Winnetka Garden
Private Garden – Winnetka, Illinois

Interior Designer: Savarie Interiors

This Winnetka project focused on a new entertaining space off the back of the home and trying to bring together old and new spaces, materials, and axes. The original space was all pavers with very little planting and too much emphasis on the grill.

A long bluestone path is central to the new design connecting the existing pool terrace on one end and a natural detention area on the other; a pergola planted with lush climbing vines runs the full length of the walkway and greatly helps to scale down the 3-story rear façade.

The new terrace is flanked with two honeylocust trees and sunken from the covered path providing a sense of seclusion; cozy lounge furniture is nestled around a custom limestone firepit. A raised stone wall with trickling water feature provides a striking backdrop to the space while disguising a significant drop off to the lower yard. Generous planting beds were incorporated along the back of the house helping to soften the space and hide large stone window wells.

Most of the lawn was removed from the old detention area and replaced with natural fieldstone boulder outcroppings and white birch trees with perennial plantings. Stone slab steps and bluestone steppers create a roaming experience throughout the lower natural garden spaces.

Before

Before

Before