Set high on a hillside in Scarsdale, New York, this young family’s backyard offers a quiet surprise: a distant view of the Long Island Sound that reveals itself only once you’ve rounded the home. Somewhere between that horizon line and the layered terrain shaped by Rosalia Sanni and Stephanie Rustici of Rosalia Sanni Design, the outdoor space unfolds as a lived-in journey—layered, intuitive, and softly transformative.
The home itself offers clean lines, refined details, and generous interior volumes—and the homeowners wanted the exterior landscape to reflect the same level of intention and beauty. “They wanted it to be beautiful and clean, but also truly functional,” Sanni shares. “They weren’t sure how to program it, but they were open to suggestions—and that gave us the freedom to sculpt something really thoughtful.”
With a dramatic 26.5-foot grade change from the back door to the property line, the site demanded a distinctive approach—one rooted in shaping the land itself. The result is a series of gentle transitions that guide movement through multiple zones, seamlessly blending form and function. “We thought about it like designing a house,” says Rustici. “The first level becomes your outdoor living room and dining space. Then a few steps down, you’re in the pool zone. Step further, and it’s a play lawn.”
Instead of relying on hard retaining walls, the team introduced a terraced rhythm that feels both organic and structured, gently opening the property up to the view of the Sound. These sculpted slopes allowed for artful architectural integrations, like the embedded stairway and overside pavers that soften the movement between levels. “It’s this dance between earth and structure,” Sanni explains. “There’s a rhythm and elegance to the transitions that makes the entire space feel effortless.”
Materially, the design bridges the transitional facade with the crisp, contemporary interiors. Warm white porcelain pavers in a running bond pattern are paired with marble stair treads and cladding on the fire pit and outdoor kitchen. Anchoring the patio is a custom kitchen complete with grill, sink, kegerator, and more outfitted with Cosentino Dekton countertops for a clean look with lasting durability.
Anchoring the heart of the backyard is an elongated, resort-style pool—a sleek centerpiece that adds a strong linear counterpoint to the rolling topography. The stairs just beyond the pool are inset directly into the land, edged with precision yet cushioned by soft landings that make them safe and inviting, even for little ones. Each level was carefully programmed for flexibility and ease.
Perhaps the most striking feature is how open and fluid the property feels. “Each space has its own identity,” Sanni notes, “yet nothing feels closed off. There’s this sense of connection, visual and physical, that ties it all together.” In the end, the result is exactly what the name suggests: Sculpted Serenity, a tranquil, terraced escape that balances architecture and nature, movement and rest, all with a stunning view of the Sound.
Written by - Danielle Porter • Photography - Jorge Gonzalez-Guillot • Landscape Design - Rosalia Sanni Design • Construction - TC Builders • Pool Installation - Regal Blu Pool and Spa
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
Sculpted Serenity ©Rosalia Sanni Design
