NOVEMBER 2022

Building Their Own

Craig and Mary Johnson have been crafting distinctive custom homes since 1985. They established their company, Herrington Homes, in Wilmington in 2008 after relocating from Virginia. Herrington has since constructed hundreds of homes in charming neighborhoods such as Autumn Hall and River Bluffs.

(Jessi Lynne Photography)

Four years ago, they relied upon decades of expertise to design their own residence. Outdoor living was a key factor as they prefer to start and end their days in the open air.

We waited a long time to build this home and came armed with a binder full of ideas on what to include. The goal was to make everything blend and flow.

The couple worked with landscape architect Josh Mihaly for his design expertise. The yard is centered around Caribbean’s enticing pool and spa.

Our grandchildren love to swim day and night. It's a great place to enjoy each other's company.

Planter boxes flank the spa. In the distance you can see the peaceful tanning deck.

The outstanding two-story, double-sided, gas fireplace, faced with Bucks County Southern Ledgestone was hand-crafted by Aztec Masonry who also installed the creme travertine pool deck and coping.

A covered entertaining area was important to the family. This gathering space is heavily used throughout the year.

Stonework is definitely an art. We enjoy using stone throughout our home. The texture and different styles add so much.

A full outdoor kitchen offers everything a grill-master could desire. Phantom screens seal off the patio at the touch of a button allowing the couple to entertain family and friends poolside even in the Fall and Winter months.

The screens cut out so much of the weather, they make the patio into another room of the house.

The horticultural skills of Freeman Landscaping further enhance the hardscape with greenery, pops of color, and a backdrop of pindo palm trees.

Dramatic lighting highlights the landscaping and adds a touch of magic.

We love it. We really do. It’s my favorite part of the whole house.

Thank you to Craig & Mary for this tour of their amazing outdoor space.

Inspired to update your outdoor area? Visit our store at 5726 Market Street or our website at stonegarden-nc.com to see more great ideas for pools, patios, fire features and more.