The Outsider: Suite of Landscaped Outdoor Spaces Extends Cobble Hill Townhouse

Got a project to propose for The Insider? Contact Cara at caramia447 [at] gmail [dot] com

“Gardens in the city are very much an extension of how people want to live. Some people lean into romantic notions, others focus on functionality,” said landscape architect Brook Klausing, who designed a coordinated suite of outdoor spaces — a front yard, backyard and two terraces — to enhance a newly renovated landmarked brownstone. This explains how the backyard came to be almost wholly paved with bluestone: the homeowner wanted his two kids to have a place to pass and dribble, if not actually shoot hoops.

“The brief was classic, clean and simple, with all plantings and materials chosen on the basis of being durable,” said Klausing, whose Crown Heights-based company, Brook Landscape, has been greening Brooklyn patios, rooftops, yards, and terraces for 20 years. Klausing came in at the end of an extensive renovation that added a rear extension to the garden and parlor floors as well as a rooftop addition with a narrow deck.

All the outdoor spaces are of a piece, designed together for cohesion and a sense of permanence. Brook Landscape used hardscaping materials that are “part of the classic Brooklyn narrative,” as Klausing put it, including local bluestone, brick, and cobblestones. Terra-cotta pots and long black planters “repeat as you work your way up,” he said. “It’s the same messaging throughout.”

The front garden sets the classical tone, with restored bluestone paving, a cherry tree, boxwoods, and a hydrangea in Italian hand-rolled terra-cotta pots from Siebert & Rice.

A new set of steps with bluestone treads leads down to the garden from the parlor level. Two hardy crape myrtles flank the side walls, set in in-ground planting pits.

A row of European hornbeams underplanted with lirope are among the tough plants that are “not gonna break,” Klausing said, with potted hydrangeas and boxwoods mostly set close to the house for protection from stray basketballs.

A new cedar fence painted a deep hunter green from Farrow & Ball was chosen to blend seamlessly with the interiors when seen from indoors. Sconces from Restoration Hardware light the backyard evenly for nighttime play.

Akebia five-leaf chocolate vine clads a trellis along the fence; it provides a lush look without taking up much floor space, Klausing said.

Upholstered outdoor furniture from House of Leon and a lattice privacy fence make the large third floor terrace, adjacent to a home office at the rear of the house, a well-used outdoor living room.

[Photos by Douglas Lyle Thompson]

The Insider is Brownstoner’s weekly in-depth look at a notable interior design/renovation project, by design journalist Cara Greenberg. Find it here every Thursday morning.

Related Stories

• The Outsider: Gravel Expanse, Wattle Fencing Give Bed Stuy Garden a European Courtyard Feel
• The Outsider: Midwood Garden Charms With Subtle Plantings and Plenty of Open Space
  
• The Outsider: Hardscaping Anchors Fort Greene Garden With Seasonal Variety

Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.