Just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, the 2025 Southern Living Idea House landscape captures the essence of Southern living, deeply rooted in place and shaped by purposeful design.
Set on a quiet five-acre property and thoughtfully crafted by Waterstreet Studio, the garden blends the charm of a modern homestead with the natural flow of its surroundings. Formal elements like a parterre herb garden and potting shed are balanced by organic transitions, open meadows, mature woodlands, and gently winding paths that foster a seamless connection to the land.
In spaces like the East Side Foundation, the design shifts toward a more naturalistic feel. A gently mown path winds alongside the home, forming a subtle transition zone between meadow and woodland on one side and a relaxed planting along the garage foundation on the other. This ecotone, where cultivated and wild elements meet, adds richness and biodiversity to the landscape.
On the cultivated side of the path, a mix of evergreen and flowering deciduous shrubs softens the home’s edge. October Magic® Orchid™ Camellia, October Magic® Ivory™ Camellia, Pearls of Perfume™ Philadelphus, Mock Orange, and Hydrangea—all from the Southern Living Plant Collection—form a layered foundation planting that delivers color, texture, and seasonal interest. Opposite the bed, a thoughtful mix of small flowering trees blends into the existing canopy, creating a seamless connection between the designed garden space and the property’s natural backdrop. This subtle layering of new and established plantings helps the garden feel intentional without disrupting the flow of the larger landscape.
The East Side Foundation proves that structure and softness can coexist beautifully, especially when design respects what’s already there.