While comparing notes about anniversary-celebration destinations, a Westerville couple and their neighbors found they had more in common than their respective trips to Little Palm Island in Florida. They also shared a love for the restful views over Highland Lake—behind a lakeside home that would soon exchange hands from one couple to the other.
“We had just come back from our 20th anniversary trip and, in talking about how the resort had changed, found that their home—which we had long admired because of the view of the lake—was available,” recalls the homeowner. “Although this had to be one of the shortest moves ever—just seven houses down—it’s the best move we’ve ever made,” he says.
Before settling in to enjoy the sweeping water views, however, the couple first set out to completely transform the now spectacularly terraced back yard of the traditional Georgian home in Highland Lakes.
“The Clearwater Group was an easy choice for our landscape makeover, because they had done a great job for us at our other home. Tim Wilson and his crew are not only very detailed and great to work with, but Tim brings a sense of vision to his design ideas that creates a result beyond what we could have asked for,” he adds.
Turkish travertine, polished granite and hand-hewn limestone combine to form a six-level terrace, gracefully descending from a deck off the family kitchen to the lake’s edge.
“We wanted to take advantage of the view from every possible angle,” says Wilson, landscape designer and owner, Clearwater Group LLC. “We began by tearing out collapsed railroad ties, cracked concrete and a heaved-up brick patio,” he recalls. Only mature trees and the lake itself remained.
Over a 10-month period—and throughout the winter—Wilson and his crew brought in 1200 tons of gravel, 400 tons of topsoil and 100 pallets of building material, before finishing in early April by installing numerous individual plants, shrubs and trees.
From the composite deck, constructed by contractor Bruce Johnson, wrapping nearly around the entire back of the home, to each subsequent level, the choice of hardscape materials, planting, lighting and finishing touches was the result of close collaboration and meticulous attention to detail.
The result is an outdoor sanctuary where the homeowners and their guests enjoy wildlife watching, including swans and geese that inhabit the reeds around the lake, as well as migratory and native birds.
“No matter the time of year, we always get a little breeze off the lake,” says the homeowner. “My wife, who really has the eye for design and color, and I are both very pleased with the result. We look forward to hosting many guests and family gatherings over the years to enjoy our amazing water views.”
Resources: Landscape design and installation: Tim Wilson, The Clearwater Group; Plant suppliers: Acorn Farms, Monrovia, DeMonye’s Nursery, Baker’s Acres; Driveway: Unilock; Walkway, back patios, firepit area and seating wall: Oberfields; Retaining walls and columns: Unilock; Baluster and limestone caps: Lang Stone Company; Step and wall lights: Cast Lighting; Pier mount lights: Northern Lighting; Grill: Fire Magic; Containers: West Elm and Restoration Hardware; Contractor: Bruce Johnson
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