Cramped city living and suburban sprawl make roof decks and rolling lawns a luxury. But knowing what to do with the space isn’t always second nature.
Meet two homeowners—one town, one country—who have transformed their open-air properties into blooming oases marked by creative landscaping, party-ready patios, and personalized details.
First up: An urban family ditches the city and gets some fresh air, as well as a beautiful new space.
Cramped city living and suburban sprawl make roof decks and rolling lawns a luxury. But knowing what to do with the space isn’t always second nature. Meet two homeowners—one town, one country—who have transformed their open-air properties into blooming oases marked by creative landscaping, party-ready patios, and personalized details. Profiled here: the Reyes family's country retreat. To read about Tom Gerace's urban digs, click here.
Three years ago, with dreams of big birthday parties and bigger barbecues, Yvonne Reyes and her growing family traded in city life on St. Botolph Street in the South End for a sprawling home in suburban Dover. Says the mom of three boys, ages 16 months through four years old: “We wanted an outdoor area that would grow with us”—a play space for kids and adults alike.
Having raised three boys of his own, Doug DeWolfe of New View landscaping in Hopkinton knew that “anybody can have pretty gardens,” but room to romp is a rarer prize. The self-described “outdoor entertainment specialist” equipped the yard with a fire pit for marshmallow roasting and Scrabble and backgammon boards carved into bluestone. “I envisioned a versatile space for entertaining with kids,” he says. “The adults could sit and have a glass of wine with the children still in eyeshot.”
Most of the flower and plant work came courtesy of Newton-based Winston Flowers & Garden and covers nearly every angle of the more than 2-acre property. Aside from color preferences (more purples, less pinks), Reyes gave the green thumbs license to style the space with whatever plants and pottery would best complement the Janus et Cie outdoor furniture.
Custom floodlights by Wolfers Lighting illuminate the patio, where the family congregates for weekend dinners and hosts nighttime play dates for the kids. And though at the moment she’s juggling her trio of energetic sons, Reyes knows that one day she’ll enjoy the space in a different way: by sitting back, relaxing, and reading the paper. Probably not for another 20 or so years, but that’s fine by her.
