A peaceful back yard refuge in the middle of the city, Alyse designed this space as an extension of the home. The owners notice that people seem to visibly relax when they enter the space. A water bowl on the dining terrace is nestled into clumping bamboo and lush plantings. In spring the bowl is filled with frog eggs, a source of enjoyment for the homeowners to watch them mature.

A faux porch of sorts was conceived by Lansing after learning the owners have always wanted one, but due to architecture constraints, a front porch was not possible. The new small porch on the side of the garage was a turning point for the design and needed "flow" in the back yard. "It solved many design dilemmas," Lansing says. Radiating from the porch and back door, two compementary patios--one of pavers and one of gravel--anchor the back yard.

Concrete pieces from the side yard's demolished driveway became the sinuous retaining wall across the back. Comprehensive back yard renovation work was completed by Joy Creek Nursery in 2010. Carpenter Andrew Babiracki of Terra Prima created the porch. A secret garden reading nook at the terminus of the "urbanite" wall was completed by Jaylene Walter Landscapes in 2015.