Contemporary Lake Home Landscape - West Bend, WI

This contemporary lake home in West Bend received a complete landscape refresh, transforming an aging and underwhelming setting into a cohesive, vibrant, and functional outdoor environment. Updated plantings, improved circulation, and thoughtful enhancements to the existing lakeside path and patio now create year‑round interest and a stronger connection between the home and its natural surroundings.

When longtime clients purchased this contemporary lake home, they asked us to reimagine a landscape that had been neglected and lacked seasonal appeal. Our goal was to bring structure, color, and cohesion to both the streetside arrival and the serene lakeside slope, creating a unified experience from front door to water’s edge.

To soften the scale of the expansive driveway, we introduced a new planting bed anchored by ‘Autumn Gold’ ginkgo trees arranged in a crisp, linear pattern. Interplanted with ‘Moorflame’ ornamental grasses, this composition adds movement, texture, and a refined contemporary character. A bluestone stepping‑stone path set in slate chip mulch enhances circulation and creates a more intentional connection between the front and back of the home.

The lakeside portion of the property offered a beautiful existing framework of limestone steps and a meandering hillside path. We preserved this charm while expanding and repairing the flagstone landings and the stone patio at the shoreline. Plantings were layered thoughtfully to respond to the changing light conditions along the slope.

Midway down the hill, shade‑loving perennials and shrubs create a cool, lush transition zone flanking the stone path. As the hillside opens to full sun, the palette shifts to sun‑loving perennials, flowering shrubs, and spreading junipers—adding color, texture, and ecological function. These plantings not only enhance visual interest but also help stabilize the slope and reduce erosion.

The result is a revitalized landscape that feels both contemporary and timeless, seamlessly connecting the home to its natural lakeside setting.