2021 APLD Gold Award Residential Landscape Design

My two clients, Debra and Ramona moved to Seattle from Carmel, California, looking for a relaxed contemporary private home. They were searching for plenty of outdoor entertainment space and area for their diva dogs to roam. This garden would reflect their modern aesthetic. 

Year 2 ©DoreenWynja.com Photography

To reflect the modern style of the house, we first created a spacious skylit Ipe covered deck with a granite fire table and an outdoor spa and seating area. Accenting this, we planted Karl Foerster grass, hellebores, dwarf conifers and high mountain granite boulders that connect to a random bluestone path.

The winding curve of Limelight and Annabelle hydrangeas cascades down the lawn to reach a focal view of Mt. Rainier in the distance. The beds transition to white birch, Physocarpus ‘Coppertina’, Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ and Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’.

The highlight of the garden includes a series of curving steel retaining walls that have been strategically placed to capture and direct rainwater through the property. These tiered walls include a palette of relaxed drought-tolerant plantings that include Acer ‘Twombleys red sentinel’ standing as focal points across the top of the walls.  Tucked in to the walls are Phormium ‘carousel’, Bergenia ‘Rose glow’, Calluna ‘firefly’ and Perovskia ‘blue jean baby’.  Other plants include Carex testacea and Rhaphiolepis u.‘Minor’.

 Above the steel walls, are a series of custom steel planters supporting a plethora of seasonal vegetables and herbs. The whimsical five-foot Terra trellis bean tower stands sentinel in the planters and has a built in nest for avian visitors.

The garden continues back to the main house with a decorative screen and paths returning to the house.

We collaborated with Northwest Outdoor Lighting on this home. They added outdoor lighting to both the main and guest house areas. Their lighting vision truly enhanced the outdoor entertainment space. It was a joy to work with the talented Northwest Lighting team.

Before Our Upgrade

Year 1