Mid-Century Modern Landscape - Cedarburg, WI

2017 Bronze Award for Excellence in Residential Landscape Design and Construction

Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association

This project transforms an overgrown bluff‑top property into an Asian‑inspired landscape that complements the home’s mid‑century modern architecture. Thoughtful hardscape updates, a refined planting palette, a new vegetable garden, and improved access to Cedar Creek create a serene, functional environment that encourages year‑round outdoor living.

Perched high on a bluff overlooking Cedar Creek in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, our client’s mid‑century modern home sat on a spectacular site—but the mature landscape had become overgrown and no longer reflected her vision. She wanted a fresh start with an Asian‑inspired aesthetic and a stronger connection between the home and its surroundings.

To establish that connection, we designed a new stone column and address fence, carefully matching the stone color and mortar style to the home’s architecture. We also assisted the client in selecting a new column light and recommended updated coach lights to unify the entry.

A new entry walk composed of separate panels of irregular bluestone was set at a 45‑degree angle to the front door, subtly drawing the eye toward the covered entryway. Near the door, a pondless carved‑granite water feature introduces movement, sound, and an unmistakable Asian influence.

Because the client loves plants—and even encouraged us to remove as much lawn as we wished—we focused on creating a planting palette suited to an Asian garden setting while still offering continuous bloom throughout the seasons. The color scheme was intentionally restrained, built around shades of pink and blue with accents of yellow and white.

The only sunny area on the property was in the front yard, so we integrated a vegetable garden directly into the design. A stone‑slab “bridge” crosses a slate‑chip dry creek bed with Aqua Blue granite boulders, creating a functional and beautiful transition into the garden space.

Around the existing deck, we designed a new fence and gate/arbor that echo the style of the address marker, reinforcing the Asian‑inspired theme. From the deck, a new Lannon outcropping stairway leads down the bluff to a newly cleared area along the creek—now a peaceful destination for the client and her family. A crushed‑granite patio surrounds the fire pit, which sits within a circle of manicured lawn. Beyond the lawn, native wildflowers replace the invasive plants that once dominated the slope.

Finally, LED low‑voltage lighting was added along the stone steps and throughout the landscape, enhancing safety and extending enjoyment into the evening.

The result is a cohesive, tranquil landscape that honors both the site and the home’s architecture—inviting the family outdoors in every season.