Landscape Design
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5 Landscape Renovation Challenges and How Pros Resolved Them
Landscape pros created beautiful, hardworking solutions when their projects threw them curveballs
In an ideal world, every landscape renovation would proceed without any delays or issues. In reality, landscape pros often need to tackle existing challenges and those that crop up unexpectedly during a project. Read on to learn how five outdoor pros on Houzz created beautiful, functional outdoor spaces despite project obstacles. We share photos of their work along with their tips, to demonstrate the solution and inspire your own remodel.
2. Design Pivot
Even with a beautiful and thoughtful plan, there may come a point in a project where some elements need to be reworked. Pros say that making changes may take more time and effort but can result in an even better design.
Challenge: Colin Breme of Core Outdoor Living had an almost clean slate when designing a new screened porch, deck and patio for this Fairfax, Virginia, home. “All [the homeowners] asked for was that the final product was open and airy,” he says. (Here we see a “before” photo of the space.)
Breme’s original design called for relocating the plantings on both sides of the basement door and creating an open patio area. “As we got deeper into the design process with the client, we realized it would be even nicer — and friendlier to the budget — to keep some of this greenery and create a more intimate space,” he says.
Adapting the design meant finding a way to keep the foliage from crowding access to the basement door. Breme also needed to factor in the existing lawn, which was set at a higher elevation than the basement door.
Even with a beautiful and thoughtful plan, there may come a point in a project where some elements need to be reworked. Pros say that making changes may take more time and effort but can result in an even better design.
Challenge: Colin Breme of Core Outdoor Living had an almost clean slate when designing a new screened porch, deck and patio for this Fairfax, Virginia, home. “All [the homeowners] asked for was that the final product was open and airy,” he says. (Here we see a “before” photo of the space.)
Breme’s original design called for relocating the plantings on both sides of the basement door and creating an open patio area. “As we got deeper into the design process with the client, we realized it would be even nicer — and friendlier to the budget — to keep some of this greenery and create a more intimate space,” he says.
Adapting the design meant finding a way to keep the foliage from crowding access to the basement door. Breme also needed to factor in the existing lawn, which was set at a higher elevation than the basement door.
Solution: “We figured out a way to cut back the greenery just enough to deliver the right balance of airiness and intimacy,” Breme says. To offset the yard’s slope, he added a retaining wall that also serves as seating for the fire pit. “As a result, while the clients’ patio size — and also the [project] cost — was decreased, their seating capacity was increased,” Breme says. “We call these happy accidents.”
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3. Limited Access
A landscape overhaul often requires demolition and construction work. Even with a larger lot and the ability to bring in equipment, coordinating in the space can be difficult. If the lot is small, as was the case with this home in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, access can be tricky.
Challenge: The homeowners wanted to turn their underused backyard into a clean, inviting space for relaxing and dining. “It was a bit of a mess, with some timber walls and steps that were scary to walk [on] and look at,” Jeff True of Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors says.
True notes that working in the city is always a bit tough. “Parking is not easy, nor was the access to the space, with only 3 feet available around the garage in back,” he says.
Solution: The team recognized that access would be an issue after their first on-site meeting. “We knew everything had to be done by hand and with a wheelbarrow,” True says. They were still able to clear the entire space, including an unexpected water heater and parts of a chair and couch buried in the backyard. “We all found it amusing that you can find just about anything buried in the city of Chicago,” he says.
The compact new backyard is an inviting space with a lovely dining and conversation area off the main floor of the home. The steps, seen here, lead to a cozy getaway spot by the basement entrance.
A landscape overhaul often requires demolition and construction work. Even with a larger lot and the ability to bring in equipment, coordinating in the space can be difficult. If the lot is small, as was the case with this home in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, access can be tricky.
Challenge: The homeowners wanted to turn their underused backyard into a clean, inviting space for relaxing and dining. “It was a bit of a mess, with some timber walls and steps that were scary to walk [on] and look at,” Jeff True of Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors says.
