This client had a very steep hillside in the front yard, covered in a struggling lawn.
I tamed the hillside with retaining walls and created a xeric (low water use) landscape.  The entry walk winds its way up the hill with periodic landings,with a new railing and niche lights in the walls.  

This front entry was redesigned with a playful front walk, using both mortared stone and etched colored concrete.  The berm was replanted and defined with retaining walls+ boulders.  Int the backyard the deck was recovered and an outdoor kitchen/bar installed, and a firepit and patio added to the side of the deck.

This redesigned backyard features a sunken hottub, deck, drylaid patio+ firepit off a master bed room suite.  Off a family room the new etched concrete patio features an outdoor kitchen, putting green, seating walls.    The 2 spaces are linked by a path winding thru a perennial garden, bringing color closer to the house.

This backyard contains a fire pit with "seat" boulders worked into the encircling seating wall.  A natural water feature serves as a focal point for all the patio spaces.  Vegetable gardens are tucked around the side of the house.  Multiple patio locations provide space for small and larger gatherings, while covered porches provide transition to the house. 

This landscape is a mixture of formal layout and "French Country Garden" casual plantings.  The front lawn is relegated to a supporting role as the main focus is the courtyard walls, plantings, and crushed gravel paths.   In the backyard a dining terrace steps down to a pool + hottub terrace and then on down to the yard.  The terraces offer extensive entertaining space, great views of  the front range, and help tame the sloping property.   A steep slope leading around the house was planted with aspen and native grass to provide a natural view from inside the house, as well as screening.

This landscape provides self-sufficient living in the heart of the city by integrating productive elements such as vegetable gardens, chickens, cold frames and fruit trees into the landscape.  A reduced lawn area means less maintenance and lower water bills. Urban homesteading need not be only focused on utility as demonstrated by ornamental grasses, dwarf evergreens, and perennial plantings that provide year-round beauty.