East-Coast Inspired Outdoor Living in the Upper Midwest

Abigail M.’s Albert Lea, Minnesota yard was spacious enough for her family (including three kids!) to enjoy, but the ample space had little functionality and few design elements. The house felt disconnected from the surrounding landscape. Abigail dreamed of being able to relax, eat, and play against the backdrop of the beautiful home, but needed a design to bridge the gap between house and yard. She turned to Yardzen for help in making it happen, knowing that our designers would help her define her vision and turn it into reality.

In her onboarding, Abigal shared that she loves lush and traditional east coast style- this guided the entire design process. Yardzen’s designers added classic elements, like hydrangea, stone, and wood, creating functional outdoor living space and adding an elevated design touch to the exterior of the home.

With a full yard package, Abigail and family were able to upgrade their front, back, and side yards. The front yard was transformed by the addition of a deck with custom railings, French doors, and a pergola. This created a new outdoor room with its very own entrance. And the family puts it to use—they now have an outdoor eating set, complete with a table with a built-in fire pit. Bridging the gap between the home and yard, Yardzen designers added a long planting bed with a traditional stone retaining wall. White hydrangeas inspire east coast dreams while grounding the house into its lot.

The side yard, once an underutilized space became a new outdoor seating area. A flagstone patio defines the space and the addition of the fire pit invites friends and family to roast marshmallows or hide away and relax. It’s a cozy nook, helping to divide up the large lot and create usable space. Planting beds along the fence help frame the space and unify it to the front yard’s new planting beds.

For the backyard, Yardzen designers helped Abigail pick out the perfect accouterments to the existing deck to create the perfect seating area for whatever the occasion. They even found another nook for two Adirondack chairs for even more relaxing space. Planting beds in back serve a similar purpose as in front and side—helping to nestle the house into the space.

Yardzen’s award-winning online landscaping design is tailored to clients across all fifty states in the U.S., from Minnesota to Masschusets. Our design process begins with understanding your space, your aesthetic preferences, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build.

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range.

Once your design is complete, we’ll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers to install your new design.

Ready to level up the landscaping of your front yard, backyard, or other outdoor space? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!