When Elise Mitchell and her husband Raye built their Fayetteville home on a wooded lot, the backyard was a simple clearing of grass and trees. “The land was sloped to begin with, but then when we constructed the loggia, we had to increase the ground height of the site, creating an even steeper slope,” she says. “It was not an ideal setting to enjoy.” After taking a few years off from construction, the Mitchells decided it was time to tackle the unusable backyard. “We wanted the overall design to match the style of the home,” Elise says. “And to have an appropriate transition between the outdoor spaces and the woods beyond, which we kept in its natural state.”

The Mitchells brought together an impressive team of professionals, including landscape architect Travis Brooks, project manager Hannah Finley McNeil of Kay Architecture, Luther Stem Pools, and exterior designer Daniel Keeley of DK Design. “Originally there wasn’t a lot of usable space,” says Daniel. “We focused on creating very livable spaces outside that stayed with the Tuscan feel of the home and the existing loggia, but the Mitchells had also recently spent time at a Moroccan-themed resort where they fell in love with the rich colors and fabrics. We were able to incorporate that influence into the scheme with furniture cushions, throw pillows and even the glazed planters that we used as table bases.” 

Function as well as beauty took center stage in this outdoor addition. “We entertain quite frequently and love to do so,” Elise says. “This is what makes a house feel more like a home—when friends are here!” Keeping this in mind, Daniel chose furnishings that were beautiful and comfortable, but also very durable. “Since we knew there would be a lot of activity involving their children and friends, we chose high-quality pieces that would offer great style and perform at the level necessary to hold up to wear and tear.” Daniel chose several pieces from Summer Classics furniture and crafted custom pieces with Sunbrella fabrics. “As always, we used a lot of wonderful planters to complete the space and to add softness and define the different areas,” he says. “Balance and symmetry were very important because of the powerful architecture involved with the cabana and fountain. We tried to create an elegant and harmonious feel by respecting and complementing the wonderful space that Hannah and Travis created.” Elise finds she and Raye most enjoy sitting by the fire in the loggia on a chilly night. “You feel like you’re cheating Mother Nature when you can sit outside in the winter,” she says.

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