and in Massachusetts. Landscape Elements, LLC provides a full range of landscape architectural services.

The firm is experienced with coastal and freshwater wetland regulatory requirements in both Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut. Principal Elena Pascarella is a certified Invasive Plant Management Specialist through the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.

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From the sand filter area is viewed a black locust. Boxwoods in the planter (left) provide low screening for the private patio area under the porch and also screen an element of the sand filter.

Project Team
Landscape Architect
Landscape Elements LLC
Elena Pascarella, RLA, ASLA, Principal
Stonington, Conn., and Warwick, R.I.

General Contractor
Bradford Design, Inc., North Providence, R.I.
(building design/construction, site preparation and hardscape construction)

Landscaping Contractor
Hesford Landscaping, Inc., Johnston, R.I.

Custom Fencing
Walpole Woodworkers

Special Pavements (driveway, walks and patios)
Triad Associates, Inc. Haverhill, Mass.

A seawall was rebuilt in the spa area, and a new patio created of one giant block of concrete with walls on it. The spa (covered here) is on a wooden deck and sits below a low retaining wall of cultured stone and evergreen plantings.