On the Corner of Luxury and Living: Going behind-the-scenes on an award-winning landscape
Just across the bay from Petoskey sits the charming town of Harbor Springs, which looks like the set of a Hallmark movie (particularly during the winter, with everything covered in fresh snow). This is where our story is set, and the scene opens on a little corner lot, where the landscape would grow into something countless tourists and locals would stop to admire.
In this post, we’re giving you a look at the design and construction of this landscape, as well as sharing views of the finished space. Keep reading to learn more about this Harbor Springs landscape!
The idea
Recognizing that a private residence on a corner lot is a rather public thing, our clients wanted to embrace their location, rather than trying to hide it. They told our team that they wanted a space that would wow anyone who walked by–a landscape that invites you to stop and admire it. They also had a couple functional requests: a way to safely and conveniently enter the home in winter and store their snow gear after a day on the slopes, and an area to grill outside, near their indoor kitchen, throughout the summer. With these objectives in mind, our team set to work on the design.
The design
Along with the client’s hopes for the space, our team also had to consider some practicalities. Because of its location, the site had some unique challenges–namely size and elevation. Being a corner lot, there wasn’t a lot of room to spare, so our team had to come up with a design that would stun while remaining compact. The site is also located on a hill, creating a significant change in elevation from the driveway to the front of the house, and especially from the front door down to street level. But these challenges refined the design, helping our team decide what would work and what needed to be adjusted. After working with the client to finesse the design, it was time to turn this piece of paper into a living–and livable–space.
The build
Before construction could begin, certain existing features had to be cleared, such as a concrete wall located between the home and the sidewalk. To make things more challenging, the landscape was constructed at the same time as the house, creating crowded conditions on an already small site. And if that wasn’t enough–construction was done during the summer, the height of tourist season, meaning our team had to navigate materials between crowded streets onto a crowded site.
As far as technical aspects of the build, the biggest challenge came from the change in grade. The slope from the house to the sidewalk–on both sides–required exact precision to ensure a seamless transition from the private landscape into the public space.
The result
After months of work, all the pieces finally came together, creating a space that met our clients’ needs and exceeded their expectations. To address the grade changes, stairs were used–but to dress up the stairs, a cascading water feature was built around them. The water begins up near the front porch, passes underneath the stairs, and ends in a pool near the sidewalk after tumbling down a number of waterfalls.
To create space for summer cooking and winter fun, our team created two small landing spaces. The upper landing, located just outside the kitchen, is large enough to hold a grill and a couple of chairs, because the view here is not to be missed. The lower landing was built with heating elements below the pavers to melt snow and prevent ice buildup. Precise grading towards a centralized drain ensures the area stays dry and safe all winter long, enabling easy access to the home’s winter storage area.
Beyond the functionality of the space, our clients’ overarching goal was to have a landscape that everyone walking by would admire and appreciate. Based on all the compliments we heard just in the day we spent getting these photos, we can confidently say that goal was achieved.
Small on space, big on charm
This little landscape packs a lot into a compact space, proving that thoughtful design and careful construction are the keys to an award-winning outdoor living space. If you’re looking for tips to turn your own small yard into a space that stuns, check out this blog post with landscape design advice specific to compact spaces.
