For Landscape Designer Amy Tobin of Terrapin Landscapes, the birth of an idea is an exhilarating process. “I can’t tell you what it means to go from a blank canvas of a landscape, to forming an idea, to finally making that vision real at a client’s house,” she says. “This is one of those rare projects that ended up better than I had imagined.”
The project Amy is referring to is a magical backyard oasis at a Kennebunkport home on Ocean Avenue. Enter the landscape to see large stone pillars crafted by Jeff Fairfield, the seasoned stonemason and project manager at Terrapin, greet you in the driveway. The lengthy entrance weaves past stone aprons and boulders and a driveway island with a large tree. As you move deeper into the landscape, the house appears—a romantic blend of traditional and modern—nestled among lush plantings. Ocean views emerge along the lefthand side of the home, pulling you in. A grassy path guides the way.
Here is where the magic reveals itself with meticulous stonework forming a Soake Pool, patio, and firepit in the backyard. Considering the ocean vistas, Amy knew it was important to keep a low landscape profile and avoid blocking any views. “I would go in the house and look out the windows to ensure I was keeping the sightlines open,” she says. Being so close to the water, the harsh environment required a minimal landscape. Reclaimed granite, bluestone, and mossy boulders provide a durable surface for the design. “We used a lot of natural materials to reflect Maine and the homeowners’ tastes,” she says. “These are Terrapin’s bread and butter, so this project paired well with our style.”
A difficult feat to pull off in a stonework-heavy project is the feeling of softness, but Amy accomplishes a fluidity in the design. “There aren’t many hard shapes in the landscape except for the square geometry of the Soake Pool,” she says. “I wanted to curve the stone-scaping to give it the feel of water, inspired by the ocean just beyond the property.” The fluctuating patio shape and variously sized boulders provide illusory movement. The softscape adds to this feeling with evergreens in the front, and grasses, Russian sage, and Montauk daisies in the back.
The push and pull of fluidity and textures enhance the effortlessness of this landscape, despite the masterful skill required to make it happen. Just imagine the serenity of coming home to this backyard, sinking into that Soake Pool, watching the ocean’s undulating patterns. This design is a harmonious union of stonework and nature.
