By Duane St. Clair

Their Westerville home was nearly new, but the backyard wasn’t much for relaxation or entertaining. It had a high-maintenance wood deck, and the yard essentially plunges into a tree-lined ravine with a stream bed.

So, Dr. Suellywn Stewart and her partner Connie Johnson wanted to replace the deck off their three-seasons room.

“We needed something more,” Stewart says. So they sought proposals for a maintenance-free deck of fabricated materials from Tom Blankenship of Creative Decks and Spas.

Blankenship suggested they seek a complete land and hardscape plan from Rich Martin of Blendon Gardens, which they did. Martin says the project presented a challenge because building line limitations along the ravine left little room to work. Martin came up with a design before meeting with the homeowners and it was close to what they wanted, according to Stewart.

That plan incorporated a deck of manufactured materials with two steps down to a rounded landing that adjoins a circular patio. The landing and patio are both made of tumbled stone, as is the surrounding retaining wall that also provides seating. Stewart and Johnson both wanted a fire pit, Stewart says, so a circular pit was built at one end of the retaining wall. It can be used to burn wood or can be converted to an artificial gas burner.

Martin’s plan called for a water feature to add ambience to the patio. The couple didn’t want a pond, so Martin suggested a fountain that re-circulates water through a large, decorative pot. It sits on a gravel bed off the patio just past the fire pit, with two stone seating slabs that enahnce the atmosphere. Arborvitaes (a type of evergreen tree) separate the entire area from neighbors.

Stewart says she was impressed that workers hauled the material in wheelbarrows, so the only lawn damage was a narrow path that required little repair work.

“The yard looked wonderful when the project was completed,” she says.

The final product is not yet complete, however. If there are no problems getting a building permit, Martin will design and install another retaining wall to accomodate a small terrace below the patio. The terrace will not intrude into the wooded ravine or hinder natural water flow from the yard. Stewart says she wants the wooded area to be a bird habitat.

After the patio was done, the couple participated in a “backyard crawl” event in the 21-home enclave near Schrock and Spring roads. The last stop in the crawl was in their newly built backyard. Martin was invited and found the most popular seating was against the wall. The area includes a granite and wicker table which Stewart says is similar to one they saw in a Parade of Homes event.

Thanks to their new patio, Stewart and Johnson say they are excited to get outside and “have fun again.”

Duane St. Clair is contributing editor for Westerville Magazine.