The Melrose Residence is a design and stonework collaboration between Ambient Design Group and Hammerhead Stoneworks. Diverse native and fruit-producing plants surround a patio of natural stone and reclaimed brick pavers. Drystone walls, walkways and steps retain slopes, provide access and create visual interest. Once a labor-intensive lawn, this outdoor living room is now a low-maintenance invitation to relax and enjoy the landscape.

To the right, a drystone wall frames a set of steps that lead from the drive to the front door.

Below, a drystone culvert hides a drainage pipe that collects rainwater from the patio surface and carries it away from the house foundation.

Of all the stonework on the site, only the stoop is mortared. It sits soundly on a concrete footer that is designed specifically to prevent the steps from slumping away from the house, a common ailment of stoops on older houses.

Below, spaces are left in the wall for collecting family mementos, in this case a Hot Wheels car.

At the bottom of the page, a small boulder terminates a drystone wall.