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Site Design & Landscape Architecture

Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design

Clean and functional updates to anchor a house and yard.

Before our interventions to this Capitol Hill landscape, like many houses without designed sites, the house sat in the yard as if it just fell into the middle of a lawn. The steps from the back porch descended directly to the grass, so in the rainy months, it meant hazarding a few squishy steps from the porch stairs to reach the driveway. Now, with a paver walkway that forms planted beds at the base of the porch the house feels anchored in the landscape. The concrete path features open joints that infill with lush grass where it softens into the yard, and a solid path where it connects into the new, paved drive. A large bike shed off the driveway provides plenty of secure storage while still looking great in the yard.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Keeping Shoes Dry

The paver pathway helps link the main house to the new bike shed while preventing soggy shoes. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Keeping Shoes Dry

The paver pathway helps link the main house to the new bike shed while preventing soggy shoes. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Contrasting Colors

Varied shades of green contrast beautifully with the red bark of this Pacific Fire Vine Maple. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Contrasting Colors

Varied shades of green contrast beautifully with the red bark of this Pacific Fire Vine Maple. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Appropriate Scale

The custom shed is sized appropriately so it doesn’t compete with the main house. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Appropriate Scale

The custom shed is sized appropriately so it doesn’t compete with the main house. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Custom Bike Shed

The Ipe-clad bike shed keeps bikes secure and provides a visually pleasing place to keep trash, recycling, and compost bins out of sight. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Custom Bike Shed

The Ipe-clad bike shed keeps bikes secure and provides a visually pleasing place to keep trash, recycling, and compost bins out of sight. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Seasonal Interest

The different plant colors and textures provide year-round interest. The bright yellow-green Golden Variegated Sweetflag pops out from the landscape, while lime green Brass Buttons fill the joints between the pavers. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Seasonal Interest

The different plant colors and textures provide year-round interest. The bright yellow-green Golden Variegated Sweetflag pops out from the landscape, while lime green Brass Buttons fill the joints between the pavers. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Shady Plants

The striped patterning of the Golden Variegated Hakone Grass foliage stands out against the tree trunk in the background. This plant does well with light to dappled shade so it can be used near trees. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Shady Plants

The striped patterning of the Golden Variegated Hakone Grass foliage stands out against the tree trunk in the background. This plant does well with light to dappled shade so it can be used near trees. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Delicate Blooms

The muted purple flowers of this Hybrid Hellebore provide a lovely pop of color against its leaves. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Delicate Blooms

The muted purple flowers of this Hybrid Hellebore provide a lovely pop of color against its leaves. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Changing Through the Seasons

Though normally green, the leaves of the Pacific Fire Vine Maple transform in the fall with color ranging from golden-yellow to orange-red. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Changing Through the Seasons

Though normally green, the leaves of the Pacific Fire Vine Maple transform in the fall with color ranging from golden-yellow to orange-red. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Rich Colors

The stunning wine-color foliage of this Fire Chief Heuchera adds a rich warmth to the plant palette. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Rich Colors

The stunning wine-color foliage of this Fire Chief Heuchera adds a rich warmth to the plant palette. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Growing Vertically

Vines add some softness to the wood fence. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Growing Vertically

Vines add some softness to the wood fence. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Clean Lines

The freshly manicured lawn complements the clean lines of the new concrete steps. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Clean Lines

The freshly manicured lawn complements the clean lines of the new concrete steps. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Brightening Drab Walls

Plants can help brighten up a drab concrete wall. And those chalk lines? Fun for kids tracking how fast they grow! Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Brightening Drab Walls

Plants can help brighten up a drab concrete wall. And those chalk lines? Fun for kids tracking how fast they grow! Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Capitol Hill Landscape – Capitol Hill Craftsman – Board & Vellum
Where’s the Flower?

A flowering Venus Dogwood welcomes visitors at the entrance. Though the white “petals” are the flashiest part of the plant, they are actually modified leaves, called bracts. The actual flowers are the much smaller green bundles at the center of the bracts. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Where’s the Flower?

A flowering Venus Dogwood welcomes visitors at the entrance. Though the white “petals” are the flashiest part of the plant, they are actually modified leaves, called bracts. The actual flowers are the much smaller green bundles at the center of the bracts. Capitol Hill Craftsman Landscape Design | Photo by Derek Reeves.

Notes & Credits
This project was built by CEM Design.
Photography by Derek Reeves.

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Our design services encompass architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture, with teams specializing in projects across the spectrum, from single-family homes to multifamily and mixed-use buildings, and from boutique commercial spaces to civic spaces, like parks. We love designing the integrated fabric of structures, spaces, and places that create vibrant neighborhoods.

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