Asian Inspired Front Garden - Cedarburg, WI

This mid‑century ranch was transformed into an Asian‑inspired retreat through a carefully composed blend of natural materials, sculptural plantings, and refined architectural details. A dramatic new entry sequence, textural planting “islands,” and thoughtfully placed stone elements create a serene, immersive garden experience that honors Japanese design principles while complementing the home’s modern lines.

For this mid‑century ranch in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, the client envisioned an Asian‑inspired landscape that would bring tranquility and artistry to the property. The design is grounded in a rectilinear geometry, with overlapping layers of groundcover and stone mulch that create a clean, modern framework.

The first priority was to reimagine the home’s entry. The original concrete walk was replaced with a dramatic new approach composed of offset panels of irregular bluestone, a contemporary interpretation of the zig‑zag bridges found in traditional Japanese gardens. At the walkway’s transition point, a custom‑cut millstone adds a sculptural moment underfoot. The existing concrete porch was removed and replaced with an Ipe‑wood engawa, offering a warm, inviting threshold that echoes Japanese architectural tradition.

Guests are greeted by a carved granite wabi basin complete with a bamboo deer‑scarer and spout, introducing the soothing sound of water to the entry experience. Nearby, a planted “island” features specimen boulder “mountains” rising from a “misty forest” of woolly thyme, all set within a “lake” of slate‑chip mulch. Additional granite fieldstone boulders are placed throughout the garden with intention, softened by plantings of Siberian iris and Japanese hakone grass.

The plant palette emphasizes form, texture, and subtle variations of green. A row of boxwoods frames the garden’s edge with crisp structure. In the lawn, a linear bed of Northwind switchgrass set in beach‑pebble mulch is anchored by a redbud tree, creating a graceful privacy screen from the road. Asian‑inspired stone lanterns, paired with low‑voltage landscape lighting, provide a warm, atmospheric glow that brings the garden to life at night.