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Mid-Century Landscape - Bayside, WI

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, APLD. 

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, CPLD and hand rendered by Hannah Paulson, landscape designer

Mid-Century Tannenbaum Landscape - Fox Point, WI

Modern New Home Landscape - Belgium, WI

This design was especially fun to work on as it centered on a newly constructed modern home in Belgium, Wisconsin. Our clients wanted something that would enhance and compliment the architecture of their custom designed home. Our design includes the new front walk along with the prairie inspired plantings and landscape lighting.

For the backyard portion of the design we created new upper and lower patios and plantings that coordinate with the front beds for a cohesive plant palette. Bluestone steppers connect the various concrete paved areas.

For the site, our clients wanted to keep at least 50% of the site as natural vegetation. We designed the boundaries for mowed lawn and included  screening plantings for privacy. Native trees and shrubs were used throughout the overall site.

Before photos included. Phase one scheduled for spring of 2022.

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

Modern Backyard Landscape - 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

Mid-Century Front Landscape - Racine

Masterful McDonald
2019 Gold Award for Excellence in Residential Landscape Design and Construction - Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association

Historically significant, this home was designed by architect John Randal McDonald as the second home for his family. After many years of neglect, it was in need of a major restoration which was undertaken by our clients. After completing the interior they realized they needed to turn their attention to the rest of the property.

We designed a new linear concrete walk with shifting wedge shaped panels (separated by beach pebble runnels) that mimic the roofline of the home. Some of the existing stone steps were re-used and a low, retaining wall defines the edge of the new driveway in Tennessee sandstone to match the stone on the home. The long lines of the house are mimicked by a group of autumn moor grass while mixed perennials and shrubs occupy the remaining wedge-shaped plant beds. 

To connect front yard to back, a walk-through garden of grasses and long blooming perennials was created in what was an overgrown, under-utilized space. An existing grade change allowed for this garden to be elevated above the new patio below but also required a new masonry retaining wall and steps. This wall replaced a rubble “wall” and was constructed with matching Tennessee stone and ties into an existing wing wall.

The existing patio was not pitched properly, and also had roof runoff collecting in one spot. To get proper pitch on the new concrete patio, yards of soil had to be removed from the backyard and the entire lawn re-graded. The overall shape of the patio continues the wedge shapes of the front walk. A semi-circle cut out in the new patio to pays homage to a shallow pond formed into the original patio surface. 

Wedge-shaped beds surround the patio with a focal point magnolia, and a linear group of moor flame molinia extends beyond the stone retaining wall. Beach pebbles were also used to highlight the ornamental grass groups while slate chip not only provided a contrast in some plant beds but was also used functionally under the large roof over hangs all around the house and under the cantilevered lower level. New border plantings surround the perimeter of the backyard and subtle landscape lighting completes the makeover. Happily we came in just under our client’s targeted budget of $50,000. The landscape now feels like it was designed when the home was built and reflects sensitivity to the historical importance of the home.

Designed by James Drzewiecki, APLD


Mid-Century John Randal McDonald Landscape - Racine, WI

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Mid century Front Landscape - Racine

Modern Concrete and Bluestone Walk - New Berlin

Mid century Vibe Backyard - Bayside

Contemporary Patio and Fire Bowl - Brookfield

Brookfield - Stately Elegance

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I’ve always dreamed of having a clean, modernist home, and I’m happy to say that Alice and her team at Atelier Cohen led the way to making that dream a reality! I couldn’t be more happy with the project, my house looks like it could be featured in a Kinfolk magazine. I expressed my wishes of having a clean, natural interior aesthetic and they truly delivered – the natural light in my newly designed home is to die for. They also helped me turn my dated, drab living room into a spacious and cozy space in which I can’t wait to host a party. I couldn’t recommend Alice more, if you’re looking for easy collaboration and top-notch design, you have to reach out to them!

