What We've Done

Landscape Transformations

Every landscape project tells a story. Some begin with technical problems — drainage & site strategy failures, regulatory obstacles, or contractor disappointments. Others start with dreams that require residential landscape architecture expertise to become reality.

As your independent Owner's Representative, we’ve guided homeowners through both scenarios, turning site challenges into solutions and visions into accomplished realities. Our landscape design portfolio showcases the range of Atlanta landscape projects we manage—from artful garden design in Avondale Estates to complex permitting and oversight in Decatur.

Featured Projects

Challenge Accepted

- Unstable Subsurface: The existing brick walkway and patio were severely destabilized due to years of unmanaged storm water flow moving down and across the property.
- Failed Historical Fixes: Neighbors reported that previous owners had repeatedly added gravel and pavers over many years in a futile attempt to "fill" the unstable moss swamp.
- Hidden Site Realities: Mid-project discovery revealed a high water table caused by proximity to the lake, making a standard patio reset impossible.
- Access Requirements: The client required a solution that provided easier lunch-hour boating access without the hazard of stepping into "canal muck."

Conquering the Swamp

Vision Accomplished

Elevation Strategy: Designed and installed a new lakeside paver patio on higher ground to clear the high water table.
Hydraulic Infrastructure: Engineered a hydraulic cement landing at the canal’s edge to manage fluctuating water capacities and ensure stable boat access.
Storm Water Diversion: Installed a series of dry creek beds and a strategic ramp system to divert water flow around the new living spaces rather than through them.
Forensic Pivot: Shifted the project scope from a "polymeric sand" repair to a full site re-engineering once the forensic site discovery identified the high water table.

What began as a request to simply reset a destabilized brick patio evolved into a complex forensic landscape project. After uncovering a high water table and continuous storm water flow hidden beneath the surface, we pivoted from a cosmetic repair to a comprehensive engineering solution that permanently reclaimed the lakeside retreat.

Featured Projects

Conquering the Swamp

Challenge Accepted

- Unstable Subsurface: The existing brick walkway and patio were severely destabilized due to years of unmanaged storm water flow moving down and across the property.
- Failed Historical Fixes: Neighbors reported that previous owners had repeatedly added gravel and pavers over many years in a futile attempt to "fill" the unstable moss swamp.
- Hidden Site Realities: Mid-project discovery revealed a high water table caused by proximity to the lake, making a standard patio reset impossible.
- Access Requirements: The client required a solution that provided easier lunch-hour boating access without the hazard of stepping into "canal muck."

Vision Accomplished

Elevation Strategy: Designed and installed a new lakeside paver patio on higher ground to clear the high water table.
Hydraulic Infrastructure: Engineered a hydraulic cement landing at the canal’s edge to manage fluctuating water capacities and ensure stable boat access.
Storm Water Diversion: Installed a series of dry creek beds and a strategic ramp system to divert water flow around the new living spaces rather than through them.
Forensic Pivot: Shifted the project scope from a "polymeric sand" repair to a full site re-engineering once the forensic site discovery identified the high water table.

What began as a request to simply reset a destabilized brick patio evolved into a complex forensic landscape project. After uncovering a high water table and continuous storm water flow hidden beneath the surface, we pivoted from a cosmetic repair to a comprehensive engineering solution that permanently reclaimed the lakeside retreat.

Challenge Accepted

Functional Misalignment: The primary entrance for the homeowners was an awkward, narrow back porch that lacked the scale and safety required for high-frequency use.
Mechanical Obstruction: A large air conditioning unit was positioned directly between the garage and the entrance, requiring constant ventilation and clear access for future servicing or replacement.
Space Constraints: The existing covered porch was too narrow for a functional walkway and led to a basement office, leaving no room for outdoor furniture or a welcoming transition.
Regulatory & Technical Requirements: Any new structure needed to comply with local codes while providing a removable or accessible panel system to allow for the heavy mechanical unit to be serviced.

Back Door > Front Door

Vision Accomplished

Integrated Wood Structure: Designed a custom wood deck and screening system that provides a gracious entrance while simultaneously masking the mechanical unit from view.
Removable Technical Panels: Engineered a specialized removable deck panel specifically to allow for the seamless replacement or servicing of the A/C unit without dismantling the permanent structure.
Expanded Living Footprint: Created a large screened-in porch and an adjacent grill patio, effectively shifting the "front door" experience from a cramped landing to an expansive outdoor room.
Strategic Circulation: Replaced the undersized porch with a wide, natural stone path from the garage, using step-stones to allow for natural water flow and site drainage.
Multi-Level Utility: Connected the garage, the basement office, and the main living levels through a unified architectural transition that provides both screening and security.

