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Mid-Century Backyard Landscape - Fox Point, WI

Our clients had recently purchased a mid century Leenhouts designed home in Fox Point, Wisconsin and the existing landscape was in need of a complete makeover. As is the case with most homes of this period, the existing landscape consisted of mostly yews and junipers. To update the design we included a simple palette of long blooming perennials and ornamental grasses as well as boxwood and flowering hydrangea among others. The concrete front walk is more welcoming now with inlaid bluestone runnels. 

The backyard conceptual landscape design was more complex than the front due to the exposed lower level. The upper main patio is triple the size of the existing patio and replicates the pattern of the window framing on the back of the home with inlaid bluestone runnels. Dry-stacked lannon stone retaining walls allow for the patio to cut into the hillside slightly. A separate fire pit deck is one step above the patio. The lower level patio is more intimate and great for a morning coffee or chilling in the hammock. Modern low voltage landscape lighting completes the design. 

Designed by James Drzewiecki, APLD and Hannah Paulson, landscape designer

Mid-Century Leenhouts Landscape - Fox Point, WI

Mid-Century Modern Front Landscape - Fox Point, WI

Hand drawn and ink-rendered conceptual landscape design for the front yard of this mid-century modern home in Fox Point, Wisconsin. The home was designed by Abe Tannenbaum, one of Milwaukee's most prolific mid-century architects. Our client wanted to do something different than lawn around the existing front walk which consisted of concrete circles original to the home. We moved about 25% of the circles and had new ones poured to match to better connect with the half-circle driveway in front of the home. We also added a small sitting area to the right of the front door in bluestone. 

The existing masonry address wall was retained but we designed new plantings around it to carry through on the circle theme inspired by the front walk. All new plantings were designed across the front of the home, including linear groups of 'Karl Foerster' grass to emphasize the vertical elements on the home. The plantings become more natural in placement and layout on the edge of the property. New low voltage landscape lighting was also part of our design.

Designed by James Drzewiecki, APLD and hand rendered by Hannah Paulson, landscape designer

Mid-Century Tannenbaum Landscape - Fox Point, WI

Palm Springs Mid-Century Front Landscape

When our client purchased this mid-century modern home in Palm Springs, he had the idea of restoring it back to its original architecture. A previous owner had tried to turn it into Spanish colonial with stucco surfaces hiding original windows and a garden wall that blocked the house from the street. Knowing that we specialize in mid-century landscape design, he contacted us shortly after beginning to strip the home of the excess ornamentation. With our guidance, he had a new concrete driveway installed along with the staggered concrete walk before we got into the heart of the design. We then made a visit to Palm Springs to see the home in person, taking that time to measure and photograph the entire house and property. 

Our client wanted the new landscape to feel like it belonged to the rest of the neighborhood, but he specifically mentioned that he'd prefer little to no cactuses. For the simplified plant palette we focused on a unique blend of woody desert shrubs, agave and a few perennials and an ornamental grass. The orange penstemon was chosen to play off the orange front door while the only cactus in the design (Mexican fencepost) was placed as an architectural statement in front of the large, blank wall on the home. Scheduled for installation in Fall of 2023. Check back for photos!

Designed by James Drzewiecki, CPLD and Hannah Paulson, landscape designer.

Mid-Century Front Landscape - Palm Springs, CA

Modern Backyard Patio - Mesa, AZ

This newly constructed home in Mesa, Arizona offered us a blank slate and also the opportunity for us to design with an entirely new palette of plants. After researching plants approved by the HOA and discussions with our client, we narrowed down the mix of native woody plants and succulents and set to work on the plans. For the front yard we kept the design more minimalistic, as the space was limited. The backyard is where we had some fun, splitting the area into three zones. The foreground zone is similar to the front landscape with more open space and less plants. The second zone wraps around most of the back of the property and the east side. The idea was a lusher, denser planting that helps to hide the ubiquitous concrete block privacy wall. The third zone required some buy-in from our client, as we proposed an enclosed area where a rescued desert tortoise could live. Our clients loved the idea and they are looking forward to the day that they can provide a home for this native, endangered reptile.

Designed by James Drzewiecki, APLD and Kristin Klimaszewski

Modern New Home Landscape - Mesa, AZ

Modern Backyard Landscape - Fox Point, WI

Our clients had decorated the inside of their Fox Point, WI home in a modern style so they asked us to create a landscape design that also had that flavor. For the front yard our goal was to downplay the driveway across the front of the house. The new concrete front walk directs visitors to the front door and creates an area for passengers to exit their vehicles easily off the driveway. A bluestone pad off the front walk is meant for a future bench.

The design also included the backyard where the existing patio space was too small for entertaining, so we designed a new expanded concrete patio with room for grilling, dining and lounging. The bluestone dining area has a custom cedar pergola overhead with built-in downlighting. For phase 1, our clients chose to not include the fire pit area we had designed. Beach pebble runnels help to visually separate the outdoor rooms of the patio and slate chip in some of the plant beds adds a Zen aspect to the design. 

Landscape lighting was designed for the entire project as shown in the evening photos. We also designed the stone and cedar address marker at the end of the driveway.

Designed by James Drzewiecki, APLD and hand rendered by landscape designer Hannah Paulson

Modern Landscape Makeover - Fox Point, WI

Mid-Century Backyard - Bayside, WI

Midwest Mid-Century

2022 Silver Award Residential Design - Association of Professional Landscape Designers

Our clients had already decorated the inside of their cute midcentury ranch in Bayside, WI with period correct furnishings when they contacted us. They had made an attempt at making their landscape midcentury, but in the end they knew they needed to call in for professional help. Since midcentury landscapes are our specialty, it was a perfect fit for us to work with them on renovating the entire property. The existing half circle concrete patio was in great shape, but it was surrounded by looming arborvitae that were original to the house. They were so large that the patio was essentially cut off from the rest of the backyard.

We designed all new plantings for the backyard, based on a circular theme to play off the patio geometry. We replicated the granite stone mulch our client had already used in the front yard. For the front part of the property we simply refined and adjusted what our client had already started, to create a cohesive whole between front and back. One of our favorite medium-sized projects!

Designed by James Drzewiecki, CPLD. 

Mid-Century Landscape - Bayside, WI

Best of Houzz 2023

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Best of Houzz 2016

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<div class="rt-pg" style="text-align:center">At Ginkgo Leaf Studio, we believe exceptional landscape design is creating art through nature’s inspiration. This is our passion.</div><div class="rt-pg"></div>

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