Plantings include autumn flowering cherry tree, custom grown topiary, boxwood hedges, and a mix of annual flowers.
Unique topiary hollies flank the front entrance.
A curved grass-jointed bluestone path leads from the motor court to the pool area.
For the pool surround, White Linen marble from Italy was sourced through O&G Industries, Inc. The custom concrete and glass firepit was specified by TRR Designs.
The pool area’s outdoor furniture layout was designed by Crina Popescu Studio, with sourcing by TRR Designs.
The sculpture was obtained from the previous homeowners and repurposed to have a more prominent role as a central feature for the formal lawn.
Lawn steps in the backyard were crafted from bluestone slabs.
A grouping of lindens form an aerial hedge.
The pyramid-shaped topiaries with flat tops are Japanese holly.
Even in the most formal of gardens designed by Rosalia Sanni, there’s a relaxed air about them. Nothing is hands off; the outdoor spaces are to be explored and experienced.
For her clients in Scarsdale, the same is true of their landscape she designed.
“They have young, active kids. They’re very athletic,” says Sanni. “They’re very well traveled. They have birthday parties there all the time. They host summer camp there. They want to use it. They want it to look nice, obviously, but they want to be able to live in it.”
While the clients wanted Sanni’s professional opinions on how they could use the property, they had specific requests about what they were going to incorporate. The home’s elegant façade, crafted from cast stone, was designed by Saniee Architects, with whom Sanni has collaborated over the years.
“There was a lot of discussion about shaping the architecture and the landscape at the same time and how they were going to interact with each other,” says Sanni. “Where to put the house, where the sight lines were going to be, what the guest experience was going to be like as you enter the property, and how you found your way to the house.”
As much focus went into the design of the back of the residence, as well, which is where most gatherings take place. Formal and informal spaces include amenities such as a pool, fire pit, and guest house.
“We try to think through a day in the life of our clients,” says Sanni. As for this residence, you can count on something new around every corner. “It’s not static,” adds Sanni. “It’s always changing.”
