The Hearth Garden

A new home build gave this family the opportunity to imagine how their landscape could support the way they wanted to live. With young children, they envisioned a backyard filled with places to play, explore and spend time together.

The sloped lot presented the biggest challenge. We needed to create comfortable, usable spaces across the changing grade while ensuring the upper deck felt connected to the landscape below. The goal was not simply to fit each feature onto the property, but to create a natural sense of movement from one area to the next.

Retaining walls allowed us to shape the slope, while new stairs and carefully planned transitions brought the different levels together. The outdoor fireplace became the center for gathering, and the surrounding landscape gave the children plenty of room for everyday adventures.