Alameda Neighborhood

This street-facing landscape of this stunning craftsman bungalow in Northeast Portland was in need of a massive overhaul to maximize space for the young family’s outdoor leisure time and beautify the front yard garden.

The centerpiece of the renovation is a series of custom, natural stone retaining walls arranged to create a terraced landscape, simultaneously allowing for ample garden beds and a spacious outdoor room in the upper yard, near the house. A large, sand-finish concrete stairway with built-in landscape lighting seamlessly integrates into the pioneer stone walls.

The front deck stairs were rebuilt with painted Douglas Fir timbers to match the character of the home and add warmth to the entryway. A steel-edged gravel path with landscape lighting leads to the backyard, newly enclosed by a custom cedar fence. The original driveway was replaced with new sand-finish concrete ribbons, interplanted with sun-loving sedum.

The lush plantings throughout include tropical and woodland garden accents, selected to thrive in the deeply-shaded property. Notable specimens include: hardy Schefflera, Purple Palace Heuchera, multiple fern and Hosta species, ornamental grasses.