A redesigned home and landscape features a dramatic outdoor living space, including a stunning driveway and expansive circular forecourt in Rumbled® Cocoa pavers. It all brings Hamptons-inspired style to Fenwick Island, Delaware. All photography: Moses Cohen.
Against all that green, Rumbled® Cocoa creates a warm, defined edge without looking overly formal. The pavers provide structure; their tumbled appearance keeps the effect relaxed and appropriate for a bayside retreat.
Called the Coastal Crown project, it’s the brainchild of Bryan T. LeCompte, owner and operator of Yard Designs Inc. in Salisbury, Maryland. It draws on the timeless character of Hampton-style coastal architecture and landscapes, reimagined for Fenwick Island’s bayside setting.
A waterfront playground hardscape in a beautiful combination of materials
This isn’t so much a backyard as a private waterfront playground. From the pool and putting green to the broad lawn, stone walkways, and boat slip on the bay, LeCompte turned virtually every part of the property into a place to relax, play or simply enjoy the view.
Just as impressive is the way the materials work together. Warm Rumbled® Cocoa clay pavers, natural-looking stone, crisp green lawn and expanses of white around the pool create distinct outdoor spaces without making the landscape feel chopped up. The mix of colors and textures feels especially at home in the coastal setting, where a little informality belongs alongside the precision.
And while we’re naturally partial to the clay pavers, this project makes a convincing case for mixing materials. Stone and brick are natural companions in a landscape like this. For homeowners and designers looking for the same possibilities, Pine Hall Brick offers Bluestone, stepping stones, and other natural and manufactured stone products for outdoor spaces.
Click to enlarge from the gallery below for detail.
LeCompte merged his design with the bay
LeCompte used a refined palette of whites, blues, and browns to pick up existing elements on the property and connect it to the natural landscape. The clean shapes and balanced proportions give the home a classic, elegant presence, while natural textures including wood, stone, and brick add warmth and depth.
The end result is a sophisticated coastal home that feels both timeless and distinctly connected to its location.
Rumbled® Cocoa brings warmth to the transition from house to landscape. Its mix of rich brown and earthy tones complements the stone, lawn and natural surroundings rather than competing with them.
Looks aren’t enough.
The homeowner expected, and LeCompte delivered, a well-built home suitable for its surroundings. He said that the whole idea, in design and implementation, was to create a seamless blend of Hamptons style and modern coastal construction, all built to last.
“The quality of construction and craftsmanship is a defining feature of this project, reflecting a personal commitment to precision, and durability, and architectural integrity,” writes LeCompte.
“Every stage of construction was executed with careful attention to detail, ensuring that design intent was fully realized in the built form. The end result is that the home reflects and demonstrates enduring construction quality, built to perform reliably in a demanding coastal environment.”
An expansive forecourt welcomes guests. Careful cuts, consistent joints, and smooth transitions let Rumbled® Cocoa follow the landscape naturally while maintaining the precision this caliber of project demands.
For a craftsman like LeCompte, what ultimately matters is being able to look at the home and its surroundings and being proud of the outcome.
“Our goal was to transform this dated property into a timeless, forever Hamptons-style look,” writes LeCompte. “The exterior choices of the main residence and the hardscapes were significantly dated. With the homeowner’s blessing, our goal was to elevate this property to its full potential. It’s timeless. The mission was personally rewarding.”
Like most barrier islands, Fenwick Island is a sand spit, but Yard Designs’ hardscaping adds beautiful, solid surfaces that lead you right to the water.