An 1882 shingle-style mansion in Brookline receives a dramatic facelift. Expansive outdoor spaces supportive to myriad family-focused activities merge sensitively to surrounding landforms and preserved canopy and understory specimen trees. New stone retaining walls elevate program-rich spaces that feel as though they have always been a part of the property. A wonderful kitchen garden provides incredible opportunities for daytime fun, and a rustic granite fire put draws the family outdoors at night. An outdoor play structure is surrounded by swaths of blueberry, and an antique fountain structure is restored—the sound of trickling water becomes a great device to tame unwanted neighborhood sounds. Clever drainage solutions effectively channel stormwater in ways that are barely visible to the untrained eye, and the property feels balanced. Areas of lawn are re-sculpted and landforms are carefully stabilized. A restored pudding stone entry staircase connects the front door to a new guest parking area, and the lush arrival garden is carpeted with elegant drifts of woodland perennials. At first glance, it is hard to imagine that this young garden is not original to the home. It will be amazing to watch this property evolve throughout the coming seasons.

Collaborators: Claudia Noury-Ello Architects, Robert Hanss Landscape Construction, Robert Lawrence Builders, Shadows and Light, PreCourt, Tri-Valley Irrigation, Select Horticulture, Artemesia Perennial Supply, Cedarworks, Seasons Four