Spatial Recognition

Kim and Blake Evans' Fayetteville home sits atop a sloping lot, which played into the overall landscape plan created by exterior designer Daniel Keeley of DK Design in Fayetteville. “The size of the house and its sloping lot made scale a very important factor,” Daniel says. “Especially in terms of how much planting area would be needed to visually ground the house.” Kim wanted the gardens to be very simple and predominantly green and white, so Daniel and his team incorporated lots of evergreens, such as boxwood, laurel and juniper mixed with white Gaura, Crepe Myrtles and carpet roses.  “We did break the green and white rule a little with places patches of Russian sage, which really makes everything pop with its silver foliage and lavender blue flowers,” Daniel says. “Once the landscape was determined, we moved on to furnishing the outdoor spaces.”

Thanks to the size of the lot, Daniel was able to craft several outdoor living areas. “I was guided by the interior colors from the adjacent rooms, and we were lucky because the house's design naturally defined several outdoor living spaces through the hardscapes. That allowed us to focus on furnishings, rather than having to spend a lot of effort establishing privacy and visual delineation,” he says.

Four main living areas make up the backyard, each with its own personality and function. The main outdoor room is referred to as the cabana, and it's enclosed on three sides and includes a kitchen. “We wanted this to be a multifunctional space, but more importantly we wanted it to be comfortable,” Daniel says. “This is where Kim, Blake and their family and friends gather to cook out, watch television or just enjoy being outside.” Surrounding the pool, Daniel placed sleek chaise lounges with bolster pillows for sunning. The outdoor fireplace is positioned near the pool, and it's just steps from the master bedroom. “We envisioned this area as an intimate relaxation spot mainly for Kim and Blake,” Daniel says. “We furnished it accordingly with a couple of comfortable chairs, an ottoman upholstered in outdoor leather and a small side table for drinks and snacks.”

The sunken living space, positioned outside the downstairs guest suite, is known as the portico, thanks to its small covered-porch entry. “We considered this a secret oasis to be enjoyed by guests and the homeowners alike,” Daniel says. “It offers cushioned furniture and a soothing fountain, and is the perfect place for morning coffee, evening wine or curling up and reading a book.” Finally the veranda is the upstairs covered balcony located off of the game room. “We definitely wanted to carry the social feel of the game room outdoors, and we installed a large sofa, chairs and a portable ottoman for plenty of seating. ”

Design Resources:
Exterior design, furnishings: Daniel Keeley, DK Design, Fayetteville