Envisioned by clients with a rich history of home construction, this estate harmoniously blends indigenous stone and natural wood elements into the landscape, presenting a unique French country charm.
Confronted with the challenge of a steep 80-foot elevation difference, the Cross River Design team meticulously planned the driveway circulation to not only enhance the views for the user, but to also address the severe water erosion issues that existed along the length of the driveway and front yard. Designed into the new serpentine driveway are stone water channels along both edges of the driveway. These channels direct runoff into storm drains inlaid into the channels at regular intervals. At the top of the driveway lies a newly designed stone motor court which serves as a connection between the house and the car barn.
Along the western side of the driveway, there existed large swaths of overgrown vegetation made up mostly of invasive plants such as wild grape and Russian olive. The invasive plants were replaced with groupings of indigenous shade trees including white oak and sugar maple. We faced down the shade trees using flowering crabapple, native redbud and dogwoods. Evergreen masses were added between the deciduous trees to help screen views from the neighbor’s rear yard.
On the opposite side, a central courtyard overlooking the valley hosts a formal boxwood garden enclosed by a ground cover of pebbles whose tones match those on the house. The western side boasts a bluestone patio adjacent to a screened porch, complete with an enclosed vegetable and cutting garden protected by a purposefully elevated stone wall to deter deer.
