George Urvari | President | Oriole Landscaping | Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Path to relaxation
As someone who operated a successful landscape maintenance company, the owner of this outdoor space had seen enough beautiful backyards to know exactly what he wanted.
Here in Toronto’s tony Don Mills suburb, the homeowners can entertain under the shade of a tree canopy and take in views of a ravine overlooking a golf course.
The formal architecture of the home extends to the outdoor retreat, ideal for large gatherings or intimate family evenings, says George Urvari, the designer and co-founder of Oriole Landscaping in Toronto. The yard features distinct “rooms with warm connectivity,” he adds.
The designers also sought to create an oasis of calm, says Jennifer Gannon, owner of BonaVista Leisurescapes, a spa dealer in Toronto. The company recessed the hot tub inside a 3-foot-deep vault, leaving ample room for repairs by way of a treated-lumber trapdoor.
This zone is a focal point rather than a hidden amenity. “It’s a real hub,” Gannon says. “They’re very social people.”
A series of wide pavers draws the eye to the inground hot tub, placed directly across a small seating area and adjacent to the patio dining set. Elegant Indiana stone coping around the spa ties into the intersecting pavers. Though an integral part of the yard’s layout, the spa sits to one side, in front of a short hedge for a sense of coziness and protection.
The homeowners wanted it positioned within a few steps of the back door, providing quick access during the Great White North’s notorious winters.
SUPPLIERS:
Spa: Hydropool
