Hello From Outside the Box

How this Landscape Architect & Builder Team Struck Indoor-Outdoor Gold

What would you do if you had creative control over a modestly sized, zero-lot-line landscape with no real budgetary restrictions? Would you try something completely new or catch yourself leaning on old conventions?

Shane Dantin, owner of Dantin Builders and Pinnacle Exterior Construction, the two companies responsible for bringing this space to fruition, is a proponent of thinking outside the box. His stance on the matter is rooted in his experience collaborating with Grant Murphy of GM Design Studio, former principal at Reich Landscape Architecture, on projects like this: a Baton Rouge residential development, winner of awards from the Growth Coalition and Louisiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

“We’ve worked with Grant on a lot of projects in the past, and one of the things I’ve always appreciated about his design process is that he doesn’t hold back on ideas,” says Shane, “Our goal was to make this project a showcase piece that challenged us to do things differently. We reached out to Grant because we knew he could push the exterior far beyond what we typically see in Louisiana.”

Daydreaming, the group knew, could not go on forever. With only a few months to execute the vision, ambitious planning warranted practical consideration. However, Grant’s ideas were never interrupted out of concern for logistics. Instead, out of respect for the design process, they all worked together to solidify the plan on-site—after Grant’s presentations.

“Shane told me the reason he was so quiet during our first presentation was that he was trying to figure out how to build it the whole time,” says Grant. “I think that’s a good example of how we operated here, informed by the expertise of everyone involved. Normally in the architecture and landscape architecture world, the design process happens in a silo. Then it’s put out to bid, and the lowest bidder usually wins. In this scenario, we were all at the table from the start.”

"We just kept going back & forth,
pitching ideas & working it out in the
field continuously as a cohesive team."

Also sitting at that table were the architect, The Front Door Design Studio, and the interior designer, The Design Studio of Louisiana. Making the exterior feel like an extension of the interior rooms was a central aspect of the design narrative, brought to life through unwavering attention to detail, specifically regarding materiality.

The same aggregate taking in water from the custom fountain at the front of the house is used in the interior planters. Italian porcelain tiles, identical in size and color, cover the interior and exterior floors of the home. Still, the creative zenith for the team, in terms of actualizing this indoor/outdoor aesthetic, is symbolized by the beams reflected in the knife-edge pool and champagne spa.

“The beams are one of the most unique parts of the house, unlike anything I’ve seen anywhere else,” says Shane. “They’re steel I-beams with wood-look tile epoxied inside. That came from Grant’s first drawing. When our interior designer saw the concept, she wanted to add the beams inside the home. You see them right when you walk in the front door.”

Wood elements, Shane explains, give the project a warm and organic feel that suits the Louisiana location. The inlay on the beams, easy on paper, became a notable challenge in reality, solved through communication. When Grant envisioned the beams, he imagined recycled wood from a local supplier. Through conversation, it became clear that the material would have to withstand intense sun rays. Switching to a tile emulating the desired wood type (white oak) satisfied this need. Then came the iterative process of ensuring all wood grain patterns lined up just so.

Every day, the deadline drew closer. Shane worked long hours to make up for time lost when he fell sick. Eventually, he pulled his son out of preschool to avoid catching the bug a third time and delaying the progress further. Having his boy on the job site emphasized a critical objective for the project: making it a safe place for children to play.

“I have young kids as well, and making the space safe was important to all of us,” says Grant. “In the backyard, there’s a private play area with a one-of-a-kind slide the Pinnacle team made by hewing and sanding a real log. You may not see them in the photos, which is a testament to the craft of the construction, but drop-down shades surround the whole outdoor living area. These shades have multiple functions. They enclose the space, block mosquitos and offer climate control.”

Another drop-down feature hides within the outdoor kitchen. Because screens tend to immerse anyone in their presence, the team wanted to give the homeowners the option to tuck their outdoor TV away and experience the quiet ambiance of the space. Off to the side, a floating fireplace offers a way to warm up after a soak. Displayed left of the stove is a personal touch—a collection of bonsai trees.

“What ties this project together is all the tiny details that a lot of people probably don’t notice at first glance,” says Grant. “The floating steps and planters at the front entrance are highlighted with light from below. There are floating steps inside the home too. That’s another example of the subtle nuances that connect the interior and exterior.”

Lighting was yet another facet contemplated thoroughly. The team understood that the family would often inhabit the outdoor space in dwindling daylight. With a phone app, lights activate instantaneously for that extra layer of va-va-voom that makes photos pop.

When Shane and Grant look at these photos, they recognize how the opportunity to collaborate and leave no stone unturned in the creative process led to a result beyond words.

All Photos Courtesy of ©Jordan Hefler Photography

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