Yard of the Week: Underused Side Yard Now a Shady Retreat
Pollinator-attracting plants, custom art pieces and clever screening solutions turn a grassy yard into a leafy oasis
This welcoming side yard in Seattle came from the homeowners’ desire to have a space where they could gather with friends and family while also having their own private natural retreat. With its shade-loving plants, artistic accents and lounge-worthy patio, the leafy oasis is just that. In fact, the family now spends most of its outdoor time entertaining, working and taking in the neighborhood from the side yard, despite having other outdoor areas. “It’s their primary outdoor space now,” landscape architect Leslie Batten says.
Before: This shot (taken from the same direction as the previous photo) shows the yard’s dramatic transformation. The clients originally intended to replace only the fence seen here, which needed upgrading and didn’t add much privacy. “They wanted to feel like they weren’t on display but also not completely walled off,” Batten says.
Once they started thinking about the fence, though, the homeowners soon realized that the side yard itself could use an upgrade. An expansive lawn was struggling in the shade of the property’s three mature Japanese maple trees (Acer palmatum). Additionally, the yard featured a noticeable grade change, which made it hard to use and navigate. “They wanted to reclaim it and put it to better use,” Batten says.
Once they started thinking about the fence, though, the homeowners soon realized that the side yard itself could use an upgrade. An expansive lawn was struggling in the shade of the property’s three mature Japanese maple trees (Acer palmatum). Additionally, the yard featured a noticeable grade change, which made it hard to use and navigate. “They wanted to reclaim it and put it to better use,” Batten says.
After: The new side yard fence balances privacy and connection — two key features the homeowners wanted — with a contemporary horizontal-slat style. The team used an unfinished tight-knot cedar that will patina to a natural gray.
The spacing between the boards allows some visibility along the sidewalk into the yard. While the fence is a standard 6-foot height in most spots, the team dropped it down to 4 feet at the corner (shown at the right side of the photo) to avoid having a blind corner.
The spacing between the boards allows some visibility along the sidewalk into the yard. While the fence is a standard 6-foot height in most spots, the team dropped it down to 4 feet at the corner (shown at the right side of the photo) to avoid having a blind corner.
Hai bisogno di un professionista per il tuo progetto di ristrutturazione della casa?
Troviamo i professionisti più adatti a te
Troviamo i professionisti più adatti a te
The entry gate anchors the fence and features a custom metal piece by design and fabrication shop Pepperbox. The design, which the homeowners collaborated on with the fabricators, helped to inspire the yard’s overall theme. “The whole site became the tree of life,” Batten says.
The gate’s arched top — reminiscent of a moon gate — features a red underside to tie in with the home’s red roof.
The gate’s arched top — reminiscent of a moon gate — features a red underside to tie in with the home’s red roof.
Once inside the fence, a flagstone path leads to the house and also meanders to various outdoor areas.
The project involved regrading portions of the yard, which, among other things, made the transition from the sidewalk easier. “Originally, the concrete was really steep and really slippery,” Batten says. They raised the grade so that visitors just need to take a small step from the gate down into the yard.
The project involved regrading portions of the yard, which, among other things, made the transition from the sidewalk easier. “Originally, the concrete was really steep and really slippery,” Batten says. They raised the grade so that visitors just need to take a small step from the gate down into the yard.
Ground covers grow between the flagstones, creating a softness to the ground plane that also allows all rainwater and runoff to drain on site.
‘Rozanne’ cranesbill (Geranium ‘Rozanne’), framing the path in the background, gives the yard a dash of purple, a favorite color of the homeowners.
‘Rozanne’ cranesbill (Geranium ‘Rozanne’), framing the path in the background, gives the yard a dash of purple, a favorite color of the homeowners.
The designers were tasked with preserving and highlighting the yard’s three mature Japanese maple trees — the team even reused the original fence post holes for the new fence whenever possible so as not to disturb the tree’s extensive, shallow root system.
The tree canopy shades much of the yard, which the new shade-friendly plant palette reflects. Since this is the Pacific Northwest, the team planted lots of ferns. “They grow so great here,” Batten says. Chartreuse Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’) adds more year-round color and texture. Winter-blooming Eternal Fragrance daphne (Daphne x transatlantica ‘Blafra’) and ‘Purple Stem’ sweetbox (Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem‘) bring seasonal interest.
The team also planted the yard with native evergreen huckleberries (Vaccinium ovatum) and ‘Winter Sun’ mahonia (Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’), among other pollinator-attracting plants, as the homeowners wanted to welcome birds, bees and butterflies to their yard. (Soon after the garden bloomed for the first time, the homeowners reported seeing hummingbird visitors.)
