Delphi Dreams

PROJECT DETAILS Project Value: $1 million, not including structures | Build Time: 6 years
| Size of Project: 9 acres

It’s the dream job any landscape designer wants: a big budget, an open-minded client, and plenty of space to work in. 

Jim Lesti, a retired landscape architect and former partner of Landscape Studio, ended his career on a high note with his work on Delphi Gardens, a beautiful private residence and event venue in the north Atlanta hills. 

Dr. Evan Demestihas loves entertaining his grandchildren as well as hosting events and fundraisers at his home. He called on Jim to design a greenhouse, orchards, bocce ball court, party space, water features and a personalized garden for each grandchild. 

“I had worked with him years ago on a pool project when I was with a different firm, and he called me out of the blue to work on this,” recalls Jim. “I was so honored he remembered me.”

A pavillion perfect for socializing
Photo by ©Landscape Studio

After working for six years on Delphi Gardens, Jim’s work is finally 100 percent complete. 

“It’s been a long process but I’ve enjoyed going there every day,” says Jim. “Dr. Demestihas is demanding, but he’s the most pleasurable person—he lets me do my thing. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my career.”

A trained landscape architect from The Ohio State University, Jim has gravitated toward design-build projects. 

"There’s more instant gratification in design-build.
You have more control of the process, & I love
the back-and-forth with the client."

The property features various elevations. At the top is a beautiful chapel with stone brought in from Greece, where Dr. Demestihas’ family is from. From the top floor, guests can take in beautiful views of the pastoral property and Kennesaw Mountain. 

Greenhouse, Orchards & Grazing
Photo by ©Landscape Studio

The property’s lowest elevation is “The Bowl,” a sunken garden dedicated to his family with meandering trails, stone staircases and waterfalls. 

“We designed a garden for each of his eight grandchildren plus two extra for any in the future,” Jim says. “He loves Japanese maples so we planted a different type in each grandchild’s garden. He also selected different iron sculptures for each child. Everything looks personal yet cohesive.”

The team, with help from notable carpenter Lawrence Smith, built a greenhouse on the foundation of the property’s old barn, maintaining the building’s original L-shape design. On the side of the greenhouse is a dramatic stone waterfall. Fanning out behind the building is an orchard with olive, pear, peach and apple trees. 

Chapel built with stones from Greece
Photo by ©Landscape Studio

Delphi Gardens also includes stables and horse trails. Mrs. Demestihas provides animal therapy to special needs children. 

The nearby bocce ball court was made with slate chips, and Smith also built other natural cedar arbors around the property including structures to hold the equipment.

In the main entertainment area, the circular bar features a granite top, an arbor roof with a steel beam, and gray rubal stone sourced from Tennessee quarries. The bluestone patio is large enough to accommodate a family gathering or serve as a dance floor for special events. Each year, Dr. Demestihas hosts a Halloween party to raise money for Georgia’s Make-A-Wish Foundation. They had to cancel last year because of COVID-19. 

The Bocca Ball Court
Photo by ©Landscape Studio

Plantings throughout Delphi Gardens are lush and blend in with the property’s native trees and shrubs.

"We wanted the area to look natural with textures & color changes, so we used simple massing of blacked-eye Susans, swaths of Hydrangeas & Encore Azaleas which bloom three times a year."

Lush plantings surround this horse sculpture
Photo by ©Landscape Studio

Landscape Studio also incorporated some Rhododendrons, which Jim says are finicky in Atlanta, as well as hemlocks and Mount Laurel, at the client’s request.

Jim says Landscape Studio deployed about four crews of four to five workers, saying it was the most labor intensive project of his career. Landscape Studio also maintains the property, along with a full-time horticulturist employed by Dr. Demestihas.

The Bowl & Gardens for the Grandchildren
Photo by ©Landscape Studio

Much of the gardens and home are run on solar power. 

“Dr. Demestihas embraces innovation and is always looking forward,” says Jim.

In fact, Dr. Demestihas has set up a trust, so the property will remain in the family and enjoyed for generations to come.

About

Led by co-owners Jim Lesti and Adam Ardoin, Landscape Studio specializes in creating custom outdoor spaces with a concierge level of service from the consultation through design, and the construction process.
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