When homeowners purchased their Russell Township home 13 years ago, they knew the landscaping needed a major overhaul to say the least. All it took was one phone call to The Ohio Valley Group, and the planning began—a five-year plan to be exact.
“We knew from the beginning that it would be a multi-year project,” says the homeowner. “We also knew we wanted to incorporate different outdoor living spaces, and the best way to do so, was to tackle one at a time.”
Guiding them along the way from beginning to end was Andy Dangelo, President of The Ohio Valley Group. “When I first went to visit the homeowner, she said she loved to entertain, and had a lot of family in the area,” Dangelo says.
First on the list was the patio and deck. The existing brick patio, which everyone agreed was too small, was torn out, and a much larger blue stone patio was installed. “We knew from experience in our previous home, that the patio was a natural gathering place when people came to visit,” says the homeowner. “Due to the fact that this home sits on five acres, we knew we wanted a patio that was designed with entertaining in mind.”
Dangelo says the team was also focused on preparing for the future. “We always kept the family in mind,” he says. “The homeowners have children, and if they ever wanted to host large events as the children got older, like parties or even weddings, the space would be large enough to do so.”
A Koi pond was also featured, as a lush addition to the space.
Everyone agreed that they liked the footprint of the existing deck, but it was not in great shape, and didn’t match the home very well, so a new deck was installed using Ipe hardwood. Dangelo suggested under-mounting all the decking screws for a completely seamless look. White deck railing brought the design together, and a pergola was added, along with outdoor fans and lighting to define the space. A relaxing Jacuzzi was the finishing touch for this phase.
The homeowner says she was elated with the finished result because it was very important to her to create defining areas within the space. “It allows you to enjoy the space wherever you are,” she says. “We can enjoy drinks on the little cozy couch under the pergola and it doesn’t feel too big.” However, the space also allows enough room for the family to host large events. “We’ve hosted a wedding with 150 people here, and because the space is designed so you can have your privacy, but also able to accommodate a large group, it was perfect.”
Although the homeowners often thought about entertaining for others during this project, they also made sure to include a few bonuses for themselves in the design. Another phase of the project was creating a Par 3 golf course in the front yard. “It’s a naturally hilly lot, with the house sitting on top of a hill as well, so it makes for a very pretty view when you pull up,” says the homeowner.
The homeowner says many people describe the finished project as a park setting, which is exactly what she had in mind. “You travel through this winding walkway to get to the back yard, and it’s simply beautiful,” she says.
“Clevelanders really enjoy our spring, summer and fall because we know how hard our winters are, and I really wanted to make sure we had areas everyone could enjoy for as long as possible.” Dangelo adds that he always takes this thought-process into consideration. “It’s been a particularly rough winter,” he says. “When I design, I want to make sure people can enjoy every aspect of the outdoor space for as long as they can.”