August 2023

Outdoor Room with a View

Sam Markham and Jimmy Taylor enjoy a sweeping vista across the pond and golf course. Longtime Wilmington residents, they joined their current community five years ago, attracted by the low-maintenance lifestyle of their townhome. After extensive interior renovations, they turned their masterful eyes to the outside. 

Jimmy and Sam knew just where to start looking for the perfect material for their patio. They had been customers at Stone Garden for 25 years. They selected Roman Blend travertine for its intrinsic beauty and how smooth and cool it feels underfoot. The next step was finding a mason, which was achieved through Stone Garden’s Contractor Referral Network, a free service matching homeowners with talented local installers. Mike Edmondson of Millennium Masonry fit the bill.

The expansive patio offers multiple places to rest and relax. The canvas ceiling provided by retractable awnings creates a cozy outdoor room. 

Throughout the space there are magnificent urns, collected over the decades, showcase ferns, SunPatiens and other colorful foliage. 

“The patio is nice and breezy in the evenings with the hot sun on the other side of the house.”

All the plantings around the patio are Sam’s handiwork. His botanical magic extends beyond this delightful space as he is the HOA landscaping liaison. As a self-taught horticulturist, he enjoys the advice of his Master Gardener neighbor to organize what looks best. 

A kitchen garden thrives in a large pot by the birdbath offering fresh herbs to enhance their culinary pursuits. 

On the wall, a beautiful planter hails from their mountain home. Sam tells us, “Her nose fell off during a hard freeze but she’s still beautiful with her flowing Creeping Jenny hair. We position her so our 102-year-old neighbor, Suzanne, can enjoy her, too.” 

At the front entrance, visitors are greeted by this sumptuous fern that is elevated to the level of garden art. 

The couple are on their eighth corgi, Judy. A steel dog adorns the courtyard gate. 

Nestled in the garden are markers honoring Judy’s ancestors, all Pembroke Welsh corgis. They made up a virtual royal family with names like Margaret and Harry and William and loved going on walks together. 

The outlook is sunny. Sam and Jimmy’s outdoor room has the perfect atmosphere for cocktails, dining and the company of friends.