Paul LaPointe: Owner and Designer

Paul LaPointe has been living and working in Loudoun County, Virginia since 1986, when he began providing horticultural services to many large estates in the Middleburg area. After his early college years and while operating his own business (Landscape Concepts of Middleburg), Paul continued his education at NOVACC and George Washington University, obtaining a degree in Horticulture and Landscape Design.

Many long-time locals will remember the popular and highly respected "Overbrook Nurseries" in Western Loudoun where Paul co-managed all operations. While at Overbrook Nurseries, Paul led the company to its first design awards. He has won several other prestigious design awards and acknowledgements for his community service work.

Besides creating elegant planting compositions, Paul’s designs often include one-of-a kind naturalistic or formal water features, garden structures, stone walls, night lighting, patios and other outdoor living spaces.

Paul has traveled extensively to study different gardens around the world. He has drawn inspiration from the famous Butchart Gardens in Victoria, B.C., the gardens of Versailles in France, the botanical gardens of Singapore and the landscapes of the New Territories, north of Hong Kong and the natural landscapes of the West Coast here in the United States. Paul’s favorite local gardens include Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C. and Longwood Gardens in Delaware.

See Paul featured in a promotional video for Habitat For Humanity here

Carol Snow: Designer

Carol Snow joined the River’s Edge Landscapes team in the Spring of 2006, bringing exceptional designing skills and extensive experience. While receiving her education in landscape design, Carol ran her own Estate Management company, where her “hands-on” project management skills won her the admiration and respect from new and repeat clientele alike.

Carol’s innovative designs capture the styles and tastes of her clients as well as the beauty and specific qualities of the land for each property. She specializes in an array of landscape elements including “winterscapes”, water features, retaining and garden walls, riding rings, formal and cottage-style gardens, and forest floor gardens. She also has extensive experience in projects such as sighting driveways, swimming pools and ponds. Carol is very dedicated to each client and project, providing outstanding results.

Certified in Green Advantage, which is part of the LEED (Leaders in Energy and Environmental Design) program, Carol works with all aspects of the environment, i.e. sun exposure, grade, soil, surface water, etc., to create not only beautiful, but also ecologically suited landscapes.

Carol’s garden projects have been featured in local garden tours, newspapers and magazines. She is a speaker and guide for garden parties. Her favorite garden is Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C

Leslie Solitario, Landscape Architect

Since 2012, Leslie has been a member of the team at River's Edge, where she enjoys collaborating with her colleagues and clients to create welcoming, relaxing spaces. After earning her degree from Cornell University, she studied in France's La Napoule Landscape Program and earned her professional license. Leslie has experience in a diverse array of environments, and has brought her landscape design and architecture skills to firms and projects in Maryland, DC, Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia, and Brazil.

Leslie's specialty is designing landscapes for everything from townhomes to large estates, with additional experience in commercial and historical properties. She has expertise in keeping “spirit of place” at the heart of her designs, as well as a passion for the creative process and developing relationships with clients. The result is creative outdoor spaces that incorporate client aspirations with details like native plants, hardscape, and seasonal color interest, so that they all come together to create year-round beauty and lasting enjoyment.

Leslie has been honored by the National Landscape Association, the Landscape Contractors Association of MD, DC, VA; and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America. She has chaired multiple grounds committees and is an active member of the Northern Virginia Nursery and Landscaping Association. She often volunteers at local schools and in her community as a Loudoun County Master Gardener; she regularly takes classes in the DC area to stay abreast of the current trends. Leslie's favorite local garden is the garden at the George C. Marshall House, which she has been restoring for the past several years. Her other favorites include gardens at the Chautauqua Institute in New York and anything in Brazil by Roberto Burle Marx.

Our Professional Field Staff

With integrity and a dedicated team spirit, our talented and knowledgeable field staff create extraordinary landscapes. The majority of our field personnel have been with River’s Edge for years. They understand the importance of performing at the highest level. In addition, our staff goes through continual training and industry related educational seminars to keep up with all of the latest, cutting edge information.

Chris Carr: Hardscapes Manager

Chris has been a professional mason for over twenty years. For nearly half of that time he operated his own business serving upscale clientele in the Washington D.C. metro area.

Chris has extensive experience managing multi-faceted projects including landscape installations, construction of walkways, multi-level patios, extensive retaining walls and much more. He is certified by the ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) in paver installation and he is also a Landscape irrigation technician.