Ginkgo Leaf Studio is a premier Wisconsin landscape architecture firm specializing in custom landscape design, midcentury modern landscaping, & outdoor living spaces..

Landscape Architecture & Design WI | Ginkgo Leaf Studio

Traditional Backyard Landscape - Bayside, WI

Our clients contacted us for a complete redesign of their landscape including all of the paved areas around their traditional ranch home in Bayside, Wisconsin. The existing front walk was paved in uneven street cobbles and was dangerous to walk on. We designed a new front walk in bluestone and brick and suggested a small front patio in the corner of the home. All new plantings across the front of the home and new low voltage landscape lighting is included in the design.

The conceptual landscape design for the backyard focused on new patio spaces. The existing bluestone patio needed to be reset and lacked a connection to the front of the home. We designed a path around the garage with additional seating. A fire pit patio was included with all new plantings and additional landscape lighting.

We also wanted to define the entry into the property better so new plant beds were designed on either side of the driveway which include ornamental trees. The new trees also gave us the opportunity for uplighting which help to make the driveway easier to maneuver at night.

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

Traditional Landscape Makeover - Bayside, WI

Traditional Patio + Landscape - Whitefish Bay, WI

With a minimal backyard, our client wanted to maximize the potential of the space. An old existing deck and uneven brick paving did not make for a welcoming area to be outside. The new stone and brick patio is circular to eliminate visual corners, thus making the space feel larger than it is. Three serviceberry trees surround the patio, providing privacy from nearby neighbors. A narrow space on the side of the home became a pea gravel dog run. We also designed a new entry walk alongside the driveway with a border bed of perennials and grasses. Installed in 2016 - look for new photos soon!

Traditional Landscape Renovation - Wales, WI

This project started out with a house remodel project. An existing raised patio was converted into a 4-season room with double staircase. We were retained to redesign the patio spaces into a new layout that worked with the addition. Three new outdoor rooms were created - a larger dining area with overhead pergola and grill island, morning coffee circle and an expanded fire pit patio centered on the 4-season room. All new plantings accompanied the new patio spaces. Our client was so happy with our ideas for the backyard that they had us redesign the front yard plantings as well. Installed in 2017, photos to come!

Craftsman Foursquare Landscape - Oconomowoc, WI

After renovating their craftsman style four square home, our clients decided it was time for an equally nice outdoor space. A new garage and recently installed driveway provided a challenge to fitting a patio in while still saving some lawn. Separate spaces for lounging and dining were created with simple geometry and brick borders for definition. Our client dreamed of a modern, linear fireplace, so the main patio space was designed with the fireplace we designed as the focal point. Finished photos to come!

Traditional New Home Landscape - Richfield, WI

After building a home through UBuildIt, our client was also determined to install his landscaping himself. As it was new construction, a landscape design was needed for the entire property. The colonial architecture of the house influenced our selection of brick and bluestone for the paving materials as seen in the segmented front walk. With an exposed basement on the home, steps were required to connect the driveway to the backyard. We recommended outcropping stone steps. Separate patio spaces were designed; a small intimate patio for a future fire pit or fountain. The main patio, in bluestone with an inlaid grid of brick, was sized for lounging and dining. A pergola was designed to shade a portion of the patio from the late afternoon sun. Our client has worked on the project for the past two summers.

Mid-Century Modern Front Yard - East Lansing, MI

This mid‑century ranch in East Lansing received a fresh, modern landscape that echoes the home’s iconic butterfly roof and clean architectural lines. Updated plantings, bold geometric hardscape elements, and subtle lighting work together to create a welcoming, design‑forward entry experience.

This mid‑century ranch in East Lansing, Michigan was ready for a landscape refresh that complemented its distinctive architecture. The home’s butterfly roof became the inspiration for the new angled bed lines, introducing a dynamic geometry that feels true to the era. Ornamental grasses set in beach pebble mulch reinforce the home’s linear aesthetic while adding movement and texture.

To improve circulation, we designed a series of 30‑inch square stone steppers that guide guests to the front walk without passing through the carport. Our client embraced the concept and took it a step further by installing bold concrete circles instead — a playful, modern twist that suits the home perfectly.

The planting design features a mix of long‑blooming perennials and flowering shrubs, providing color and interest throughout the seasons. LED, low‑voltage lighting highlights the two feature trees and illuminates the new stepping‑stone path, enhancing both safety and nighttime curb appeal.

Grieb Inspired Mid-Century Front Entry Landscape - Mequon, WI

This redesigned landscape for a mid‑century ranch honors the home’s original radial architecture with a new circular front walkway, Zen garden, and planting beds that echo the home’s geometry. Expanded outdoor living spaces, updated hardscapes, cohesive plantings, and subtle lighting bring new life to the property while staying true to its architectural roots.

