Photo by Janis Nicolay
Terraced Pleasure
A mix of materials and clear yet understated boundaries make the most of this sunny condo patio’s natural assets
Despite fabulous south- and west-facing views, this downtown Toronto patio was merely ho-hum in its original state. Landscape designer Kennedy McRae of the energetic firm Earth Inc. remembers it as a blank canvas. The homeowners envisioned a more pulled-together space that they could use for entertaining and relaxing. Not wanting to interfere with the cityscape, McRae used natural and unobtrusive materials—wood, stone and metal—in neutral tones. Special care was taken to remain true to the clean lines indoors, too. The design process was clearly set out from the start: to divide and conquer.
Three distinct areas were defined using an expansive, custom-made, wooden post-and-beam arbour, built-in raised planters and a mixed-media floor. “The post-and-beam structures provide a sense of false walls to create separation and mimic the indoors,” says McRae. The first section lies just beyond the indoor living room. Housing simple benches with ample storage, it’s a casual social area as well as a spot for the barbecue. The original patio slabs were removed and replaced with wood, much like the hardwood floors indoors. The slabs were then reused as a threshold into the next zone. To give definition, they were separated slightly and the gaps were filled with smooth black river stones from Mexico.
The eating area is next, featuring a simple teak table and chairs. “I didn’t want to tuck the table into the patio, I wanted it to be right out near the railing. It’s really all about the views,” reasons McRae. Overhead lighting was wired through the arbour. “It’s much more ambient and gentle,” he says, “versus lights in the ground beaming upward that can get in your eyes.”
The third and smallest section is a private enclave with two contemporary lounge chairs purely for relaxing. It’s hidden behind three planter boxes made of galvanized metal. Across the way on the east wall are two more boxes. “Originally, the planters were seven by seven feet, but because of the small service elevator, that was too big,” laughs McRae. So they were halved in size. Not only do the planters house a variety of sun-loving perennials, grasses and shrubs, they also anchor the post-and-beam arbour so contractors didn’t have to drill through the roof.
Plants were chosen with particular attention to size. “We didn’t want to block any views, but we wanted substantial perennials that would grow no taller than six or seven feet,” says McRae. Ornamental grasses, including maiden and lyme, provide winter interest. The spectrum of blue-, pink- and purple-flowering perennials includes globe thistle, purple coneflower and Russian sage. Anise hyssop was chosen for its licorice-like scent, and a hardy shrubby sumac adds a strong punctuation mark.
All the perennials were planted in rows for visual impact and are extremely easy to maintain with the irrigation system in place. “The plants simply exploded the very first year,” McRae recalls. “It almost felt like a mature garden in mere months.” He urges everyone to invest in sizable greenery, especially in a small space, to prevent it from looking too precious. Now, this space is anything but!
##Designography##
**Style** A sleek, clean-lined condo patio
**Plant strategy** Low-maintenance perennials, with four-season interest contained in one area
**Main challenge solved** Using substantial plantings without obstructing the views
**Size** 750 square feet
**Designer** Earth Inc.
(continued below)
**Plant strategy** Low-maintenance perennials, with four-season interest contained in one area
**Main challenge solved** Using substantial plantings without obstructing the views
**Size** 750 square feet
**Designer** Earth Inc.
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