This ‘Prairie Style’ home recently constructed on the coast in Barrington, demanded a strategic approach to the site design as well as the implementation of a unique palette of landscape and masonry materials. The flat topography of the site required careful grading techniques to divert stormwater around the new driveway, therapy pool and other landscape features.

The hardscape design for the ocean side of the house included a stepped safari sandstone terrace leading to a sunset grilling patio. A minimalist approach was taken in designing the landscape for the back yard, as the clients wanted to preserve the sweeping lawn and ocean views. A row of lavendar was planted along the edge of the stepped terrace to define the edges.

The plant palette was especially challenging with exposure to salty ocean winds and a high water table. It was also challenging to provide screening to the adjacent properties while preserving the views of the ocean.

Working with a skilled landscape contractor and stonemason, the project design was implemented with excellence and care to the delight of the homeowner.

John C. Carter & Company, Inc. is pleased to accept an Honorable Mention award from the Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. for a Commercial Design & Installation! We are proud to be a part of this project at the Garden City Center in Cranston, RI. The landscape design for this complex focused on preserving the historic style of the shopping center and enhancing its image as a major lifestyle center. Thanks to our friends from DiPrete Engineering Associates, Inc. and the Wilder Companies this project was a great success!

John C. Carter and Company was pleased to accept a Citation from the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations for outstanding and dedicated service! We were happy to volunteer our time and effort in bringing back to life the Rhode Island Veterans Home Gardens! We worked in conjuntion with other landscape architects and landscape contractors to design and build 5 new courtyards in one weekend!

This new construction on the site of an existing home required strict collaboration between the architect and landscape contractors throughout the design process. It was extremely important to the client, and to the overall design of the project, that the mature trees on site remain in order for the project to maintain a timeless landscape character.

In addition to the tree preservation, a design using local paving materials, native plants, and innovative stormwater management practice created a unique site design nestled into the cove. The landscape design incorporated native and drought tolerant plant species, as the client stressed the desire to have a low maintenance landscape. The plants selected for the front yard were chosen to create a shady woodland aesthetic, while able to tolerant the harsh conditions of the salt and ocean exposure. Plants were selected based on their tolerance, as well as textural, color and seasonal characteristics, in order to have a year round appeal.

The location of this residence and the site constraints demanded a strategic plan to mitigate and treat stormwater. The landscape grading directed the stormwater around the north west corner of the house, and then into a dry stone stream bed. This carefully designed stream bed helped to infiltrate the water, and also gave this project a unique functional landscape feature, and incorporated it into the planting plan by softening the edge of the stream bed with grasses and riparian plantings.