GRANDE DAME OAK TERRACE LANDSCAPE
With its vast canopy and sweeping, gestural branches, a majestic centuries-old oak was a defining feature that drew the new owners to this Newton Victorian. It was love at first sight for IDDLA as well, shaping our design approach - to highlight and experience this Grande Dame oak’s character and spatiality.
To achieve this, we removed a raised deck that blocked the full view of the tree and replaced it with a granite terrace, creating an intimate gathering space beneath the canopy. The terrace design integrates an existing dining gazebo perched over the corner of the property, along with a built-in planter with integrated seating, offering casual grill-side seating and evergreen interest.
In the front yard, we preserved mature rhododendrons for porch screening, supplementing them with additional shrub and tree plantings along the sidewalk to enhance privacy over time. A formal granite front walk now highlights the home’s original granite stonework, while native shade-loving plants soften the edges of the driveway.
Behind the house, thick bush-hammered granite planks form a versatile path that doubles as overflow parking, a valuable feature for this compact lot.
