Before and After: 3 Front Yards Get Captivating Curb Appeal
Lively plantings and thoughtful touches turn a trio of once-bland spaces into neighborhood highlights
Neighbors and passersby sometimes get to reap the benefits of a design overhaul just as much as the homeowners do. And that’s exactly the case with these yards that overlook or abut neighborhood sidewalks. All three homes and their yards have distinct styles, but all brighten and beautify the area for everyone around to enjoy. Have a look and share your favorite transformational element in the Comments at the end.
After: Masses of exuberant plantings cushion the sides of the new terra-cotta entry walk, which replaced the bare strip you see cutting across the lawn in the previous photo. And creeping fig (Ficus pumila, USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone) now covers a portion of the home’s facade, adding charm and a romantic flourish that beautifully sets off the Spanish Colonial architecture.
The plants seen here, which are more water-wise and visually intriguing than the former lawn, include ‘Provence’ lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’, zones 5 to 9), Little Miss Sunshine rockrose (Cistus corbariensis ‘Dunnecis’, zones 8 to 10) and ‘Pink Sugar’ African daisy (Arctotis ‘Pink Sugar’, zones 9 to 11). Landscape designer Black preserved existing mature trees when renovating, which add height to the layered look.
Terra-cotta tiles: Tierra y Fuego
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The plants seen here, which are more water-wise and visually intriguing than the former lawn, include ‘Provence’ lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’, zones 5 to 9), Little Miss Sunshine rockrose (Cistus corbariensis ‘Dunnecis’, zones 8 to 10) and ‘Pink Sugar’ African daisy (Arctotis ‘Pink Sugar’, zones 9 to 11). Landscape designer Black preserved existing mature trees when renovating, which add height to the layered look.
Terra-cotta tiles: Tierra y Fuego
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Off the terra-cotta walkway to the right, just before the home’s front porch, is this steppingstone path made of Arizona flagstone. Low-water and foot-traffic-friendly silver carpet (Dymondia margaretae, zones 9 to 11) grows between the flagstones, while rosemary, daisies and more create privacy from the street while offering delightful views.
Black prioritized drought tolerance in the plant selections and grouped varieties with similar water requirements for efficient irrigation. He also added a rain-sensing drip irrigation system to reduce maintenance.
The project also included creating an intimate bistro area in the backyard, a lounge area off the living room and other outdoor spaces where the homeowners can enjoy the temperate San Francisco Bay Area weather.
Read the full transformation story
Black prioritized drought tolerance in the plant selections and grouped varieties with similar water requirements for efficient irrigation. He also added a rain-sensing drip irrigation system to reduce maintenance.
The project also included creating an intimate bistro area in the backyard, a lounge area off the living room and other outdoor spaces where the homeowners can enjoy the temperate San Francisco Bay Area weather.
Read the full transformation story
“After” photos by Julie MacCalus
2. Scenic Overlook
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their young daughter
Location: Haddonfield, New Jersey
Lot size: About half an acre
Designer and builder: Ledden Palimeno Landscape
Before: This New Jersey home on a quiet street had a spacious front yard but lacked visual interest. The homeowners also wanted a place where they could sit and watch their young daughter play. They brought on landscape designer and builder Ledden Palimeno to handle the project.
2. Scenic Overlook
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their young daughter
Location: Haddonfield, New Jersey
Lot size: About half an acre
Designer and builder: Ledden Palimeno Landscape
Before: This New Jersey home on a quiet street had a spacious front yard but lacked visual interest. The homeowners also wanted a place where they could sit and watch their young daughter play. They brought on landscape designer and builder Ledden Palimeno to handle the project.
After: Palimeno replaced a straight brick walkway leading from the driveway to the front door with the loosely curved bluestone steppingstone path you see here. Ornamental grasses, along with low-maintenance and regionally appropriate plants — including ‘Green Velvet’ boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Velvet’, zones 5 to 8), ‘Caramel’ coral bells (Heuchera ‘Caramel’, zones 4 to 8) and Incrediball smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens, zones 3 to 9) — soften the hardscaping and add interest.
10 Surefire Ways to Boost Curb Appeal
10 Surefire Ways to Boost Curb Appeal
A new gravel patio with three Adirondack chairs overlooks the front yard without feeling too exposed, thanks to the height and density of the plantings. Blooms in geometric planters add splashes of color on either side of the front steps.
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“After” photos by Tina Witherspoon and Meghan Montgomery
3. Out of Hiding
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Seattle
Size: 1,440 square feet (134 square meters); 36 by 40 feet
Landscape architect: Leslie Batten of Board & Vellum
Landscape contractor: Avid Landscape Management
Before: Hidden behind a huge holly tree and privacy screening, this Victorian home in Seattle felt closed off from the neighborhood. The homeowners also wanted to modernize the look, although they had differing ideas as to exactly how, and wanted places where they could grow flowers and edibles. Landscape architect Leslie Batten of Board & Vellum, working with Avid Landscape Design Management, harmonized their preferences, creating a cleaner design with plenty of room for blossoms, fruits and vegetables.
3. Out of Hiding
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Seattle
Size: 1,440 square feet (134 square meters); 36 by 40 feet
Landscape architect: Leslie Batten of Board & Vellum
Landscape contractor: Avid Landscape Management
Before: Hidden behind a huge holly tree and privacy screening, this Victorian home in Seattle felt closed off from the neighborhood. The homeowners also wanted to modernize the look, although they had differing ideas as to exactly how, and wanted places where they could grow flowers and edibles. Landscape architect Leslie Batten of Board & Vellum, working with Avid Landscape Design Management, harmonized their preferences, creating a cleaner design with plenty of room for blossoms, fruits and vegetables.
After: Clearing out the front plantings and adding smooth concrete retaining walls gave the yard a more open, connected and streamlined feel. Batten then brought in plantings that add color and movement, including blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens, zones 4 to 8) and ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, zones 4 to 9).
The homeowners loved the new yard’s look and connection so much that they ditched their idea for fencing around the front.
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The homeowners loved the new yard’s look and connection so much that they ditched their idea for fencing around the front.
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You can just catch a glimpse of a new pumpkin patch in the lower right corner here. It enlivens a slope to the right of the house and has become a highlight.
The flagstone path leads to a roomy backyard with raised edible beds, a dining patio and a fire pit area. Batten custom-designed a fence for that part of the property that matches this gate; the horizontal cedar boards have enough space between to let in light while still offering privacy from the street and adjoining properties.
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The flagstone path leads to a roomy backyard with raised edible beds, a dining patio and a fire pit area. Batten custom-designed a fence for that part of the property that matches this gate; the horizontal cedar boards have enough space between to let in light while still offering privacy from the street and adjoining properties.
Read more about this yard makeover
More on Houzz
Tour more landscapes
Browse landscape photos
Find a landscape designer or architect
Shop for your outdoor spaces
1. Bursting With Joy
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Palo Alto, California
Landscape architect: John Black of Verdance Landscape Architecture
Landscape contractor: Modern Landscaping
Before: With its bland and thirsty lawn, view-blocking plantings and plain driveway, this corner-lot home in Palo Alto, California, didn’t offer much in the way of curb appeal or inviting outdoor living space. The homeowners tapped John Black of Verdance Landscape Architecture to create vibrant areas where they could grow edibles and also lounge and dine.