True notes that working in the city is always a bit tough. “Parking is not easy, nor was the access to the space, with only 3 feet available around the garage in back,” he says.
Solution: The team recognized that access would be an issue after their first on-site meeting. “We knew everything had to be done by hand and with a wheelbarrow,” True says. They were still able to clear the entire space, including an unexpected water heater and parts of a chair and couch buried in the backyard. “We all found it amusing that you can find just about anything buried in the city of Chicago,” he says.
The compact new backyard is an inviting space with a lovely dining and conversation area off the main floor of the home. The steps, seen here, lead to a cozy getaway spot by the basement entrance.
4. Historical Preservation
Bringing a fresh look to a historical home’s landscape while still maintaining some original charm means navigating a fine line between past and present.
Challenge: Designer Sara Yant of Twistleaf was tasked with reimagining outdoor spaces in the Historic District of Fredericksburg, Texas, including for a Queen Anne Victorian mansion, a carriage house, a five-unit barn conversion and three 1930s bungalows. “We needed to create a cohesive look that would complement the different architectural styles and prioritize an intuitive circulation between the spaces,” Yant says.
There were some hiccups along the way that impacted the original plan. A long-abandoned and crumbling drainage pipe beneath the mansion’s front yard was a safety risk. Stringent watering restrictions also were implemented for the Texas Hill Country during that time.
Solution: Yant replaced the fencing and gates with period-appropriate designs. She also updated the hardscape using a mix of concrete, bricks and decomposed granite to create paths and relaxing courtyards and retreats. Removing the crumbling pipe allowed her to reinforce the surrounding ground.
She finished the space with a mix of native and adapted plants that complement the architecture of the Queen Anne Victorian home. Black and blue sage and soft leaf yucca provide seasonal interest and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. American beautyberries (Callicarpa americana, USDA zones 6 to 10; find your zone), dwarf palmetto palms (Sabal minor, zones 7 to 10), aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, zones 3 to 9) and inland sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium, zones 3 to 8) define the restorative green retreat by the bungalows.
“We also reduced the amount of lawn in the original design and replaced several areas [including the space shown here], with Leavenworth’s sedge (Carex leavenworthii, zones 6 to 9) as a water-conscious solution,” Yant says.
Bringing a fresh look to a historical home’s landscape while still maintaining some original charm means navigating a fine line between past and present.
Challenge: Designer Sara Yant of Twistleaf was tasked with reimagining outdoor spaces in the Historic District of Fredericksburg, Texas, including for a Queen Anne Victorian mansion, a carriage house, a five-unit barn conversion and three 1930s bungalows. “We needed to create a cohesive look that would complement the different architectural styles and prioritize an intuitive circulation between the spaces,” Yant says.
There were some hiccups along the way that impacted the original plan. A long-abandoned and crumbling drainage pipe beneath the mansion’s front yard was a safety risk. Stringent watering restrictions also were implemented for the Texas Hill Country during that time.
Solution: Yant replaced the fencing and gates with period-appropriate designs. She also updated the hardscape using a mix of concrete, bricks and decomposed granite to create paths and relaxing courtyards and retreats. Removing the crumbling pipe allowed her to reinforce the surrounding ground.
She finished the space with a mix of native and adapted plants that complement the architecture of the Queen Anne Victorian home. Black and blue sage and soft leaf yucca provide seasonal interest and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. American beautyberries (Callicarpa americana, USDA zones 6 to 10; find your zone), dwarf palmetto palms (Sabal minor, zones 7 to 10), aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, zones 3 to 9) and inland sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium, zones 3 to 8) define the restorative green retreat by the bungalows.
“We also reduced the amount of lawn in the original design and replaced several areas [including the space shown here], with Leavenworth’s sedge (Carex leavenworthii, zones 6 to 9) as a water-conscious solution,” Yant says.
5. Fire Mitigation
Natural disasters and extreme weather are growing landscape considerations no matter where you live. Planning a landscape that can handle whatever Mother Nature might unleash has become a top priority for many homeowners.
