Blair Residence

Full-Property Renovation – NE Portland, OR

When Jacob reached out, his landscape was a blank slate. The yard had been overrun by blackberry, vine maple, and debris from years of neglect. He wanted to bring it back to life but keep the relaxed, lived-in charm of the property. What followed was a full-property transformation.

We began by removing the blackberries choking out the pond, to the overgrown vine maple in the back. The team also relocated old river rock to a family property, making sure nothing usable went to waste. With the site cleared, we reshaped the beds, prepped the turf, and set the groundwork for a more resilient, low-maintenance landscape.

In the side yard, we installed a dedicated dog run with over 200 square feet of artificial grass with framed-in steel edging for durability. We also created a dry creek bed in the front yard using existing rock and boulders. The result was functional drainage that doubled as a visual feature.

The planting plan stretched across the entire lot, including the parking strip. We installed over 150 plants, from Magnolia ‘Little Gem’ and Blue Ice Cypress to layers of groundcover, grasses, and flowering shrubs. All the beds were amended, mulched, and tied into a fully updated drip irrigation system. That included boring under the sidewalk and driveway to keep things clean and streamlined.

To round out the project, we added new gravel paths, paver stepping stones, a custom vinyl fence and gate, and full landscape lighting with pest deterrent features built in.

This project blended structure with softness and turned a tired space into something beautiful and sustainable. The client was hands-on throughout, and it was a pleasure to help bring his vision to life.