Two award-winning projects merge form, function and flair Ed Ball Landscape Architecture has been a mainstay in the area’s outdoor renovation industry for over 30 years. Ed and his team complete 30-40 projects a year from pools, spas, and water features to fire pits, outdoor kitchens and more. Says founder Ed Ball, “We craft transformative landscapes that seamlessly blend natural elements while catering to clients’ needs.” AWARD DESCRIPTIONS 1. Distinction Award - Outdoor Living Area EBLA created an outdoor living/dining area on a wooded, sloped property, combining Techo-bloc pavers inlaid in ..read more

Grand Award - Outdoor Living Area Design/Build Rossen Landscape reimagined a small lot in Chevy Chase for gathering and entertaining. On the list of requirements: a swimming pool and spa, and an expanded deck with a covered patio beneath it and a pergola above. Before construction began, the Rossen team addressed the challenge of runoff in the small yard, which had to meet strict stormwater-management requirements. A crate system was implemented to capture water and percolate it into the soil; atop the system, a formal garden was planted. Flagstone pavers surround the pool, where a custom-buil ..read more

1. Distinction Award - Total Residential Contracting The owners of a new, traditional residence in Northwest DC’s Spring Valley neighborhood tapped Planted Earth to install and maintain their landscape and outdoor living area. The completed project is a layered scheme encompassing an inviting pool and spa; a fire pit; an outdoor kitchen; seating and dining areas; and a dog path. A pavilion with a fireplace anchors one end of the pool. As the goal was to complement the home’s traditional style and contribute to its older-home look, Richardson & Associates LA designed a hardscape of natural ..read more

Grand Award - Outdoor Living Area Design/Build Judges Choice Award - LCA-VA MD DC 2023 Homeowners hired Surrounds to design and implement a new landscape plan for their property. Landscape architect Chad Talton and his team regraded the front and installed a driveway with columns, lighting and improved drainage. In back, an existing deck was revamped and a new pool and travertine hardscape added. A rough-sawn cedar pavilion and attached pergola anchor one end of the pool; a material palette of cedar, brick and stone matches the exterior of the house. The pavilion and pergola feature a fireplac ..read more

A waterfront getaway makes al fresco living a breeze After purchasing a weekend retreat on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the owners hired Walnut Hill to transform their riverfront property for year-round entertaining. Their wish list included a pool, patio and cabana with room for gathering—all overlooking the water. The design team collaborated with an architect on the two-level cabana, which encompasses an open seating area around a stone fireplace flanked by built-ins; curtains soften the openings to the structure. There’s a bathroom on the ground level and guest bedrooms above, accessible via ..read more

Distinction Award - Outdoor Living Area The owners tapped Fine Earth Landscape to help them reimagine their back yard for entertaining and kids’ play, with their idyllic equestrian setting as a backdrop. Their wish list included a swimming pool, spa, fire pit, patio, a small waterfall, and colorful plantings. Addressing a 10-foot drop-off from the back porch, our team used a combination of a short wall and regrading to allow placement of the pool at slightly below porch level with a slope to the pasture to feature views of their beautiful horses. The pool is surrounded by a deck of natural-cle ..read more

1. Distinction Award - Total Residential Contracting Design/Build Kane Landscapes was hired to transform a blank-slate lot while the house on site was under construction. The scope of the project included a large pool, expansive upper and lower patios, fire features, a driveway layout with motor-courts, lush plantings, extensive outdoor lighting and a two-acre lawn installation. The clients wished to capitalize on the home’s proximity to a picturesque existing pond in back, so the design team conceived the space for entertainment and family fun around views of the water. In front, an approach ..read more

Grand Award - Excellence in Outdoor Living Area Clients with a historic waterfront farm tapped landscape architect Matt Rhoderick of McHale to reimagine the property, matching the home’s traditional architecture and creating extensive flower and vegetable gardens. Setbacks and restrictions complicated the project, which included the addition of scalloped white picket fencing adorned with finials and a custom-built potting shed. Rhoderick positioned the garden on axis with the existing pier and driveway to allow access to the property via both land and water. Gravel pathways and raised planters ..read more

“Euro shams are always the foundation—three for a king, two for a queen. We typically layer in another row of king or standard shams and then finish with an accent or bolster pillow. Each bed can have its own mix of shapes and textures—depending on how committed you are to remaking it every morning!” —Rebecca Penno, Penno Interiors PHOTO: Angela Newton Roy Photography “It totally depends on the clients and what feels cozy to them. Some people love a bunch of pillows and a huge duvet, while others prefer a more simplistic approach with just a beautiful quilt and small accent pillow ..read more

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