I’ve worked with Alice on a few renovation projects and am still floored by her dedication to design and space planning. Never have I experienced a hiccup or missed communication with Atelier Cohen, and home projects tend to create those sorts of problems! They are professional, approachable, and innovative in a way that anyone with any level of home renovating or staging experience will feel like they are in good hands.

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I had the pleasure of working with Alice on redecorating my childhood home that hadn’t been touched up since I was a teen in the 80’s. I knew it needed a huge refresh aesthetically, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I had a consultation with Alice about my hazy ideas and she was able to understand my tastes and needs after just one chat! The whole design process was so streamlined and thorough that my fears of things going awry totally vanished after the first few meetings. She walked me through every step of the process, from sharing sketches and moodboards to purchasing the final pieces of furniture and decoration. Working with Alice at Atelier Cohen has got to be my greatest investment, I highly recommend their services.

I’ve always dreamed of having a clean, modern farmhouse kitchen, and I’m happy to say that Maison Kitchen and Bath led the way to making that dream a reality! I couldn’t be more happy with the project, our kitchen looks like it could be the envy of Pinterest. I expressed my wishes of having a light, airy feel with natural but polished finishes, and they truly delivered – the kitchen in my home is to die for. They also helped me turn my claustrophobic galley kitchen into a beautiful open-space plan that makes me actually want to cook and entertain in the kitchen. I couldn’t recommend Maison K&B more, if you’re looking for easy collaboration and top-notch design, you have to reach out to them!

I’ve worked with Maison Kitchen and Bath on a few renovation projects and am still floored by their dedication to design and construction. Never have I experienced a hiccup or missed communication with them, and home projects tend to create those sorts of problems! They are professional, approachable, and innovative in a way that anyone with any level of home renovating experience will feel like they are in good hands.

Their advice and service through all stages of any project large or small is extremely rare in this business. If you get the chance to work with them, don’t think twice about it!

I had the pleasure of working with Maison Kitchen and Bath on renovating my childhood home that hadn’t been touched up since it was built in the 50’s. I’m quite environmentally minded, so I knew the appliances and electrical elements needed an update. I also knew it needed a bit of a refresh aesthetically, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I had a consultation with them about my hazy ideas and they were able to understand my tastes and needs after just one chat! The whole renovation process was so streamlined and thorough that my fears of things going awry totally vanished after the first few weeks. Working with Maison Kitchen and Bath has got to be my greatest investment, I highly recommend their services.

I’ve always dreamed of having a clean, modernist home, and I’m happy to say that Haus Design + Build led the way to making that dream a reality! I couldn’t be more happy with the project, my house looks like it could be featured on Architecture Digest. I expressed my wishes of having high ceilings and large windows, and they truly delivered – the natural light in my new home is to die for. They also helped me turn my claustrophobic galley kitchen into a beautiful open-space plan that makes me actually want to cook and entertain in the kitchen. I couldn’t recommend Haus DB more, if you’re looking for easy collaboration and top-notch design, you have to reach out to them!

I’ve worked with Haus Design and Build on a few renovation projects and am still floored by their dedication to design and construction. Never have I experienced a hiccup or missed communication with them, and home projects tend to create those sorts of problems! They are professional, approachable, and innovative in a way that anyone with any level of home renovating experience will feel like they are in good hands.

Their advice and service through all stages of any project large or small is extremely rare in this business. If you get the chance to work with them, don’t think twice about it!

I had the pleasure of working with Haus Design + Build on renovating my childhood home that hadn’t been touched up since it was built in the 50’s. I’m quite environmentally minded, so I knew the appliances and electrical elements needed an update. I also knew it needed a bit of a refresh aesthetically, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I had a consultation with them about my hazy ideas and they were able to understand my tastes and needs after just one chat! The whole construction process was so streamlined and thorough that my fears of things going awry totally vanished after the first few weeks. Working with Haus DB has got to be my greatest investment, I highly recommend their services.

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