Split-Level Outdoor Entertainment Retreat

Split-Level Outdoor Entertainment Retreat

This extensive landscape project transforms a traditional split-level Michigan home into a dynamic, multi-zone outdoor entertainment retreat. The design seamlessly integrates contemporary architecture with a rugged, naturalistic woodland setting, maximizing function across a sloped terrain for year-round family enjoyment.

Key Features of the Retreat

• Multi-Tiered Deck System: A light wood deck with dark railings provides elevated dining and lounging areas, complete with a shaded pergola and direct access to the interior. The design includes a sheltered lower patio for year-round grilling and dining.
• Flagstone Fire Pit Lounge: An inviting, dedicated gathering space featuring a natural stone fire pit and comfortable Adirondack seating, set amidst natural plantings and illuminated by string lighting.
• Custom Bocce Ball Court: A professionally designed, regulation-sized bocce court offers a unique, permanent outdoor game area, providing structured recreation alongside the expansive lawn.
• Tiered Garden Beds: Substantial retaining walls and mounded, naturalistic garden beds—filled with flowering shrubs, evergreens, and grasses—provide color, texture, and critical erosion control on the sloped yard.
• Front Yard Refresh: A streamlined approach to the front landscape, featuring updated plantings and a clean concrete driveway, complementing the home's contemporary black and white exterior.

This project successfully proves that a challenging, sloped yard can be transformed into a functional and beautiful outdoor destination, maximizing utility and connecting the modern home to its natural surroundings.