The angles of the new front walk carry through to the angled bedline across the front of the mid-century modern home. Renn Kuhnen Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized 1950s front door remodel in Milwaukee

Paving a driveway and adding low stone walls to a front yard is a huge transformation that can add big value to your home.
Photo of a huge traditional full sun front yard stone driveway in Jacksonville for summer.

A front yard in South Florida is transformed by landscape design. New walkways, fencing, plantings and a courtyard garden enhance the front yard space. Matthew Giampietro

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

this tiny water-wise front yard is on a terrace leading up to the house, viewed both from the inside of the house and looking down on the garden from the stairs to the front door. The garden is designed to be a 'garden of curiosities', a visual painting with dramatic foliage color and architectural plants. Succulents include Agava 'Kara's Stripes', Various Aeoniums, Phormiums, Coprosma 'Pacific Sunset', Oxalis 'Zinfandel', Chondropetalum, Agave 'Blue Glow (pot) among other plants

Another view showing planting at right of entry. photo Mike Heacox / Luciole Design
Photo of a mid-sized mid-century modern drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard garden path in Sacramento.

Example of a large arts and crafts blue two-story house exterior design in Seattle

A front yard in South Florida is transformed by landscape design. New walkways, fencing, plantings and a courtyard garden enhance the front yard space. Matthew Giampietro

The plantings surrounding the front of the home accentuate the prairie architecture. Westhauser Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized mid-century modern drought-tolerant and full sun front yard stone landscaping in Milwaukee for summer.

Front landscape with stone border and walkway
Design ideas for a traditional full sun front yard landscaping in Houston.

In this view, the curved retaining wall guides the eye across a flowing expanse of newly planted grass. The lawn continues in the same graceful lines beyond the front walkway, creating a cohesive, unified look across the yard. Fresh plantings add texture and seasonal interest, while a background shrub promises to become a flowering highlight as it grows and matures. This layered design brings structure, softness, and long-term beauty to a once-simple front landscape.

Situated in old Palo Alto, CA, this historic 1905 Craftsman style home now has a stunning landscape to match its custom hand-crafted interior. Our firm had a blank slate with the landscape, and carved out a number of spaces that this young and vibrant family could use for gathering, entertaining, dining, gardening and general relaxation. Mature screen planting, colorful perennials, citrus trees, ornamental grasses, and lots of depth and texture are found throughout the many planting beds. In effort to conserve water, the main open spaces were covered with a foot friendly, decorative gravel. Giving the family a great space for large gatherings, all while saving water.

If a home is located in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone in Southern California, and remodeling or installing more than 3,000 square feet of new landscaping, it is likely that the plants will need to be compliant with fuel modification standards to ensure that each individual plant does not put off too much gas which in turn could spread fire at an accelerated rate. MC Design partnered with Seed Group LA to devise a fuel modification plan that was aesthetically pleasing, and then worked with L.M. Landscape, Inc. to install the garden.

A linear group of sesleria Autumn Moor grass intersects with the front walk at the steps. Beach pebble mulch is used to highlight the grasses from the other plantings. Renn Kuhnen Photography

Design ideas for a southwestern full sun front yard landscaping in Houston for spring.

These large cement steps leading to the home make a grand statement, and by adding grass between each slab we softened the space without taking away from the impact of the walkway.

This Torrance front yard features premium artificial turf paired with clean concrete stepping stones, creating a modern, low-maintenance, and pet-friendly landscape. Designed for Southern California living, the layout enhances curb appeal while providing a durable, zero-maintenance lawn and a functional walkway for everyday use.

Inspiration for a small modern partial sun front yard brick driveway in Toronto for summer.

Wide view of the front yard, driveway & inner courtyard entry area
Design ideas for a large modern partial sun front yard concrete paver driveway in Vancouver.