This is a city house integrated into – and taking inspiration from – a woodland setting in the Cleveland Park area of Washington DC. The site challenges included a steeply sloped back yard overlooking woods and a stream and a small front yard that needed to do double duty – space for a talented master gardener to try new plants and providing overflow parking when needed.

In the rear, we built a wooden walkway with railings that leads down to a small ‘treehouse.’ The outbuilding serves as a focal point year round and a destination for the client’s children. Growing up through the deck, a Japanese maple provides visual interest year-round.

On the side of the house, a flagstone paver path is separated by blocks of river jacks mortared in place, and in the front yard, a pull-through parking area is bordered by beds where the owner tries out new plantings. Problems solved and beauty everywhere.