Modern New Home Landscape - Mequon, WI

2017 Gold Award for Excellence in Residential Landscape Design and Construction

Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association

This award winning project reflects a client’s desire for a clean, contemporary landscape that aligns with her architectural sensibilities. Modern hardscape elements, bold plantings, and thoughtfully designed outdoor living spaces create a cohesive environment that stands apart from the neighborhood’s traditional character.

This Mequon, Wisconsin landscape began with a client who brought a strong design perspective to her new home. A former architect in Poland, she had already shaped many aspects of the home’s interior and exterior and sought a landscape designer who shared her architectural mindset. After learning that our firm’s owner held a degree in architecture, she entrusted us with creating a landscape that expressed her contemporary tastes rather than the traditional style common in the neighborhood.

To establish a modern first impression, we selected concrete for the front walk, emphasizing clean lines and geometric clarity. The inner and outer panels align with the front door, while the three central panels are intentionally offset for visual interest. Beach pebble runnels separate each panel, adding texture and reinforcing the contemporary aesthetic. The planting beds feature bold, continuously blooming perennials supported by structural grasses and shrubs, creating a vibrant yet orderly composition.

Long‑blooming perennials and flowering shrubs extend along both sides of the home, creating a seamless transition from front to back. Outdoor living was a priority for the client, so the backyard was designed to accommodate dining, lounging, and gathering around a fire feature. A cast concrete gas fire bowl anchors the fire pit area, while the surrounding paving—concrete with a beach pebble base—echoes the materials used in the front walk for a cohesive look.

Thermal bluestone was chosen as the paving material for the dining area. Overhead, a simply detailed cedar pergola introduces a vertical architectural element and defines the outdoor dining room without overwhelming the space. Low‑voltage LED lighting highlights key plantings and hardscape features, extending the landscape’s beauty and functionality into the evening hours.