Let this Ardsley backyard inspire you. By Nick Johnson Photography/ Courtesy of Zavaglia Associates
An Ardsley backyard is a cozy retreat for entertaining with family and friends, even in chillier months in Westchester County.
This Ardsley house boasts an outdoor oasis that is a hotspot all year long, despite dropping temps. The homeowners are a young family who enjoy entertaining often, so a comfortable, quaint, gathering space was the goal.
They enlisted the help of Larchmont-based husband-wife team Tony and Jess Zavaglia. While the professionals are the owners of Zavaglia Associates, a full-service landscape design and construction firm, they also collaborated on this project with Anthony Zavaglia Inc., Tony’s landscape-maintenance and masonry company. Jess contributed design through their joint company, while Tony executed the build and install through his firm, combining their expertise to create the family-focused backyard.
As the property sits on a steep slope, the Zavaglias sought to expand the usable outdoor space by creating various “levels” while highlighting the picturesque views from the upper levels of the property. To do so, they created terraced entertaining areas: a lower patio area for intimate dining settings, connected by a path and steps to an upper area with a firepit and ample seating for hosting larger groups.
Jess describes the upper area overlooking the lush landscape: “The firepit now sits where a putting green was once installed. [The area] overlooks sweeping views of the valley below, year-round. A custom seating wall allows for plenty of room for guests but also provides built-in firewood storage,” she says. “Poured concrete lends a streamlined, modern aesthetic that complements this young family’s active lifestyle.”
As the property sits on a steep slope, the Zavaglias sought to expand the usable outdoor space by creating various “levels” while highlighting the picturesque views from the upper levels of the property.
For comfort and decoration, pillows adorn the Lollygagger lounge chairs from Loll Designs. Pots surrounding the area were filled with Pennisetum alopecuroides, or “Little Bunny” fountain grass, which is dark green in the summer and turns gold in the fall, adding visual interest to this autumnal retreat.
Related: How to Create an Outdoor Oasis Right in Your Backyard
