Written by: Phyllis Gricus/Photos by: George Thomas Mendel
Living next to the sixth hole at Diamond Run Golf Club provided a nice view for John and Kristin McKinney, but the wooded lot behind them was for sale to build. The McKinneys decided, along with a few neighbors, to buy and divide the lot to preserve their view and expand their back yards.
John’s initial thought was to keep their plot of woodlot as is, but his family, on the other hand, had other ideas. One son wished for a sport court, the other dreamed of a pool, and Kristin wanted a small garden. As they began to think of the possibilities, a friend introduced them to Tom Lisowski, the owner of Lisowski Tree Services and Landscaping.
According to Kristin, Lisowski showed up one day with his Bobcat mini to explore the wooded lot. Kristin has a vivid memory of Lisowski buzzing down the hill on his machine and crackling his way through the tangle of vines, knotweed, multiflora rose and dead ash trees that made up a great deal of the woods. In short order, he reappeared with an idea that he quickly sketched on a paper napkin.
It was the layout for a pool, pool house, water feature, garden and play area that was to become their exquisite and natural expanded outdoor living space.
The centerpiece of the landscape is the cascading watercourse built from Pennsylvania glacier sandstone boulders. At the top of the hill near the home, a small pond spills into a rippling, rock-lined stream. As you meander down the Maryland flagstone pathways you can admire the splendid and colorful plantings.
Following the sound and beauty of water leads you to a larger pond filled with koi that borders the patio. It’s a pleasant spot to sit and enjoy the view back up to the watercourse or turn your focus to the appealing pool, charming pool house and the seating area near the covered outdoor grill.
As picturesque as the view is during the day, Kristin and John find it to be even more alluring at night. The landscape lighting is subtle and inviting, drawing you outside into the beauty of that special time.
The McKinneys, together with a group of professionals, turned a weedy, wooded lot into a natural asset for people and wildlife alike. They enjoy hosting family celebrations and treasure seeing their children spend so much time outside year-round having fun with their friend.
Resources: Pool house contractor: Gary Mogielski; Pool house interior design: Randy Snell, Archetype Design Studio, LLC; Landscape and water feature: Lisowski Tree Service and Landscaping; Pool: Seven Seas Pools & Spas