Menlo Park Backyard

This Menlo Park residence, home to a family of five and their dog, originally featured a utilitarian outdoor space: a patchy lawn, a simple patio with aging furniture, and a barbecue. While functional, the yard lacked visual interest, sustainability, and a cohesive design language.

Our design process always begins with an open dialogue, where the client is encouraged to share all of their aspirations for the space — without constraints of budget, permitting, or constructability. Once the full vision is on the table, we refine the scope by aligning it with a realistic budget range and collaboratively prioritizing the wishlist.

For this project, the key goals were:

• A new sliding back door system to create an uninterrupted connection between indoor and outdoor living spaces

• Removal of the existing lawn, to be replaced by native grasses and vibrant, drought-tolerant plantings

• A secondary seating area beyond the main patio, accessible via a thoughtfully designed path to promote full use of the yard

• A dedicated fire pit zone for evening gatherings

• A trellis structure with integrated electrical to support lighting and future flexibility

Preliminary concept sketches were developed to explore spatial layout and circulation, ensuring all desired elements could be integrated harmoniously. As part of the design development phase, we sourced multiple contractor bids. Although initial quotes exceeded the projected budget, this challenge prompted a careful reassessment of priorities.

We ultimately partnered with Sunscapes, Inc., whose collaborative approach and transparent pricing enabled us to refine the project without compromising on aesthetics or intent. Their input on material choices and phasing strategies allowed us to achieve every major design objective within budget.

The result is a landscape that not only supports the family’s lifestyle but also reflects a more sustainable, beautiful, and intentional use of space.