For a home with a rear-entry garage, the back door had become the functional "front door," yet the existing entrance was narrow, undersized, and dominated by a massive A/C unit. We re-engineered the entire transition to create a gracious, multi-functional entrance that integrated screening and ventilation for mechanical systems without sacrificing aesthetic appeal or accessibility.

Conquering the Swamp

Challenge Accepted

- Unstable Subsurface: The existing brick walkway and patio were severely destabilized due to years of unmanaged storm water flow moving down and across the property.
- Failed Historical Fixes: Neighbors reported that previous owners had repeatedly added gravel and pavers over many years in a futile attempt to "fill" the unstable moss swamp.
- Hidden Site Realities: Mid-project discovery revealed a high water table caused by proximity to the lake, making a standard patio reset impossible.
- Access Requirements: The client required a solution that provided easier lunch-hour boating access without the hazard of stepping into "canal muck."

Vision Accomplished

Elevation Strategy: Designed and installed a new lakeside paver patio on higher ground to clear the high water table.
Hydraulic Infrastructure: Engineered a hydraulic cement landing at the canal’s edge to manage fluctuating water capacities and ensure stable boat access.
Storm Water Diversion: Installed a series of dry creek beds and a strategic ramp system to divert water flow around the new living spaces rather than through them.
Forensic Pivot: Shifted the project scope from a "polymeric sand" repair to a full site re-engineering once the forensic site discovery identified the high water table.

Challenge Accepted

Regulatory Hurdles: A stream-buffer setback required a complex variance, while limited lot coverage made any new footprint legally difficult.
Active Flooding: Stormwater moved directly down the driveway into the lower garage and storage area, resulting in standing water throughout the yard and water intrusion into the house.
Wasted Footprint: Two separate staircases consumed valuable deck area, while a low ceiling height beneath the deck made the space unusable.
Environmental Obstacles: Invasive species and overgrowth blocked essential sunlight, preventing the client’s desire for healthy turf and gardening areas.

Dire Straits to Damn Straight!

Vision Accomplished

Variance Strategy: Successfully secured a variance by keeping main design elements within the 50’ stream setback line following a complex site survey.
Infrastructure Reclamation: Removed the backyard driveway and consolidated the stairs into a single, central-landing design near the back door, effectively doubling the usable deck area.
Hydraulic Redirection: Engineered a whole-yard grading plan featuring a ramp walkway bordered by a dry creek bed and a strategic wall to direct water toward the fenceline and away from the garage.
Site Opening: Removed invasive trees and shrubs to flood the property with sunlight, enabling the installation of thriving plants and healthy turf.
Value Engineering: Basic construction materials incorporated with thoughtful and precise design to save the client tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary expense.

Faced with a "tricky" backyard constrained by strict stream-buffer setbacks, limited lot coverage, and chronic driveway flooding, this project required a surgical approach to site engineering. By prioritizing regulatory strategy and forensic grading, we transformed a flood-prone yard into the "star of the house." We redirected stormwater, secured a critical variance, and doubled the usable deck space—all while staying within the property's tight legal and environmental boundaries.

Conquering the Swamp

Challenge Accepted

- Unstable Subsurface: The existing brick walkway and patio were severely destabilized due to years of unmanaged storm water flow moving down and across the property.
- Failed Historical Fixes: Neighbors reported that previous owners had repeatedly added gravel and pavers over many years in a futile attempt to "fill" the unstable moss swamp.
- Hidden Site Realities: Mid-project discovery revealed a high water table caused by proximity to the lake, making a standard patio reset impossible.
- Access Requirements: The client required a solution that provided easier lunch-hour boating access without the hazard of stepping into "canal muck."

Vision Accomplished

Elevation Strategy: Designed and installed a new lakeside paver patio on higher ground to clear the high water table.
Hydraulic Infrastructure: Engineered a hydraulic cement landing at the canal’s edge to manage fluctuating water capacities and ensure stable boat access.
Storm Water Diversion: Installed a series of dry creek beds and a strategic ramp system to divert water flow around the new living spaces rather than through them.
Forensic Pivot: Shifted the project scope from a "polymeric sand" repair to a full site re-engineering once the forensic site discovery identified the high water table.