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Carter Pool House and Gardens
The Carter project was a rare opportunity. Designing arbors and garden sheds, decks, and terraces are common for Lotus Designs, pool houses are more unusual request which we took on with gusto.
The pool was installed in late spring of 2014 and the pool house was completed the following spring. Phoenix brick was chosen for the outer walls to match the farmhouse. Locally milled wood beams and siding and hand crafted iron work to added a complimentary touches. Belgard Concrete pavers are used on the pool decking and the pool house floor to transition the flow from one area into the other with ease. A large brick fireplace anchors the center of the pool house and is highlighted with stone accents. And lastly, handmade furniture and cabinets were made from Walnut and Pecan to finish out the look.
This garden has many other details, a children's loft, rain chains, loads of perennials, annuals and bulbs that give it beauty and interest year round.
For more on this garden see the July 2015 posting under Updates.
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This magnificent home was on a large lot which commanded a landscape that would work with both the formality of the house and its natural surrounding. The house was situated in such a way that the owners' desire for a circular drive presented a challenge.
The walk needed to be centered on the entry, but the circle had to be left of center. To get the circular driveway to flow sensibly, I created a large landing that worked to the right of the entryway and was in scale with the house. We planted a zoysia lawn area with season color with seasonal color beds to surround the house and give it softness and warmth. Areas for herbs and vegetables were also worked into the back areas in such a way to stay within the formal theme.
Lastly, a low brick wall provided a much-needed retaining function that also tied the large outdoor pavilion to the landscape.
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This property sets amidst a large tract of land that is maintained as a natural longleaf pine ecosystem. I wanted to enhance the house and give it color and interest, while keeping it low maintenance and complementary to the existing surroundings.
The entrance way incorporated a piece from the clients former home. Initially I was worried whether the broken bowl would detract from the entry but once I turned it into a planter for low sedums and other succulents, it became a wonderful focal point. Low stone walls enhanced bed lines and created separation, that would otherwise be unnoticeable with just mulch. In the back, I persuaded the client to use a narrow strip of grass to add just a little green to warm up that area just off the house which also added in reducing runoff from the roof.
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"Gail was recommended to me when we moved into our first home in James Creek. I liked working with her and the solutions she came up with in making that site work to our needs.
"When we decided to build in CCNC, I called Gail. She came up with a beautiful plan, and supervised everything from putting in a well to the irrigation and the plants.
"A few years later, we wanted to add a pool but weren’t sure how to make it work. Gail designed a rectangular concrete pool with patterned bluestone around 3 sides of the pool, and some low plantings at the far end. It makes a beautiful addition and frames the view of the fairway beyond."
Ann Krahnert
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“We had many ideas from things we'd seen. Gail was able to take those ideas, add some of her own, and make it all work to our site and needs.
“We loved the way she worked the general layout of the walkways and bed lines. In the back she created a unique entertaining area with beautiful brick work and a cosy little arbored dining area.”
Vicky Thomas
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"The expansion of our church was going to leave us with a mostly enclosed square that would be hot, dry and dull right, right in the middle of our church campus.
"Gail's wonderful insight helped convert the area into an inviting and delightful space that has ever since enriched the church community."
Dr. Mark Wethington, former pastor of Southern Pines United Methodist Church
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"We spent a great many years in real estate in the Sandhills area. We were so pleased with Gail--how she worked with us and the beautiful results she gave us--that we have recommended her to countless clients."
Sally Thomas, realtor and former owner of Old South Realty
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This patio and deck redesign was a challenge. The space was large and outdated and in need of repair. I wanted to update and enhance the look of the space, but also work with whatever existing structures I could to minimize waste--equally important--spend money as wisely as possible.
For example, the deck on the house was still in good shape but had an odd looking long staircase. The clients also wanted more grilling space away from the dining area. I removed the steps, created a grill area on that side,and rerouted the steps off the back end of the deck.
To upgrade the look and safety of the deck, I used cable railings. The stainless steel wire railings not only complimented the deck areas, but they also allowed for views of the course and lake beyond the yard.
Around the pool, I used patterned bluestone in ‘ribboned lines’ to create a geometric arrangement. These lines divided areas and lead to a circular area that was inlaid with a stone mosaic of goldfish and a central lotus flower.
The owner topped off the patio with some beautiful teak furniture with blue cushions that wonderfully echoed the pool beyond.
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This was one of two properties I did for this client. Both places held wonderful old houses and mature trees.
The first yard was very small, and I created a small stone patio with a small area of lawn and a water pot for a focal point. The second yard was much larger and offered more room for entertaining and gardening.
In the back, an old hot tub and patio were removed and a new bluestone and brick patio were created. I created a low seat wall around the patio to give it a feeling of enclosure and intimacy. The wall also functions as additional seating space when needed.
The small arbor provided additional shade and atmosphere along with providing a place to hang a ceiling fan.
A wooded pattern was taken from the front of the house and repeated along the back wall to add interest and help soften a naturalized area for the owner’s dogs behind the main backyard.
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“Several years ago, we bought a lot and built a new house in Mid South. As soon as we bought the lot, we called Gail so that we would be on her schedule and she would have time to ponder this new space.The new lot looks out over a lake and the golf course. It is a totally different sort of space than the one we were coming from. Gail drew the most amazing plan – with lots of ferns and grasses and a deck that sits between the house and the lake – just the right place to have breakfast, or lunch or relax with a glass of wine and enjoy the wildlife that appears on and around the lake.
“We adore Gail and her ability to pull together landscape ideas that fit our needs and wants.”
-Pat and Louie Scribner
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