This mid‑century ranch home in Mequon, originally designed by Donald Grieb, had been expanded with an addition that continued the home’s distinctive radial floor‑plan theme. When the homeowners were ready to update the landscape, they sought a design that would respect the home’s architectural heritage while creating more functional outdoor spaces. Having worked on two other Grieb‑designed homes, we were thrilled to bring our mid‑century landscape expertise to this project.

Our design intuition immediately pointed toward a front walkway that reflected the home’s radial geometry. That instinct was confirmed when the clients shared the original blueprints, which revealed a circular walkway that had never been built. We brought that concept to life with a new curved front walkway, and within its arc, we created a circular Zen garden centered around an existing Japanese maple.

The surrounding planting beds continue the radial theme, expanding outward like ripples on water. The plant palette includes long‑blooming perennials, ornamental grasses, flowering shrubs, and boxwoods, providing structure and year‑round interest.

The goal for the backyard was to create larger, more usable outdoor living spaces. A failing deck and deteriorating porch were replaced with a new concrete patio, supported by dry‑stacked Lannon stone retaining walls. A dramatic set of steps connects the patio to the rest of the yard, reinforcing the home’s architectural rhythm.

A stepping‑stone path links the patio to both the master bedroom and a new fire pit area set within the lawn. Hardscape angles and planting bedlines continue the radial theme, all centered on the home’s large curved living room. Plantings mirror the front palette and include ornamental trees such as Japanese maple, serviceberry, and redbud.

Low‑voltage landscape lighting highlights the architecture and plantings, extending the landscape’s impact into the evening. Lannon stepping stones form an implied path connecting the front and back yards. Around the garage end of the home, simple plantings keep the focus on the architecture.

Existing wood address panels were replaced with low dry‑stacked Lannon stone walls, and new radial planting beds extend from the end of the main wall. Karl Foerster grasses were placed in line with the stone walls to reinforce the linear geometry of the walls. The result is a cohesive, modern landscape that celebrates the home’s mid‑century design while providing functional, beautiful outdoor spaces for contemporary living.

Grieb Inspired Mid-Century Landscape - Mequon, WI

Modern Farmhouse Courtyard - Mequon, WI

2022 Bronze Award Residential Design
Association of Professional Landscape Designers

A Mequon, Wisconsin modern farmhouse landscape designed for phased implementation, with rectilinear patios, a cedar pergola, ornamental grasses, and bluestone courtyard detailing.

Our clients were building a new modern farmhouse in Mequon, Wisconsin, having recently moved from Chicago. With a blank slate for the landscape, we created a master plan that could be implemented in phases, providing flexibility for future budget considerations.

At the entrance, natural stone piers complement the existing fence, while house numbers and lighting guide guests to the home. The design emphasizes rectilinear geometry, using concrete paved areas with beach pebble runnels and natural stone garden walls to frame the front landscaping. A courtyard of full-range bluestone surrounded by beach pebble inlays marks the entry, while rectilinear planting beds with ornamental grasses, long-blooming perennials, boxwoods, and hydrangeas continue the modern theme throughout the front yard.

The backyard patio features areas for dining, lounging, and grilling. A cedar pergola stained nearly black provides a striking focal point, while a linear planting of river birch cuts into the concrete patio to define separate functional zones. Additional birch trees were incorporated in the front yard to echo this theme.

Due to a grade change on the east side of the property, slope planting, outcropping stone, and stone steps were incorporated. A bluestone stepper path connects the patio to steps leading to another backyard area.

On the west side, a separate fire pit patio is paved in full-range natural bluestone, contrasting the concrete elsewhere. Rectangular planting beds and bluestone steppers radiate around the space, with a radial cut natural stone fire pit set into a bluestone cutout, surrounded by beach pebbles. Low-voltage landscape lighting with custom-colored fixtures completes the design, highlighting both plantings and architectural elements.

Modern Farmhouse New Home Landscape - Mequon, WI

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Mid century Front Landscape - Racine

At Ginkgo Leaf Studio, we believe exceptional landscape design harmonizes nature’s inspiration with the way people live in their outdoor spaces. Our goal is to create outdoor environments that feel like a natural extension of your home — welcoming, functional, and uniquely yours. While we specialize in <a href="midcenturyprojects">mid-century modern</a> and <a href="modernprojects">contemporary</a> design, we work with all types of homes and homeowners, from classic ranches and suburban properties to new construction. No matter the style, we bring thoughtful, design-driven solutions that enhance your property and fit your lifestyle. We design outdoor spaces that are beautiful, functional, and enduring, with careful attention to form, flow, and how your home and landscape interact. Every element is thoughtfully considered to create a cohesive, personalized environment that enhances the way you live outdoors.

Explore the possibilities of a custom landscape design tailored to your home and lifestyle. Contact Ginkgo Leaf Studio today to schedule a consultation with our design team.

Traditional Perennial Garden - Germantown, WI

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Explore the possibilities of a custom landscape design tailored to your home and lifestyle. Contact Ginkgo Leaf Studio today to schedule a consultation with our design team.