Garden & Gather

A residential landscape redesign that transformed an underused yard into a structured outdoor environment for gathering, movement, and everyday use.

Residential Landscape Redesign

The Problem

The existing yard felt unstructured and underutilized, without a clear sense of organization or purpose. It wasn’t a space that naturally supported daily use or invited people to spend time there.

  • Uneven grading and unsafe stairs created functional and safety issues

  • Poor drainage led to water management problems

  • Lack of shade and privacy made the space uncomfortable

  • The yard needed to support pets, requiring durable, non-toxic planting and separation of use areas

Approach

  • Organized the yard into clear zones for circulation, gathering, and planting

  • Reworked grading and drainage to create a continuous, stable surface and prevent pooling

  • Redesigned front and rear stairs to meet code and improve safety and access

  • Designed planting to be durable, pet-safe, and appropriate for long-term use

  • Introduced shade and privacy through strategic tree placement

  • Created a protected vegetable garden and a front yard firepit area to support both daily use and informal gathering

Outcome

The result is a yard that reads as a coherent system rather than an open, undefined space.

Movement through the yard is more natural, with clear zones that support both everyday routines and informal gathering. The backyard functions as a flexible space for activity and pets, while the front yard introduces a firepit area that creates a social edge and encourages connection with neighbors.

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