Marrying in October 2012, the newlyweds finished the second-floor renovation their wedding week then hit pause until taking the main level to its studs in 2014. The patio was the final project, which Debra and Greg initiated in 2017, hiring Joann to bring life and beauty to an outdoor room they interpret as a true living space.

“In a space that size, every detail matters and they wanted it to feel like another room of their house,” Joann says. “It required the quality and unique amenities and comforts they enjoyed inside their home.”

Debra met Joann through mutual friends 12 years before hiring her.

“I went to dinner with friends and Joann was there,” she says, “We connected and I thought, ‘Maybe one day I will work with her.’ Before I even had the house, I knew. Years later, when we were ready to design the outdoor space, I showed it to her—she got it. She got me.”

Joann says Debra and Greg were “very clear on how they wanted to utilize the space, critical when you’re working with a compact site. It’s a jewel box and must be done well. In addition, as we discussed the design, they responded in real time. It was the perfect collaboration.”

Regarded for her holistic design approach in connecting people with the outdoors and a philosophy of marrying the natural and built environments, Joann solved the challenges of hiding gas lines and creating the necessary grading and drainage crucial for a successful project.

Subtle, soft lighting was installed to establish the impression of a perimeter.

“At night there’s a glow, but you never see a fixture,” Joann explains. “There’s a warm ambience and sense of intimacy where it’s important. The main fountain is softly downlit from the tree. Lights around the spa are directed away from seating areas. The backyard trees are uplit, as well as the entry patio’s crabapple tree. The bar and grill’s undercounter ledge lights add definition, but not attention.”

Debra is delighted with the results of the collaboration with Joann, one that she imagined through her creative lens ultimately yielding a variety of spaces, materials and design.

“This,” she says, surveying the space, “is where I renew, recharge and restore. It’s where we socialize, celebrate and create. It’s home.”