New-home owners partnered with us to update and personalize their yard.

Location: Northwest Side, Chicago

Service: Garden updates

For this new build, we designed a yard that's low-maintenance and on-trend.

A few years in the making, this backyard combines ornamental and edible plantings.

This project focused on refreshing a key garden bed along a newly installed fence.

We decided to design around the existing trees, adding soft, descending layers and more color. The result is a modern shade garden with an effortless feel — and an immediate sense of maturity that continues to develop over time. To make use of a few sunny spots, flowering annuals maximize the vibrant palette of pinks and purple blooms.

After weeding and assessing what the builders originally installed, we kept a handful of evergreens and introduced a more naturalistic structure. We refined the palette to velvety whites, rich browns, and mid-tone greens for a cohesive look. A quick addition of drip irrigation solved the dry-shade challenge, while low-maintenance seasonal planters keep the entryway fresh and welcoming year-round.

Bordering an 1881 frame home, abundant pastel double-blooms are surrounded by spring flowers that fruit after pollination. This plot is a true cottage garden: a mix of carefree, arching ornamentals and useful kitchen-garden plants. That means ample food for people — and pollinators. These days, most of our efforts are pruning, harvesting and propagating — the hallmark of a mature garden.

The goal was to create instant visual impact while laying the groundwork for long-term growth. The owner requested natives and other drought-tolerant plants to build a maintenance border garden that fills in beautifully over time. The space now provides structure, seasonal interest, and an inviting edge to the property.