MAPLEWOOD
In the established streets of San Marco, Maplewood restores clarity and proportion to a traditional brick colonial.
From the outset, the front yard called for restraint. During the initial site visit, the landscape island between the circular driveway and the street felt visually cluttered, obstructing views to the front door and competing with the architecture. The solution was not to add more, but to remove. A clean lawn plane now defines the approach - simple, timeless, and deliberate - allowing the brick façade and entry sequence to take precedence. The result is quieter and far more inviting.
The existing river rock driveway, uneven and visually dated, further disrupted the arrival. It was replaced with a brick-bordered concrete drive that reinforces the home’s symmetry while improving comfort and durability. The revised geometry feels composed without rigidity, complementing the colonial form rather than competing with it.
San Marco / Jacksonville, FL
Residential
Process:
Full Garden Renovation
Photography:
Severine Photography
Foundation planting remains structured and restrained. Layered evergreen material softens the masonry while maintaining architectural clarity. Less becomes the organizing principle.
In the rear yard, nearly twenty feet of overgrown vegetation had consumed usable space. Selective clearing reopened the property, restoring lawn for the family’s teenage sons and preserving flexibility for a future pool. The exposure of a neighboring two-story structure required a calibrated screening strategy.
Southern magnolias were installed along the rear property line to establish evergreen structure and long-term privacy. Their scale anchors the yard while maintaining a respectful relationship to the home. Additional perimeter planting reinforces enclosure without visual heaviness.
Behind the detached garage, a flagstone dog washing area introduces a practical amenity tailored to daily life—durable, grounded, and seamlessly integrated.
A specimen Chinese fringe tree was positioned behind the existing brick fireplace to provide a softened focal point and restore vertical proportion to the outdoor living space. Its seasonal bloom introduces lightness against the masonry backdrop without disrupting the disciplined palette.
Maplewood feels settled and measured—an exercise in subtraction as much as addition, where restraint allows the architecture to lead.
