Reimagining of a Country Estate
Marcellino Residence
Kettleby, ON

Before - Front Yard

After a number of unsatisfactory attempts by various contractors, Genus Loci was commissioned by the homeowners to design and build a cohesive vision for the front and backyards.

The front area was naturalized yet overgrown and in need of a proper entranceway befitting the house. The homeowners hoped to keep some of the naturalized aesthetic in the front, so Genus Loci designed a landscape that would transition from a natural to a more formal look at the house. Adding to the natural look, are two turf mounds that incorporate existing large boulders and seeded with a native wildflower and grass mix and planted with groundcovers. A flagstone walkway leading from the driveway to the front porch with an accent garden in the centre helps transition the landscape to where a water feature and a more formal garden complete the new vision for the front yard.

The backyard, as it currently sits, is highlighted with armour stone and concrete. Unlevelled concrete surrounds the existing fibreglass swimming pool and the area adjacent to the house.
Genus Loci planned to transform the swimming pool in a style reminiscent to that of a ‘grotto’, by incorporating an artificial rock with armour stone accent coping along the pool edge and a new natural armour stone waterfall for the pool as a wonderful focal point. Beside it will be a new armour stone seating area encircling a custom built outdoor fireplace, faced with natural stone.
The concrete surrounding the pool will be resurfaced with flagstone and appropriately sloped to ensure proper drainage. This new flagstone patio would also be enlarged to accommodate a new cedar arbour and lounge area.
And what to do with the unlevelled concrete porch by the house? With an existing access point through sliding doors from the recently finished basement, Genus Loci saw this as an opportunity to give this area a completely different purpose. Instead of its relatively utilitarian use, Genus Loci imagined a deck with lounge area, using composite decking on top of the existing base giving the chance to level out the area. The utilities that make their home here would be concealed behind a new cedar screen enclosure. And the icing on the cake, a brand new outdoor kitchen, fully equipped with barbecue, pizza oven, sink and refrigerator. To improve convenience for this outdoor kitchen, a new spiral staircase will be installed to connect this new deck to the overhanging existing concrete walkout from the kitchen.

And with that the front and backyard are completely reimagined!