Suburban
Nature Retreat (see
other featured projects)
This beautiful, double-lot site located in near
north suburban Chicago has undergone a dramatic
transformation. Still in progress,
the newly designed landscape includes many ecological
smart elements – permeable pavers, rain
gardens and native plantings.
The front yard design includes a walkway that
echoes the style of the renovated home and directs
the family to the mud-room entrance and guests
to the front door. A permeable driveway
minimizes run-off into storm sewers by allowing
rain to percolate down into the water table below.
In the backyard, a significant grade change was
re-designed giving the clients and their children
access to a natural wetland area below the large
entertaining space off the back of their home.
This year, the natural garden was planted and
together with our clients who enjoy gardening,
MODE has installed the balance of the plant design.
"Ellen listened and interpreted our ideas
into a beautiful and functional space. Like
an artist, she understood that design is an interactive
and ongoing process. As clients,
we were treated as partners in the process rather
than a 'job'."
-Cathy T.
FRONTYARD
BACKYARD
NATURAL GARDEN
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