Features: The Ultimate Philadelphia Dream House

THE BACKYARD

 Spare, peaceful, Zen—and what’s more, this backyard, designed by Marguerite Rodgers for a Shore home in Loveladies, is just as beautiful in the rain as in full sun. That’s because Rodgers’s composition employs more wood and stone than grass and soil, and echoes the grays of the house in the furniture and accents, making downpours soothing, not soggy. “Oftentimes, people use all white furniture outdoors,” says Rodgers. “But I think that can look stark and cold.” In this case, she says, “Nothing pops out at you.” Indeed, the space unfolds quietly and seamlessly, from the eating area, conveniently located in front of the glass doors that lead inside to the kitchen, to the row of lounge chairs poolside, and back to the meditation area beside the house, delineated with zebra grass and wood walkways that call to mind docks in the nearby bay.
 
Do-It-Yourself: Order is the essential building block of all this peace, says Rodgers. Rely on symmetry, and use simple geometric shapes (rectangular pool, a row of chairs, a pair of walkways) to evoke a Zen feeling. To copy this illusion of expansiveness (the lot is smaller than you’d think), keep plantings to a minimum. —K.F.

Marguerite Rodgers Ltd., 2131 North American Street, 215-634-7888;
mrodgersltd.com.