Traditional Landscape Renovation - Whitefish Bay, WI

This award‑winning renovation revitalizes the landscape of a 1933 historic east‑side home, creating a series of intimate outdoor rooms for gathering, gardening, and entertaining. Reclaimed materials, custom brick detailing, and shade‑loving plantings blend seamlessly with the home’s architecture.

2013 Silver Award for Excellence in Residential Landscape Design and Construction

Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association.

The owners of this residence had recently completed a new addition, prompting the need for a landscape that matched the home’s character while supporting modern outdoor living. Their vision centered on creating multiple outdoor “rooms” that would offer privacy and function as welcoming spaces for family time, gardening, and entertaining.

The design began with a distinctive architectural detail: a gear‑like brick pattern on the home’s grand front door. This motif became the inspiration for the patio, where the brickwork was custom integrated into the paving to frame the fire pit area. To create a sense of enclosure and year‑round privacy, a surrounding row of arborvitae was installed, forming an evergreen backdrop that defines the space.

Sustainability played a central role in the project. More than 70‑year‑old lannon stone from the original patio was carefully reclaimed and repurposed as paving for the fire pit terrace, as well as for steppers and small medallion accents. Salvaged granite street cobbles were used as plant bed edging, extending the home’s old‑world charm into the front garden. These materials harmonize naturally with the home’s historic architecture, reinforcing its timeless character.

Given the property’s mature tree canopy—including a magnificent purple beech—the planting design focused on shade‑tolerant species that thrive in dappled light. The result is a lush, layered garden that feels both intimate and enduring.

Copper lighting fixtures were placed throughout the landscape to enhance its elegance and to echo the copper gutters and architectural detailing on the home. The warm glow of the fixtures adds depth and sophistication, especially in the evening.

The completed landscape honors the home’s history while providing a functional, secluded outdoor environment—an inviting extension of this beautifully preserved 1930s residence.