Montmorency & Nemours Farm

When a homeowner with a love of international travel, world-class European estates, furniture, and art, approached us about the restoration of a 19th-century home on 65 acres, it was like we won the lottery.  Originally a working farm, then a race horse breeding operation, and now a private family estate, the Monmorency & Nemours Farm posed interesting challenges for my team and offered great opportunities for innovation.  

With the goal of a comprehensive site overhaul staged in phases, we did extensive historical research on the property and surrounding acreage.  In addition, we engaged the owner to better grasp his preferences and desired usage.  With a sense of the property’s history and owner’s vision for the future established, the next step involved working closely with the regulating agency to understand and adhere to the parameters of the estate’s conservation easement.  

Once we had navigated the demands of the various stakeholders, we turned our attention to the natural challenges. Aware of the disruptive impact of the local deer population and limited access to water, we adopted an approach that worked with the land rather than against it.  A case in point was the installation of a new reflecting pond which simultaneously acted as a statement piece and provided a source for irrigation and fire suppression.  Touching on almost all parts of this 65-acre parcel, we created seasonal displays of perennials, reworked brick pathways and drives, redesigned the Nemours Farm Courtyard garden with its distinctive serpentine wall, and restored the brick and ironwork gates.  Through the wide array of garden experiences, new water feature, and attention to stone outbuildings, my team breathed new life and grandeur into a historic estate while honoring a commitment to conservation.