Mid-Century Vibe Landscape + Entry & Patio - Bayside, WI

2022 Silver Award Residential Design

Association of Professional Landscape Designers

This award‑winning project reimagines the landscape of a remodeled mid‑century modern home, blending clean architectural lines with subtle Asian influences. A new front walk, refined planting design, and a fully re‑envisioned backyard create a cohesive, contemporary outdoor environment that complements the home’s transformation.

This Bayside, Wisconsin home was originally a 1950s Cape Cod ranch. After a major remodel transformed the structure into a contemporary interpretation of mid‑century modern architecture, the landscape lagged behind—still reflecting the home’s former identity. Our clients recognized the need for an outdoor environment that matched the updated aesthetic and requested a design that blended mid‑century modern style with a touch of Asian influence.

The existing front walk—a simple curved path—felt disconnected from the home’s strong architectural geometry. We replaced it with a segmented bluestone walkway that creates a bold visual statement and aligns with the home’s clean lines. Planting beds were reshaped into simple, sculptural forms and filled with a restrained palette of plants and colors tailored to the clients’ preferences. Areas of stone mulch in varying textures and tones introduce subtle Asian character while providing contrast against the plantings.

With the original patio removed during the remodel, the backyard offered a blank slate. The clients requested dedicated spaces for dining, lounging, and gathering around a fire pit, while still preserving enough lawn for their young daughter to play. Balancing these needs required careful spatial planning to maintain both functionality and openness.

Colored concrete was selected for the new patio to reinforce the mid‑century modern theme and coordinate with the cultured stone on the home. Beach pebble inlays help define the outdoor “rooms,” while bluestone steppers and slate chip mulch echo materials used in the front yard for a cohesive feel. The planting design repeats many of the species used in the front, with additional shade‑tolerant selections placed around the patio and along the lot perimeter to enhance privacy.