This historic Belmont home and carriage house studio enjoy sweeping views of the Boston skyline, a defining feature of the property. The challenge was to preserve that view while introducing privacy for a growing family. Through careful design, openness and seclusion are balanced, shaping a landscape that supports daily living without diminishing the home’s most celebrated outlook.
about this property
Belmont, MA | This carriage house property presented a rewarding design challenge: how to preserve expansive skyline views while introducing a comfortable sense of privacy. Our solution centered on layered perennial gardens, framed by hemlock, spruce, and arborvitae to enclose the site on three sides without feeling closed in. A clipped yew hedge completes the perimeter, providing effective screening while maintaining open sightlines. Mature trees were added to establish an immediate canopy and sense of scale.
Movement through the landscape is shaped by subtle structure and thoughtful transitions. Brick walls and natural hedges guide visitors through a sequence of distinct outdoor rooms, helping organize the space while keeping the experience relaxed and cohesive.
Throughout the property, features support both gathering and quiet retreat. A checkerboard lawn acts as a visual focal point leading to a secluded sitting area, while a brick and bluestone patio offers an old-world courtyard feel for entertaining. Seasonal planters add color and texture, and a permeable gravel driveway improves drainage and reinforces the property’s sustainable approach.
Movement through the landscape is shaped by subtle structure and thoughtful transitions. Brick walls and natural hedges guide visitors through a sequence of distinct outdoor rooms, helping organize the space while keeping the experience relaxed and cohesive.
Throughout the property, features support both gathering and quiet retreat. A checkerboard lawn acts as a visual focal point leading to a secluded sitting area, while a brick and bluestone patio offers an old-world courtyard feel for entertaining. Seasonal planters add color and texture, and a permeable gravel driveway improves drainage and reinforces the property’s sustainable approach.
award-winning design
Association of Professional Landscape Designers
see the transformation
photo gallery
this property in the news
History in the Making | Boston Design Guide
Our Belmont Carriage House project is getting noticed – a winner of the 2019 APLD Award for Residential Design, and this month a nod from Boston Design Guide. Architect Patrick Ahearn and our own Jim Douthit are featured in the article which includes several great shots of the property and dive into the strategy they employed both inside and out. We really loved designing on this property (and still maintain it) and hope you’ll enjoy reading about the design process behind it. You can find the article in Boston Design Guide’s latest digital edition, pages 28-31.
Belmont Carriage House Wins APLD’s Silver Award for Residential Design | APLD
a Blade of Grass has been awarded APLD’s 2019 Silver Award for Residential Design for the design and installation of our “Belmont Carriage House” property. The APLD International Landscape Design Awards Program honors excellence in landscape design. Projects in eight different categories are judged on the basis of difficulty, craftsmanship, attention to detail and execution. We are, obviously, immensely honored and proud of our amazing designers and our installation and maintenance crews. Check out the entire photo gallery of this beautiful property.
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