We are in the business of creating yards meant to be appreciated for as long as our clients live in their homes. It starts with a plan that covers the essential structure and layout, but offers the ability to make changes to keep up with the family needs as the years roll on. Your kids won’t always be kids and we make sure your yard design grows as they do.
When our clients decided to relocate to Lake Oswego, they prioritized finding a property in a better school district. With kids in the picture, they wanted a yard perfect for family gatherings and activities. The property they purchased had potential in the front yard and back for creating both intimate and expansive spaces.
It was a true collaboration with our clients, who provided us with extraordinary input throughout the project. They wanted to create areas that were well-connected to the lawn, driveway, and play structures while being perfect for relaxation and entertainment. We visited the family’s home and sent our clients a list of appropriate plants, asking them to select the types they liked. From their choices, our designer was able to pair the rest of the structures and foundations that best matched the chosen plants and therefore the clients’ style.
Sometimes we get lucky and encounter a yard that is already level, obstruction-free, and ready for a hassle-free makeover. That was the case on this Lake Oswego project where the landscape already had a decent lawn, infrastructure for an irrigation system, and an envelope of green that encompassed the space.
We removed an old concrete patio and plants that the client no longer wanted and converted an aging irrigation system to drip. We carved out an area of the driveway to incorporate a new patio, and we expanded the footprint a bit on a few planting areas. This job didn’t require heavy digging, leveling, or retaining walls.
The clients had an existing playpiece and had ordered a gazebo. Our job was to install the correct patios, pathways, and plants to provide the best backdrop for these structures while enhancing the use of the other areas of the yard, and then tie the whole space together for a cohesive look.
There was existing irrigation in place, but we updated the old rotor system to a new drip system that would better serve the watering needs of the new plants and lawn. The new Hunter Hydrawise system is waterwise, providing the volume of water that’s needed to match the current climate.
We used a variety of lights on this project. Around pathways we used uplighting for optimal illumination and we added light to create focal points against the dark green backdrop of the yard’s surround. All the LED lights are on timers and can also be operated from the clients’ cell phones, for added safety and security when no one is home.
Belgard Pavers in multiple sizes were used in both the front and backyard landscapes. We created a large patio in the back for a dining area. In the front, we incorporated a patio into the existing asphalt driveway, cutting the blacktop in just the right places to fit the paver dimensions and pattern.
There are two areas of the front yard built for distinct purposes. A large fire pit constructed from Belgard material with a stainless steel cover, sits on the gazebo-covered patio at the end of the driveway in the main activity hub. A smaller seating area tucked further away is a shady spot close enough to watch the kids but structured as a quiet sanctuary that features the client’s mythical sprite.
Attracting birds and butterflies was a top priority for our clients, as was having four seasons of color, and space for a garden. We saved some of their existing plantings, and our clients removed and sold what remained so we could add new life with Camellias, Fuchsia, Abelia, Lavender, Dogwoods, and more. Planters and pots allow for an ever-changing landscape.
With patios in both the front and back, we added variegated blue stone paths that meander throughout the space and provide a clean surface to walk on between the different areas of the yard. The paths provide a cohesiveness to the entire yard inviting slow strolling to enjoy the flowers and see what’s growing in the garden spaces.
There are two fountains in this Lake Oswego project. The front yard’s stone bubbler was designed to muffle the sound from the nearby road, and also serve as a landing spot for birds to drink and bathe. The backyard fountain is bolder, creating more sound and action, and another place for wildlife. Echo chambers on both, enhance the sound and decrease maintenance.
Weekly mowing and pruning are required for this yard to ensure the plants offer maximum growth and the lawn stays lush. About three times a year we fertilize and provide pest control services, and biannually we inspect and service the irrigation system through our premium water management service program.
We created three unique spaces for the clients checking off their wishlist of a play area for the kids, an adjacent outdoor living area where the adults can relax while overlooking the kids at play, and a completely separate patio in the backyard for dining, The entire yard is now occupied most days, providing a perfect blend for active play and relaxing sanctuary. We’re excited to watch it grow with the family.
