Emirates Hills garden exudes contemporary elegance

Walking up this garden’s black galaxy granite entrance stairs, past majestic Washingtonia palms, a meticulously pruned bonsai-inspired tree in full bloom, trickling water features and grand fire pots on granite pedestals, it’s clear that the space offers a feast of landscape design.

To achieve the sophisticated feel the homeowner was after, Nehme and his team recreated the entire landscape, starting with the entrance and parking areas.

“First impressions last, so we wanted to totally transform the spaces that guests first see upon arrival and make sure that these areas really complemented the villa’s architecture.” Nehme admits that these renovations were probably the most challenging.

“The original entrance had a small slope and a lot of steps leading up to the house, so we pulled those down and started again.

We added travertine and limestone accents to the black galaxy granite to polish off the look.”

“The owners and his family wanted an alfresco entertainment area that was something of an extension of their home.

Alongside the gazebo is the swimming pool, the only original element in the garden. “We replaced its old coping [tiled edges] to give it a fresh, modern look but the shape is the same as it’s always been,” Nehme explains.

“We also added a few planters along the edges of the pool to give a lush, tropical feel.” Surrounding the pool, entertainment areas and walkways are slabs of beige honed travertine laid in a French pattern and accentuated with Noche travertine, warming up and accentuating the cooler blue and green hues of the swimming pool and foliage.

“Detail, detail, detail. That was our mantra when working on this garden,” Nehme says. “To create a polished landscape that exudes elegance, it’s important not to overlook anything.”

Nehme says that the garden’s softscape – landscaper’s lingo meaning a garden’s live, horticultural elements – needed to be modern and simple. “Our client wanted low planting – nothing too busy – so we added ornamental shrubs, coconut palms, Washingtonias, Cycas and ground covers.

The main focus here was the golf course view, so we got permission from the developer to lower the boundary wall to create a feeling of endless space.

The garden is grassed using natural carpet grass. It really complements the emerald hills of the golf course beyond.”

Despite the stunning daytime views, Nehme says he thinks the garden is at its most charming at night. “We put a huge amount of effort in to the landscape’s lighting design.

Lighting can totally transform a space, creating romantic shadows in certain areas and casting golden pools of light in others. Here it allows the family to make the most of their garden.

This story first appeared on InsideOut in July 2013