Fashionably Formal - River Forest

For this new construction in River Forest, a community defined by its historic architecture, the goal was to ensure the landscape felt established and curated over time. We selected natural materials and traditional design elements to honor the neighborhood’s character, making the new home feel like a long-standing part of the streetscape.

The design utilizes natural stone garden walls and seat walls to provide structure and a sense of permanence. A formal bluestone patio transitions into crushed bluestone gravel paths, leading to a central focal point: a stone column topped with a metal armillary sphere, perfectly aligned with the view from the bedroom’s bay window. For ornate security, custom iron fencing and gates were installed.

Just outside the kitchen window, a large custom planter allows the homeowner to refresh the landscape with seasonal color throughout the year - currently showcased with a vibrant fall display of red mums. The iron gate leads from the main terrace to a secluded secondary garden in the side yard, offering a private retreat while maintaining the property’s stately, traditional presence.

A small garden with a black wrought iron gate, a brick and gravel pathway, bushes, and trees. There is a white sculpture of a boy holding an armillary sphere on a pedestal, with colorful flowers around the base.

A garden with a decorative sculpture on a pedestal, surrounded by neatly trimmed bushes and flowering plants, in front of a stone house with large bay windows.

A fenced garden with a stone pathway, colorful flowers, and shrubs in front of a stone house with large windows and a porch.

A well-maintained garden patio with a stone wall and wrought iron fence, featuring colorful flowers and lush greenery.