Russell Barr Williamson Inspired Landscape - Bayside, WI

This 1958 mid-century modern home, designed by Russell Barr Williamson, had an existing flagstone patio that was failing. The original stones were cracked, fragmenting, and too small for practical modern-day entertaining. Our clients contacted us because of our love of mid-century modern homes and background in architecture and art, knowing we would design a patio that honors the home’s style.

Concrete was chosen as a period-correct, budget-friendly material. The clients requested more space for entertaining, with dedicated areas for a hot tub, grill, and fire pit. Using the angles of the home as inspiration, we designed a patio defined by two overlapping trapezoids, with a cut-out bed of tall ornamental grasses separating the two main spaces. This line of grasses aligns with the centerline of the circular dining room, creating a visual axis toward the fire pit patio.

Bluestone steppers lead from the main patio to the fire pit area, while a line of boxwoods forms a border around the curved outer edge, intersecting the ornamental grasses. Flowering shrubs and perennials complete the plantings, and low-voltage landscape lighting was placed strategically to highlight the patio and surrounding greenery.