Read more about our 2025 APLD Winning Garden below!
This Spanish-style home located in Kirkland had been replanted several times and was bare most of the year. The arched breezeway creates a grand entrance but the landscape was not complimentary. The client wanted to include low-maintenance plantings and hardscaping that connected the courtyard spaces with an airy Mediterranean feel that could be enjoyed from both the outside and inside. Because the breezeway is such an important part of the house, the landscape needed to complement its Spanish style while providing year-round interest. The courtyard view is pivotal from both inside and outside the home, so providing opportunities to connect each space was paramount to the design. The transition from the driveway to the partially enclosed courtyard needed to be seamless to facilitate a cohesive flow from one area to the next.
The design included the pathway layout, water feature, softscape, and landscape lighting to provide a functional and aesthetically pleasing garden while stimulating the senses. Placing the water feature directly off the living room window provides a framed view from inside. The Quartzite flagstone was hand-selected to coordinate with the existing main walkway. Each existing archway provides a different framed view of the courtyard garden from the driveway.
Small trees were chosen to anchor the spaces and give strong focal points throughout. The archways are low, and plants were selected to help balance the space without making it feel crowded or confined. Swaths of grasses create a billowing effect in summer. Lavender, Roses, and Peonies enhance the romantic feel of the garden while Escallonia and Osmanthus give structure and interest to the garden even in winter.
Decorative pots were chosen to match the home’s style while providing a way to capture over-splash from the new rain chains. The many layered textures, colors, and light add much-needed dimension to this courtyard space.
While the courtyard is a somewhat protected space from the environment, the area along the driveway is
susceptible to long stretches of sun and heat in the summer. The transition between these 2 areas was
important and meant that plants were selected to avoid high water use and could withstand periods of
drought. The courtyard garden provides an airy entry to match the home’s beauty.
To see more finished pictures of this project (and other project pictures) you can visit our Portfolio here.
If you have a unique outdoor space, we would love to help bring the design to life. You can contact us here.
