​Inviting Front Yard Update

This home in St. Paul, Minnesota, is located on a fairly small lot, and the homeowners wanted to maximize use of their small yard space while creating curb appeal for their home. The original poured-concrete steps and walkway were beginning to crack and crumble, and the plants near the edge of the yard were starting to grow into the sidewalk, which looked messy and unkempt.

The home also has a side door to the right of the main door. The homeowners wanted a larger, more welcoming walkway to the front door in order to let guests know which door to use when entering the house. 

The contractor and designer of the project worked with the homeowners to create a design using the Anchor™ Highland Stone® 6"/3" wall system.

Features of the new landscape include

• A wide, welcoming paver walkway that sweeps open at the city sidewalk
• A clearly defined front entrance, with steps up to the door 
• A small service walk to the side door for easy access
• An 18-inch-high wall extending along the property, eliminating the slope to the sidewalk
• Large planting areas surrounded by curved retaining walls

The homeowners also wanted a courtyard patio space. While the small size of the yard and a large black walnut tree prevented building a true courtyard, the designer chose to place a Highland Stone freestanding wall along the service walk to provide a small gathering space with seating.

For a finishing touch, the designer added columns to the ends of both the retaining and freestanding walls, and added large lantern lights to the freestanding wall columns. 

Updating the landscape of the home created an entirely new and welcoming look. The rich color and texture of the Highland Stone products complement the look of both the home and the surrounding neighborhood, and give the yard the perfect blend of classic coziness and contemporary appeal.