Decorating & Design
Tour An Italian-Inspired Terrace Tucked Away In The City
Updated on November 28, 2023
For 23 years, Dominic Monaco avoided his garden, but who could blame him? “It was a mini forest on a tilted slope,” he says, describing the tangle of overgrown cedars that grew on the incline just behind his home in Westmount, Quebec. When he decided to tackle the renovation, he met with landscape architects Sophie Robitaille and Teressa Peill of RobitailleCurtis to do a full-scale reimagining of his outdoor space.
“His house is modern, minimal and square, so my initial instinct was to respond to that architectural style,” says Sophie. “Then Dominic said, ‘I’m Italian. I need my dream garden to hearken back to my roots.’ ” He also wanted the garden to be done in the warm, sunny hues of Tuscany to match his memories of dining alfresco among cypress and citrus trees.
Click through to tour this Italian-inspired terrace.
Sophie on the new curved garden stairs. “The stairs offer a pleasurable experience,” she says, encouraging you to meander, stop and stare at the cityscape beyond or admire the lush trees.
The lounge area is as inviting as an impeccably outfitted living room. Sophie approached the terrace design like a loft, defining each zone so it has a natural, organized flow.
Two Hornbeam trees, tightly planted behind the sofa, create an aerial hedge above the wooden fence.
A slatted wooden lantern has organic charm.
A pergola built of Western cedar defines the dining area. Weathered teak tables and chairs look like they’ve been perfectly bleached by the Tuscan sun.
“Echinacea is interspersed between shrubs to provide pops of white without detracting from the structure of the garden,” says Sophie.
Stone steps lead from the terrace to a gate at the back of the property.
Delicate Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bulk’ grow well in Montreal’s climate. “They bloom profusely, even in shady conditions,” says Sophie.
Maxime Desbiens
House & Home July 2019
Landscape design by RobitailleCurtis