Before & After

Simple sod lawn before

After installation of sweeping grasses and clustered boxwood

Rear elevation before

After pond, natural stone steps, and landscape is installed

The front walk before construction

Bluestone walkway with lush planting beds.

Pergola area before construction

Flagstone patio with pergola

Firepit under construction

The completed stone firepit features a stone veneer with bluestone coping

Spa under construction

The spa features a stone veneer and VALDERS sandblasted dove white full bullnose coping

Existing patio with concrete aggregate and concrete seatwall

Full range bluestone patio with bluestone coping on the seatwall

Flagstone steppers for path and granite cobble seatwall with concrete coping

Full range bluestone patio in distance and bluestone chips in foreground path flanked by perennial allium and catmint. Fountain is decorative concrete.

Before, a utilitarian paver walkway

Now, a beautifully landscaped flagstone walkway that guides you to the lake beyond

Lakeside before native plantings were added

The landscape before lacked color and was separated from the street by the wrought iron fence.

The clients were looking for a more inviting, colorful entrance/curb appeal from the street. We opened up the iron gate, added a stepper path, gravel seating area, and planted more perennials and annuals for color and texture underneath the existing shade trees.

The existing asphalt driveway and front entry landscaping.

A five-course brick paver border and new stone columns vastly improve the curb appeal.

The street view before the redesign.

The redesigned entry features new stone columns with lighting, white picket fence, and lush planting beds.

The existing front entry had a nice lawn, walk lined with boxwood, and concrete driveway.

What a transformation. Our team added a new clay paver driveway and walk and a large planting bed to add additional curb appeal.

The existing concrete driveway was ready for a face lift.

A new brick cobble driveway is a wonderful improvement.

The homeowner wanted to improve the curb appeal and add some drama.

The house went from gray to a rich blue and the Van Zelst team added a large sweeping bed to the front edged in cobbles.

The previous back yard featured a flagstone walk and minimal plantings.

The new stonework and pergola punched up the rear entry dramatically.

The old driveway was tired and featured a mix of asphalt and concrete pavers.

The new red brick paver driveway is a showstopper

The front entry lacked curb appeal and had a simple concrete walkway.

he new front entry features a direct approach to the front door. Red brick pavers and stone steps are combined to give a polished look while the front entry garden provides even more curb appeal.

The existing raised patio space.

The new bluestone patio features a built-in outdoor kitchen, fireplace, and an outdoor dining area.

The old front entry wasn’t terrible but the homeowners wanted to improve the curb appeal. We transformed the front entry by removing the lawn, upgrading the hardscape, and filling the beds with low-maintenance perennials.

The improved landscape is a showstopper and features a new bluestone walkway. The driveway has been lined with clay pavers and the perennial beds are filled with plantings that will bloom throughout the season.

A vast expanse of grass made the home feel imposing and stark, particularly during the long, cold Midwest winter.

A more formal, linear layout complements the home’s symmetry. Brick walkways meet at a fountain atop bluestone and tumbled concrete pavers, creating a framework for layered plantings of shrubs and perennials.

A steep slope away from the house made it difficult to use or enjoy the backyard.

A stepped design creates spaces for plantings and a new pool. A tremendous amount of soil was removed, and natural boulders were brought in to retain the tiers. Trees, shrubs, perennials and seasonal planters add rich color.

The sweeping backyard was underutilized, devoted fully to a difficult-to-maintain lawn and uninspiring deck.

Natural stone hardscape brings the garden into focus, connecting a new pool, spa and planting beds to the home. A deck expansion and refresh, plus thoughtfully arranged shrubs and flowers, soften the space.

A grassy lawn feels like a missed opportunity next to this stunning, dramatic modern home.

Linear plantings in varying shades of green echo the lines and simplicity of the house. Native grasses add height and texture in the summer and retain interest when the temperature drops.

Perched on a hill, this new home’s property required extensive leveling and regrading, but offered endless possibilities.

Limestone retaining walls, built by stacking more than 160 tons of outcropping stone slabs, form a tiered garden planted with bountiful perennials.

A full renovation of the house and landscape meant the site was a blank slate for the landscape architecture team.

Comfortable seating, with tables of varying heights, extend the living space into a cozy outdoor living and dining room. Surrounded by plantings and hardscape, the space provides beautiful views in every direction.

An expanse of grass and mature trees had been largely untouched by the previous owners.

The space has been transformed into a favorite retreat for family and friends who take advantage of the stone-and-concrete spa, as well as an inviting pool, whenever the weather permits.

As the first planting bed seen upon approaching the home, it needed to be transformed into a more welcoming focal point. A pond and water feature accompanied by trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals were designed for this space.

Closer to the home, a pond and waterfall showcase the family’s beloved bronze statue. Surrounded by shrubs and perennials, the outdoor art personalizes the landscape and makes it fully unique. The bronze figure was sculpted from a photograph of the homeowner as a child. Water pours from his bucket onto the stone and into the pond. Due to its location at the property’s low point, pond drainage presented a challenge. French drains were installed to catch water flowing from the house, drive and lawns to prevent overflow.

Straight, uninteresting bedlines flanked the drive. These gave way to more pleasing shapes through the addition of turf and changes in the bed shapes.

Incorporating a variety of colors, textures and heights, generous plantings and natural stone add visual interest beneath the trees. The winding entry drive is now a beautiful welcome for the homeowners and arriving guests