Challenge: The owner of a home in the northeast foothills of Los Angeles wanted to replace her existing landscape with a beautiful drought-tolerant design featuring native plants. Wildfire mitigation was important to her as well. At the same time, the homeowner wanted a vibrant garden that wouldn’t look barren.
Even without the homeowner’s directive, the team at FormLA Landscaping already had been planning to incorporate fire-defensive strategies and materials. “We have a 365-day-per-year fire season,” says JT Wilkinson, maintenance care manager at FormLA.
Solution: Most homes that burn are ignited by wind-driven embers, so minimizing that risk is one of the first steps for any landscape. The designers created an ember-resistant “Zone 0” consisting of a 5-foot space around the house that would be kept free of dry wood, petroleum fuels, clutter and litter. They also placed a gravel path and concrete patios within the zone to provide defensible space where fire fighters could easily remove embers.
A canopy of coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia, zones 9 to 11) in the neighborhood provides a second level of protection, as the foliage can intercept embers before they reach the house or fences. The plants within the space provide yet another layer of protection. “While there are no fireproof plants, the lush, leafy nature of this garden is one of its most fire-defensive qualities,” FormLA president Cassy Aoyagi says. The resulting landscape expertly blends drought-tolerant and native plants with fire mitigation strategies in a beautiful and inviting space.
Fire-Wise Landscapes Can Help Keep Your Home and Property Safe
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Natural disasters and extreme weather are growing landscape considerations no matter where you live. Planning a landscape that can handle whatever Mother Nature might unleash has become a top priority for many homeowners.
Challenge: The owner of a home in the northeast foothills of Los Angeles wanted to replace her existing landscape with a beautiful drought-tolerant design featuring native plants. Wildfire mitigation was important to her as well. At the same time, the homeowner wanted a vibrant garden that wouldn’t look barren.
Even without the homeowner’s directive, the team at FormLA Landscaping already had been planning to incorporate fire-defensive strategies and materials. “We have a 365-day-per-year fire season,” says JT Wilkinson, maintenance care manager at FormLA.
Solution: Most homes that burn are ignited by wind-driven embers, so minimizing that risk is one of the first steps for any landscape. The designers created an ember-resistant “Zone 0” consisting of a 5-foot space around the house that would be kept free of dry wood, petroleum fuels, clutter and litter. They also placed a gravel path and concrete patios within the zone to provide defensible space where fire fighters could easily remove embers.
A canopy of coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia, zones 9 to 11) in the neighborhood provides a second level of protection, as the foliage can intercept embers before they reach the house or fences. The plants within the space provide yet another layer of protection. “While there are no fireproof plants, the lush, leafy nature of this garden is one of its most fire-defensive qualities,” FormLA president Cassy Aoyagi says. The resulting landscape expertly blends drought-tolerant and native plants with fire mitigation strategies in a beautiful and inviting space.
Fire-Wise Landscapes Can Help Keep Your Home and Property Safe
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Get landscape design ideas
Find a landscape designer or architect
Shop for outdoor products
Plumbing lines, electrical lines, sewers and septic systems are all essential to the smooth operation of your home. In many landscape renovations, working around these features is pretty straightforward. Occasionally — as was the case with this North Bend, Washington, project — the solution is more complicated.
Challenge: These homeowners wanted a complete redesign of their backyard. Their wish list included a water feature, paver patio, covered structure, fire pit and more, landscape architect Tim Glass of Alderwood Landscape Architecture & Construction says. The central portion of the backyard had a septic system where the pond would go. To add to the problem, the septic tanks were failing and the whole system needed to be redesigned.
Solution: Glass redesigned the entire septic system and moved it to the front yard. “This allowed the backyard to have enough space for a gorgeous water feature that complements everything around it,” he says. Once the team got approval from the city, which Glass describes as an efficient process, they were able to proceed.
The new water feature is the yard’s focal point. It can be seen from the multiple lounge and dining areas as well as from windows throughout the house. And this project “turned out to be one of our favorite projects yet,” Glass says.
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