A Tranquil Front Yard Retreat for an Urban Garden
A Craftsman home in California gains a terraced garden, a formal entry, a water feature and a front patio for lounging
On a busy street, steps away from downtown Berkeley, California, a family of four finds peace and connection in their front yard. “On warmer evenings we will sit out there after work with a glass of wine. On the weekends we have lunch or read in the courtyard. The kids like the pebbles and hang out with us too,” says homeowner Nova Blazej. “We always have a lot of lemons, so we like to share them, and I love watching the birds in our fountain.”
Working with less than 300 square feet, landscape designer and contractor Ian Moore collaborated with the family to turn a previously underutilized piece of their yard into a welcoming front entry and garden that can be admired by all who pass by.
Working with less than 300 square feet, landscape designer and contractor Ian Moore collaborated with the family to turn a previously underutilized piece of their yard into a welcoming front entry and garden that can be admired by all who pass by.
Terraced planters built into the retaining wall feature California-friendly plants, including kumquats, Meyer lemons and green lavender cotton (Santolina rosmarinifolia, syn. S. virens). Variegated ‘Tony Tiger’ New Zealand flax (Phormium ‘Tony Tiger’) grow in the street-level planter, softening the transition from the sidewalk up to the elevated patio. “We really wanted Meyer lemon trees, since we have a very old one in the backyard that we love, so we are secession-planning,” Blazej says.
A custom-welded wire mesh fence ties in with the latticework of the wood fence above. Moore’s team installed the metal barrier after the project was completed in order to prevent neighborhood dogs from using the planter as a bathroom.
Western red cedar fence and gate. The subtle Japanese-influenced details of the Craftsman-style house come into play with the soft lattice of the western red cedar fence. (The fence is finished in Messmers UV penetrating oil in gray). This style of fence creates the feeling of enclosure and privacy that the homeowners wanted without blocking the street completely. “It is nice to be able to talk to neighbors as they walk by and to also have a feeling of privacy,” Blazej says.
A custom-welded wire mesh fence ties in with the latticework of the wood fence above. Moore’s team installed the metal barrier after the project was completed in order to prevent neighborhood dogs from using the planter as a bathroom.
Western red cedar fence and gate. The subtle Japanese-influenced details of the Craftsman-style house come into play with the soft lattice of the western red cedar fence. (The fence is finished in Messmers UV penetrating oil in gray). This style of fence creates the feeling of enclosure and privacy that the homeowners wanted without blocking the street completely. “It is nice to be able to talk to neighbors as they walk by and to also have a feeling of privacy,” Blazej says.
A new custom arbor and entry gate next to the fence leads visitors to the garden as well as to the front door. Entirely handmade, the gate and fence were the project’s biggest splurges but were elements Moore believes significantly enhanced the design. “This feature is a wonderful blend of historic Berkeley with some contemporary design influence,” Moore says. “Much like the formal entry to a Japanese tea garden, the fence and gate really set the tone,” he says.
An antique wisteria, a gift to the homeowners from the head of horticulture at the Filoli estate in Woodside, California, sprawls over the new arbor.
An antique wisteria, a gift to the homeowners from the head of horticulture at the Filoli estate in Woodside, California, sprawls over the new arbor.
Gravel patio. Inside the gate, a new 12-by-10-foot gravel lounge area sits off the main path to the front door. Gravel for the floor was another opportunity for Moore to use a material that was both attractive and budget-friendly. “At some point in the future the paving may be upgraded to natural cut stone,” he says.
A couple of reclined chairs and a wood bench Moore made give the family a place in the front yard to relax in the afternoon sun.
Lounge chairs and ottoman: Blu Dot; see more lounge chairs
A couple of reclined chairs and a wood bench Moore made give the family a place in the front yard to relax in the afternoon sun.
Lounge chairs and ottoman: Blu Dot; see more lounge chairs
Rock fountain. A small recirculating fountain made from a cored boulder anchors the front corner of the yard, with the constant trickle of water softening the noise from the street. Moore’s team bought the boulder from American Soil & Stone and installed the water feature element themselves. Now, birds pop by for a drink or a bath. “The wildlife benefits are a greatly appreciated addition,” Moore says, even if that includes the occasional visiting raccoon and opossum.
Monkey flower (Mimulus sp.), foothill sedge (Carex tumulicola) and Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana), the last two of which are Western North American natives, frame the edge of the patio, softening the wood and gravel area while also contributing some privacy.
Find a landscape designer to help with your planting project
Find a landscape designer to help with your planting project
Landscape lighting. Lighting the landscape well was an important element to enable the homeowners to enjoy the space at night, but also because this yard is part of the home’s main entryway. Lights frame the steps up to the house, shine from overhead and illuminate the planting beds to create a soft glow for evening enjoyment and safe movement.
“Our home has expanded out with our new courtyard,” Blazej says.
Lighting: WAC and Hinkley LED; browse more landscape lighting
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Before and After: See 5 Dramatic Front Yard Updates
“Our home has expanded out with our new courtyard,” Blazej says.
Lighting: WAC and Hinkley LED; browse more landscape lighting
More
See more front yard ideas
Before and After: See 5 Dramatic Front Yard Updates
Front Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: Nova Blazej, an environmental planner with the Environmental Protection Agency, her husband and their two teenage daughters
Location: Berkeley, California
Size: 20 feet wide by 15 feet deep
Designer and contractor: Ian Moore Design, which also provided all custom concrete work, metalwork and woodwork
Concrete retaining wall. A new board-formed concrete retaining wall separates the front yard from the street and also enabled the designers to create a level space for the patio. Moore chose the material for the aesthetic as well as for its cost. “It is a cost-effective concrete-forming strategy, compared to any smooth-finish method,” Moore says.