Read more articles on welcoming birds into your yard
The tree canopy shades much of the yard, which the new shade-friendly plant palette reflects. Since this is the Pacific Northwest, the team planted lots of ferns. “They grow so great here,” Batten says. Chartreuse Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’) adds more year-round color and texture. Winter-blooming Eternal Fragrance daphne (Daphne x transatlantica ‘Blafra’) and ‘Purple Stem’ sweetbox (Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem‘) bring seasonal interest.
The team also planted the yard with native evergreen huckleberries (Vaccinium ovatum) and ‘Winter Sun’ mahonia (Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’), among other pollinator-attracting plants, as the homeowners wanted to welcome birds, bees and butterflies to their yard. (Soon after the garden bloomed for the first time, the homeowners reported seeing hummingbird visitors.)
Read more articles on welcoming birds into your yard
The flagstone path also leads to a new patio (seen here in front of three metal screens). “They wanted enough space for some chairs and a fire pit — just enough space and not too big,” Batten says.
The patio doesn’t yet feature a fire pit, but the homeowners can use the space to host friends, work outside and take in the surroundings.
String lights draped through the Japanese maples illuminate the space at night. Subtle, strategic outdoor lighting — including path lights — safely light the way and create a warm, glowing effect that can be enjoyed both indoors and out.
Shop for outdoor lighting on Houzz
The patio doesn’t yet feature a fire pit, but the homeowners can use the space to host friends, work outside and take in the surroundings.
String lights draped through the Japanese maples illuminate the space at night. Subtle, strategic outdoor lighting — including path lights — safely light the way and create a warm, glowing effect that can be enjoyed both indoors and out.
Shop for outdoor lighting on Houzz
Moving up onto the patio, we can see where the design’s tree of life theme makes another appearance in the form of three aluminum panels that bring more art and screening into the yard. “We had proposed some planting at first. They thought it would be better to have some screens,” Batten says, adding that the homeowners had requested outdoor art for the project.
The homeowners’ daughter drew the original tree, which the team at Board & Vellum broke up into sections and had Pepperbox laser-cut onto the aluminum panels. Each panel is 3 feet wide and from 5 to 6 feet tall. The panels are unfinished aluminum (chosen for its light weight) with a sandblasted finish set in concrete footings.
In front of the panels, a water feature chosen by the homeowners adds a soft, soothing sound to the yard.
The homeowners’ daughter drew the original tree, which the team at Board & Vellum broke up into sections and had Pepperbox laser-cut onto the aluminum panels. Each panel is 3 feet wide and from 5 to 6 feet tall. The panels are unfinished aluminum (chosen for its light weight) with a sandblasted finish set in concrete footings.
In front of the panels, a water feature chosen by the homeowners adds a soft, soothing sound to the yard.
Up close, you can see how the panels also feature cutouts of local birds often seen in the area — hummingbirds, northern flickers, chickadees and an eagle. Behind the screens, the team planted orange flowering ‘Jelena’ witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’) for winter interest and added privacy.
The homeowners can now enjoy their yard while also connecting with neighbors and passersby — who might catch a glimpse of this leafy paradise from over the fence or through the strategic slat spacing. “There are more people looking into the yard [than ever before],” Batten says. “People are so excited about it.”
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Get landscape design ideas
Find a landscape designer or architect
Shop for outdoor products
The homeowners can now enjoy their yard while also connecting with neighbors and passersby — who might catch a glimpse of this leafy paradise from over the fence or through the strategic slat spacing. “There are more people looking into the yard [than ever before],” Batten says. “People are so excited about it.”
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Get landscape design ideas
Find a landscape designer or architect
Shop for outdoor products
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their daughter and their cat
Location: Ballard neighborhood of Seattle
Size: 1,500-square-foot (139-square-meter) side yard on a 5,400-square-foot (502-square-meter) lot
Landscape architect: Board & Vellum
Landscape contractor: Sage and Stone
The project started when the homeowners, who are neighbors of Batten, asked her for a recommendation for a fencing contractor. It soon turned into a full side yard renovation. They hired Batten’s firm, Board & Vellum, to tackle the whole thing.
The owners wanted to take better advantage of their side yard by creating a naturalistic Pacific Northwest retreat. In doing so, they also wanted to add privacy to their corner lot without closing themselves off from their longtime community. “They were very conscious of supporting the kindly outward neighbor feel,” Batten says.
The result is a leafy oasis that connects the side yard to the house, provides more privacy and gives the family a shady, restful place to be outside.
Work with a landscape designer