Date:  August 1, 2025  |   Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |  

A Fayetteville home’s outdoor spaces receive updates that are equally classic and poised for family fun

For landscape designer Daniel Keeley, the feeling that this project was a progression of previous work was twofold: First, he’s designed almost half a dozen properties with these clients, making them dear friends at this point. Second, he also worked on this house, located in one of Fayetteville’s historic districts, with its former owners. “We did a big exterior project with the previous clients that established the pavilion and the pool,” he says. “When these clients moved in, they wanted to make it their own.”

To that end, the homeowners also called on interior designer Chris Goddard, whose influence inside extends to the exterior. “When our clients bought the home it had a very Victorian-inspired look,” Chris says. “I wanted to give it more of a craftsman style to better fit the neighborhood and match the existing interior details.” To achieve this, he replaced round columns with a classic chamfered style and added a wooden railing around the front porch with handrails wide enough for a person to perch or set a drink. A fresh coat of Farrow & Ball’s “Pointing” and copper gutters complete the look.

These updates set the tone for Daniel’s contributions, which start with a gated arbor at the front of the property. “The house faces a busy street, so they wanted privacy and additional security,” he says. The columns and ornamental finials mimic those on the front porch, and the latticework was inspired by the leaded glass windows on the house. Pink petunias add a burst of color, while wisteria vines beginning to climb the columns will cover the structure in foliage one day.

In the backyard, the pavilion received the same paint color and copper gutters as the house, and the pool was replastered in a darker color for a more refined feel. Furnishings were chosen with comfort and pool parties in mind. “It’s a large and growing family—there are adults, children, and grandchildren, and they all live very close by. They wanted plenty of room for everybody to gather,” Daniel says. Around the pool, lounge beds inspired by the couple’s travels and oversized swivel chairs lend a contemporary touch to the space. The result is an environment that feels cohesive and timeless while offering all the amenities an active family could enjoy. “It’s a real entertainment hub that they use all year,” Daniel says.

Neutral Haven
The front yard is a perennial garden filled with hydrangeas, guara, daylilies, and catmint, with pink petunias that add a pop of annual color. Lilac trees anchor the corners of the front porch, where their scent can be enjoyed from a pair of armchairs or the swingbed. “Her aesthetic is very neutral, a little Southern prep meets California coast,” Daniel says of his client’s tastes. “We did creams and tans to keep it very calm, soothing, and comfortable.” Underfoot, layered rugs give the feel of an interior space.

The front porch ceiling is painted “Parma Gray” by Farrow & Ball.

A fountain installed on one side of the house introduces the element of sound to the design.

Laid-Back Living
Surrounded by lush greenery and a combination of stone walls and white fencing, the pool feels like a private oasis tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the busy college town. Marine-grade umbrellas shade lounge beds and a seating area around the pool, and containers offer seasonal color. Cozy textures and a palette of neutrals tie into the wicker selections under the pavilion and around the dining table, which was custom made to accommodate all 12 adults when the whole family is gathered.

When working on this house with previous clients, Daniel teamed up with DEMX Architecture and contractors Hammer & Chisel to build the pavilion and stone walls in a way that is seamless with the design of the house.

Design Resources
Contractor Erik Hansen, Hansen Design + Construction Interior design Chris Goddard, Goddard Design Group Landscape design DK Design Audiovisual Custom Electronics Ironwork Razorback Ironworks Outdoor lighting, furnishings, and rugs DK Design Seasonal plantings and garden maintenance Simply Meticulous Landscape Co.