Past & present

The client and lead landscape architect, Sara Furlan, of Mariani Landscape, envisioned a series of elegant garden rooms that complemented the architecture and scale of the house while encouraging outdoor family living.

The design intent was to create a landscape that respected the history of the property while incorporating new, functional requirements of the residence such as access to an underground garage, the use of heated driveways and a needed bluff stabilization.

1. The owners didn’t anticipate using the pool in the back garden, so it was turned into a water feature with arching jets.
2. To create an unobstructed view of Lake Michgan in the back garden and to avoid city-mandated handrails near stairs, three levels were created with bluestone:
back patio, pool terrace and lake overlook. 3.



3. Conversation areas were created on the three levels including a dining area near the water. The steep slope next to it features variety of daylilies, sumac, rugose roses and hydrangeas.