Richfield Woodland Retreat

Richfield Woodland Retreat

For this Richfield property, a significant change in grade became an opportunity to create a series of outdoor spaces that step naturally into the surrounding landscape.

The homeowners knew they wanted spaces for dining and entertaining, an outdoor kitchen, and an ornamental pond. Rather than concentrating everything on a single terrace, the design uses the topography to create two distinct outdoor living areas, each offering a different experience.

An upper terrace provides a comfortable setting for outdoor dining and creates a natural extension of the home. From there, the landscape transitions to a lower terrace featuring an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, and pergola—a more intimate gathering space positioned closer to the wooded edge of the property.

An ornamental stream and pond introduce the sound and movement of water, strengthening the connection between the outdoor living spaces and the natural setting. From the lower terrace, the combination of water, fire, natural materials, and views into the woods creates a setting that feels removed from the everyday.

Natural materials used throughout the fireplace, kitchen, and pergola help the built elements settle comfortably into the landscape rather than compete with it.

The result is a backyard shaped by its topography—a series of connected outdoor spaces that turn a challenging grade into one of the property's defining features.