Dunthorpe Residence

When the new owner of this massive property located in the Dunthorpe neighborhood of Portland contacted Pistils, this stunning mid-century home was in dire need of a thorough and thoughtful re-imagining of the landscape that reflected the bespoke architecture and stellar re-design of the interiors by the talented creatives at Bright Design Lab.

The Pistils’ team worked closely with the client and Bright to develop a landscape design and installation that fully engaged all areas of the property. In the process, a series of highly functional and beautiful outdoor rooms was created.

The primary pathway to the backyard garden features a series of staggered, cantilevered sand-finish concrete stairs with under-lighting, to create a dramatic entryway into this multi-faceted garden. A rain garden flows under the stairs and throughout the property to creatively manage stormwater, invite beneficial wildlife, and add a dynamic visual element to the landscape.

Weathered steel hardscape features include a patio-side water feature with carnivorous Sarracenia and a modern road-side address plaque.

In the backyard, rustic timber walls manage the grades, alongside the expansive sand-finished concrete patio spaces, positioned to create a variety of dynamic views of a roomy lawn.

Adjacent to the patio spaces is a spa zone with a circular cedar hot-tub set on crushed basalt gravel in a lush woodland garden.

Plantings range from classic Japanese Maple trees to ornamental Miscanthus grasses to colorful perennials like Japanese Anemone, affording the landscape year-round texture and color.