French Florida Cottage

Winter Park, Florida

The overall goal for this Winter Park landscape design was to increase curb appeal and update the backyard area to match the needs and style of the family. The front entry was changed to a flagstone walkway centered on the existing front door. The walkway features a series of retaining terrace and seat walls. The walls are stucco with a cast stone cap and painted to match the home. The entry also features an enlarged patio with seat walls surrounding. New planter pots were placed in a river rock bed displayed in front of the walls. The walls have integrated wall wash lighting to highlight the decorative rock. The client had issues with people driving on their grass, so a 24” wide strip of river rock was placed to create a protective border at the street’s edge. The river rock is contained and separated from the landscape with metal edging. A new driveway eliminates the previous landscape space in the middle. The driveway is deep enough to park cars in a row (20’ deep, depth of a standard parking space). This orientation allows for foundation plantings along the house perimeter. A bluestone paving area with an 8” concrete band to contain the pavers was proposed. The old fence along the eastern property line was removed and replaced with a new cedar privacy fence. A variety of plantings is proposed along this edge that will provide texture, visual interest, and privacy at the height they required for privacy. The new pool deck is travertine with an 8” full bullnose coping. A new layout eliminates wasted deck area to the south and east. Additional deck area has been proposed along the lawn to enlarge the usable area for potential future gatherings. A fountain wall with 3 scuppers is proposed along the eastern edge. The pool wall is 24” in height with a cast stone cap. The veneer chosen matches the fireplace and terrace walls. A louvered pool shower enclosure was proposed off the side pathway with an Ipe wood deck with a river rock drainage perimeter. This design is a Florida Friendly take on a traditional French style cottage garden. Plants such as Hydrangea, Agapanthus, and Crape Myrtle were used along the facade and throughout the yard to achieve a French Florida aesthetic. The plant palette features all Florida Native or Florida Friendly plants that are suitable for our local climate.