Forest Park Residence

Nestled in the foothills of Portland’s expansive Forest Park, this stunning Mid-Century Modern home was in the process of a massive interior re-design and renovation by Bright Design Lab when Pistils was brought on for an overhaul of the landscape.

Throughout, the plantings were re-imagined to enhance and better complement the home's modern architecture and unique woodland setting. Screening the property from the neighboring houses, as well as creating a natural, seamless transition from the home to the adjacent Forest Park setting, were top priorities.

Pistils designed and built an extensive system of natural stone retaining walls to provide a distinctive and attractive rustic border to delineate the house garden from the wild areas beyond.

An expansive sand-finish concrete patio with a custom-fabricated steel fire-pit and timber dining table created an dynamic space for outdoor entertaining.

The inner courtyard in the backyard features a rain garden and naturalistic water feature. This area, visible from many areas inside and outside the home, invites meditative reflection, helps manage stormwater and promotes wildlife diversity.

The newly imagined garden was made accessible from the home via an extensive network of winding, crushed basalt gravel paths that served to assist in managing stormwater drainage from the hillside above.

Plants like Rudbeckia, Echinacea, Penstemon and numerous ornamental grasses provide year-round color and texture, as well as and an abundance of blossoms through spring and summer and fall.