Contemporary Front Yard Landscape - Brookfield, WI

This award‑winning Brookfield renovation transforms an overgrown early‑90s landscape into a cohesive, contemporary outdoor environment that enhances the home’s architecture. Rebuilt hardscapes, expanded planting beds, and a resilient, low‑maintenance plant palette now provide structure, seasonal interest, and long‑term durability—earning the project a 2017 Gold Award for Excellence in Residential Landscape Design and Construction from the Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association.

This landscape renovation began with an architect‑designed home whose original early‑90s plantings had become overgrown and whose hardscapes were showing significant wear. The front walk and stoops, constructed with materials ill‑suited to Wisconsin’s freeze‑thaw cycles, had deteriorated beyond repair. While the existing stone walls remained structurally sound, the porches and walkways required complete reconstruction. After reviewing options with our client, we selected Valders Rustic Pavers for all paved surfaces—chosen for their compatibility with the home’s stonework and their long‑term durability.

With the hardscape foundation rebuilt, attention shifted to the planting design. Two isolated lawn panels at the front of the home were removed, allowing the foundation beds to expand and creating a more unified, functional layout. The client emphasized hardiness, seasonal interest, and low maintenance—criteria that guided every plant selection.

Linear groupings of Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster,’ ‘Summer Beauty’ allium, and ‘Tor’ spirea frame the renewed front walk, establishing structure and rhythm. Bird’s nest spruce and boxwood provide evergreen presence, while the bold pairing of ‘Purpurkerze’ astilbe and ‘Limelight’ hydrangea anchors both ends of the home with color and texture. At the junction of the garage and house, an ‘Autumn Brilliance’ amelanchier rises from a carpet of Vinca minor, offering height and multi‑season appeal. Near the porch, Koreanspice viburnum and ‘Guacamole’ hosta introduce fragrance and a welcoming sensory moment.

To echo the home’s rectilinear architecture, square mulch beds were defined around the existing Betula nigra in the lawn. The final layer of refinement came with new low‑voltage LED lighting, replacing outdated line‑voltage fixtures and enhancing nighttime curb appeal.

The completed project delivers a refreshed, cohesive landscape that honors the home’s architecture while meeting the client’s desire for beauty, durability, and ease of maintenance—earning frequent compliments from neighbors and visitors, along with a 2017 Gold Award for Excellence in Residential Landscape Design and Construction.