12 Surprising Features Found in Front Yards

Fire, water, edibles and wildlife habitats are just a few of the elements you can consider adding to your entryway landscape

Becky Harris July 2, 2016

Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected." I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.

Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More

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Our approach to front yard design can get stuck in a rut — lawn, front walk, a few foundation plants, and we’re done. But when you don’t have a bunch of homeowners association rules or local codes holding you back, there is so much more your front yard can be, and so much more it can do for the environment. Whether you want to attract your favorite birds, gather with friends or grow your own food, don’t get hemmed in out back. Instead, take it all the way out to the street.

David Morello Garden Enterprises, Inc.

1. A wildlife habitat. This Houston front yard doesn’t contain a blade of lawn grass. Instead, trees, shrubs, ground covers, perennials and evergreens make up this bungalow’s lush and fragrant front yard. A path and gathering area are also part of the plan. Owner and ardent gardener David Morello changes the color palette in the garden with annuals that he plants seasonally.

Katharine Webster Inc.

2. A sculpture garden. A pea gravel front yard in this California wine country home is not only drought-tolerant, but also makes a great surface for sculptures. A hedge provides privacy from the busy street, and the owners and their friends can enjoy the view of the sculpture garden from the front porch.

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Samuel H. Williamson Associates

3. A shade garden. The approach to this Oregon home has a magical woodland view thanks to a grove of Japanese snowbell trees plus a mix of textures and colors, including ferns, Japanese maples, barrenwort and fragrant sweet box.

Lankford Associates Landscape Architects

4. A piece of agricultural history. At this farmhouse in Washington’s Skagit Valley, the designers repurposed an old cow water trough from the site to become a pleasing garden feature. The trough is a casual element in a front yard that has a formal axial plan.

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Eric Aust Architect

5. A fire pit. It’s a surprise to see flames blazing above the wall of this California front yard.

Eric Aust Architect

Here’s a closer look over the wall. The front yard is a hybrid of porch and patio. A low wall defines the area and provides some security without making the front yard feel like a fortress.

Soleil lounge chairs, Room & Board; pillow fabrics: Trina Turk; Artisan siding: James Hardie; patio doors: Sierra Pacific; paint: DEW380 (white) and DEA187 (black), both Dunn-Edwards

Spry Architecture

6. An address announcement. Everything on this ranch redo in Phoenix was kept simple and minimalistic — the modern black stucco facade, straight lines, simple pavers and desert plantings. But a large water-cut address plate of rusted steel adds to its identity out front.

Spry Architecture

The use of a limited material palette and clean lines puts the attention on the sculptural shapes of the desert plants.

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Nilsen Landscape Design, LLC

7. A kitchen garden. More often seen at the rear of a house, a kitchen garden here is proudly displayed in front. While the picket fence is an expected touch in this Cape Cod’s front yard, raised planters add a more contemporary twist.

Containers: Naturalyards

Shirley Bovshow

The style of this edible garden in a Los Angeles front yard nods to more traditional knot gardens. Herbs, lettuces, artichokes, apples, strawberries, nasturtium flowers and Swiss chard are just some of the bounty growing here.

Harding Design & Construction

8. A rainwater harvesting system. Right from the sidewalk, this drought-tolerant landscape shows off its 1,000-gallon cistern, which is fashioned from a recycled corrugated culver and gathers water from the site. It’s an especially important statement to be making in Southern California, which has been plagued by drought.

Erin Lau Landscape Design- Seattle

9. Veggie-filled containers and a moss-covered birdbath. Curb alert! These edibles are growing in the parking strip between the sidewalk and the street. Raised beds protect crops like lettuce, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, carrots, onions, kale and parsley from dogs. Adjacent pollinator beds attract the insects and birds the plants need for help with pollination, and the basalt dish rock provides water for the critters.

Learn more about this parking strip project

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design

10. A waterfall. This front yard in Oregon is mostly dry except for a flowing waterfall down the center. A large slab staircase in coordinating stones adds to the entry experience. Three seating areas allow the homeowners to enjoy the pleasing sound of the water while they watch the world go by.

Moore Architects, PC

11. A mascot. This charming sculpture made of found objects welcomes all those who approach this northern Virginia lake house. The bird serves as a whimsical mascot for the contemporary home.

Front walk: Pennsylvania flagstone

Living Gardens Landscape Design

12. A gathering spot. At this home in San Clemente, California, the owners hang out with friends and neighbors, and enjoy the ocean views right out front. There are two conversation areas — one on a wood deck 6 inches above the ground, and a circle of chairs around a fire pit on the gravel.

White chairs: West Elm; teak furniture: Crate & Barrel

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