From Design to Installation: A Sample Client

By Kristi Sherfinski

Sep 12, 2021

This busy professional family in Whitefish Bay, WI inherited a jumble of outdoor DIY projects from the previous owners when they bought their 1940s house on a charming, tree-lined street. After ripping out the overgrown plants and non-functional hardscape in front, they asked Helianthus to redesign the entire property, to be built out in phases. Design requests for this project included adding curb appeal in front, room for a larger garage, and a multilevel patio/play area in back. The following images show how we went from preliminary plans to a revised final design and plant palette, plus photos of the newly planted first phase. Says the homeowner: “We have received a ton of compliments from our neighbors.”

Our first site visit to the house.

The concept drawing we drew after talking to our client to find out what she wanted.

The drawing that the contractor built from.

The plant palette for the design contains a mixture of natives and cultivars.

Just after planting in the early stages of growth.