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Photo by : Jeff Mcnamara .
Although it ’s often taken for grant that a garden engender better with age , it is n’t always true in reality . However , according to Bruce Eckerson , principal designer for Wesley Stout Associates , this " Shaker Modern " garden in Westport , Connecticut , has most definitely improve over meter , thanks to its " inherent structure and simplicity . " He explain that " great clients " ( both of whom are themselves designer ) and " a localization with a unattackable traditional identity " were the serendipitous combination that produced a successful alchemy of classic and contemporaneous .
The proprietor ' collection of mid - century innovative article of furniture initially intrigued Eckerson ; he was impressed at how naturally they ensconce it into the peel - down DoI of their traditional New England house . This sparked the realization that his essential task as designer of the garden was to " take the traditional pelt of the house and put a modern-day pull on it , " and he adhere to this rule systematically throughout the excogitation process . The austere , uncomplicated public boldness of the house offer up barely a hint of a whole other cosmos of intimate entertaining spaces and garden rooms beyond . In this belongings of just under an Akka , the key to produce harmony was a precisely specify and elaborate concept . And that was how Eckerson and his client get in at the mantra " simple , subtle , grand and mute . " Having distilled their vision , they stick to through strictly .
commence with the entrance through the garden gate , the design work to both conceal and reveal the site . The outdoor " lobby " contains a prospicient , minute koi pond that soundlessly reflect the perfect geometry of the sign of the zodiac and service department .
This room unfolds onto the dining court , which is the fundamental outdoor space with a dining table under the canopy of four basswood trees flank by a 20 - fundament - tenacious piddle paries . A cantilevered granite staircase anchors the corner of the courtyard , ascend the nine - base grade change up to the syndicate , play lawn and out-of-door animation room . The outdoor living room is nestled in the recession of the house framed by the sea captain bedroom suite and the example room . With lineal entree out from both rooms , the outdoor living elbow room is an annex of these interior infinite . A large outside hearth anchors the space .
The owners in particular admire designer Russell Page and Dan Kiley and Eckerson refer to them both . Page ’s special natural endowment of combining French - breathe in formality with relaxed touches of wildness and intimacy came to the stem in the transcription of way around dissimilar social function — dining , sitting and swim . Kiley ’s modernness appears in the grammatical construction of boundaries and volumes — spaces overlap , trees mass together , mowed edges to draw space .
Eckerson deliberately define the pallet of landscape materials ; rigorous redaction was 2d nature to the clients and thus key to the garden they wanted . To visually reinforce the interconnectedness of out-of-door spaces , granite was used for paving and rampart . untainted - steel railing , granite finishes , teak furniture and handrail , and a insurance of mostly white heyday ( plus a few blue ) ensured the spirit remained in line of credit with the original " Shaker Modern " estimate . trim Charles Hardin Holley and boxwood with white hydrangea and rhododendrons tower ; busy repeated edge were considered at odds with the guiding aesthetic . The result is a harmonious and highly individualised place . Like a beautiful piece of Shaker furniture , the outdoor spaces are conjoin and finish in a childlike , running elbow room that discover a unified visual sense . For further info , call 203 - 966 - 3100 or seewesleystout.com .
