Together we pulled off the bandaids—removed the overgrown front shrubs and cracked walkway, the old brick back patio and scrappy odds and ends—and gave a new healthy glow to to this sweet corner lot.

Over one season, we built a new retaining wall and entry steps, regraded a level lawn and surrounded the space with updated plantings, installed mature screening trees to provide shade for afternoon and evening lounging on the new side yard deck and lower level flagstone patio, and in the back, we made a new firepit gathering space, tucked in a hot tub complete with jasmine trellis, and situated a meditative fountain to bubble and fill the backyard with the sounds of nature.