101 Warren St. Gardens

John and Libby met Ken and Cookie when they moved from Bexley to Warren Street and instantly became good friends. They allow their side by side outdoor living spaces to come together to create one large secret garden oasis in the middle of bustling Italian Village. The two addresses share a rusticated block garage spanning the width of both back yards, originally built for horse and buggy. The garage serves as the southern wall of the gardens and fencing hems in the sides for privacy.

101 Warren Street garden is filled with whimsical sculptures throughout creating an eccentric, casual atmosphere along with an outdoor bar, seating areas, umbrellas for shade and a ceramic kiva for chilly nights. A natural Ohio stone feature provides a visual separation between the two yards. The garden is designed around three large trees and the two mature oriental maples. Ken & Cookie’s home was built in 1887 by Italian masons, like many other homes in the area.

Next door, at 105 Warren Street, Libby and John purchased their property in 2013 with a goal to make the backyard an outdoor living area where they could entertain family and friends. They repurposed existing stone steps, rocks and bricks and installed new concrete “floating” walkways on an incline to make it easier to navigate. There are three multi-level gathering areas that include a bar area, gas fire pit and custom-designed water feature strategically placed to mask traffic noise. Libby installed native Ohio plants including hosta, clematis, hibiscus, grasses, irises and day lilies. The yard was designed and built out by Foreground Studios. John and Libby’s home was built in 1894 also by Italian masons.