Despite size and location—a modest lot in a dense neighborhood—the landscape design for this Castle Pines home provides a peaceful and sophisticated retreat where homeowners can immerse in nature.

The design is a departure from adjacent properties and required careful review from the Homeowners Association before moving forward with construction and install. It did, however, earn the (enthusiastic) support of the review board, and has since inspired several projects in the immediate community.

Corten steel wraps through the landscape, which is peppered with art, native grasses, and a large water feature made entirely of organic materials. A sunken patio with fire pit and seating areas provides a place for relaxation and gatherings, while its recessed position on the lot ensures uninterrupted views of plant life and surrounding peaks from within the home.

The goal was to maximize connection to nature, and create a suburban refuge rooted in the principles of feng shui. Rather than using hardscapes, we created pathways of delicate gravel, small pebbles that can be walked on barefoot and are often found in Zen gardens, and integrated thin strip lighting to aid visibility without compromising views of the nighttime sky.

The design prioritizes drought tolerant material, native plants, perennials and tall grasses that move and respond to the wind. A recessed basement window is lined with serviceberry trees to create a feeling of coziness and privacy without blocking the view from the window above. Strategically placed River Birch trees provide screening and define the space. And a restrained palette of ornamentals—white fern bush, salvia, whirling butterflies, gaillardia, and plumbego—adds color and softness to the overall design.