Homeowners Zoë Kim, an author and minimalist, and her husband, decluttering expert Matt Paxton, designed their modern farmhouse-style single-family home with the help of an architect. (Check out Zoë’s lifestyle brand @raisingsimple, focused on practical ways for families to approach the minimalist way of life). When designing their Suwanee, Georgia home, she was drawn to the modern farmhouse look for its clean and simple style, and she wanted her landscaping and outdoor spaces to reflect that same organic, casual, and low-maintenance look—“minimal, but cozy,” Zoë said.

With their family of seven children, ages 7-15 (combined from former marriages), they needed to extend the livable area of their 2,700 square foot house into their outdoor living spaces, including a detached ADU (accessory dwelling unit) for Zoë’s mother to live on the property. A backyard with multiple functional spaces was essential for keeping everyone entertained and sane.

As a new construction home, their yard was a blank slate when they started the landscape design process. They turned to LawnZ to help them organize their vision into a cohesive and livable design that would serve their large combined and multi-generational household with more outdoor square footage to enjoy.

The Yard

After Zoë and Matt designed and built their dream home, they had a vision for their outdoor spaces that involved a Mediterranean-inspired garden space, a saltwater pool, raised edible garden beds (Zoë is also a horticulturist), and multiple spaces for gathering outdoors with their large family.

With the ADU occupying part of the backyard, they wanted to ensure a seamless flow between spaces while also giving the new ADU its own distinct landscaping to set it apart from the primary residence. Additionally, since their home is situated between two roadways, they required enhanced privacy and separation from vehicle and foot traffic.

For the front yard, Zoë preferred to avoid traditional plants like boxwood and magnolia, opting instead for low-water, easy-to-maintain softscapes. She aimed to create an inviting yet simple and low-maintenance walkway and entrance from the curb.

They had a clear vision for using the space but needed assistance in visualizing how all the elements would come together. “We were living in the home for a year with a bunch of red clay dirt and seven kids in the backyard,” said Zoë. A functional and experience-driven backyard was needed urgently.

The Vision

With Georgia’s temperate climate, Zoë and Matt knew they would be spending a significant amount of time outdoors year-round. They designed their home with a beautiful covered outdoor living room and fireplace that opens up to the backyard, where they can watch the kids play in the pool or enjoy a drink after bedtime. They wanted the rest of the space to flow seamlessly from there.

Their priorities for the backyard:

• Creating an At-Home Retreat: “I want to feel like I’m on vacation at home,” Zoë explained. They requested multiple zones for gathering, dining, play, and relaxation. The design included an outdoor kitchen, dining table, raised edible gardens, fire pit, hot tub, and, of course, a large saltwater pool that can be heated in the winter.
• Privacy Fencing: For both the backyard and guest house.
• Modern, Mediterranean-Inspired Design: Sustainable and low-maintenance garden design with distinct landscaping and pathways to create flow throughout the space and separation for the guest house.
• Play Area: A small grass or turf area for the kids to run around or play with the dog.
• Front Yard: An inviting walkway with simple, organic landscaping that provides some separation from the road. They wanted the front yard to have an inviting feel that draws attention to the front porch and welcomes guests in. “I wanted it to read ‘come over and have some tea.’”

The Design

With such a distinct vision and ample space to work with, LawnZ created a design that balanced their minimal, warm, cozy style with the need for multiple functional spaces and smooth flow throughout. To maintain an orderly and clean look, most planting is done against the new fencing and alongside pathways next to the home and guest house. The soft tones of lavender, olive bushes and trees, evergreens, and ornamental grasses create a Mediterranean-inspired look with visual interest and texture.

To create ample seating by the pool, LawnZ designed a pool deck with space for chaise lounges and a separate pea-gravel-lined fire pit area surrounded by three outdoor couches.

A vine-draped pergola covers an outdoor dining table adjacent to the outdoor living room. This extra dining space provides room for poolside snacks or entertaining friends on a warm night.

The back entrance to the guest house features olive trees, lavender, and evergreens paired with gravel hardscaping. A small seating area and new horizontal fencing create a private outdoor oasis for the guest house.

The front yard design relocates the mailbox from the driveway to the new front walkway. Two steps and a brick pathway surrounded by low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly plants create a soft, natural-looking focal point that welcomes guests into the home.

Overall, the design ensures a seamless flow between spaces and maintains open sightlines, creating a family-friendly environment.

The Installation

For Zoë, having LawnZ bring her design vision to life with photorealistic 3D renderings not only helped her better understand the flow of the space but also assisted in making decisions about where to adjust elements that didn’t serve her family’s immediate lifestyle.

Zoë and Matt stayed true to their LawnZ designs but made a few adjustments to better suit their needs:

• Pool Deck Adjustments: Realizing they wanted more space for their family to play and move around the pool deck, they decided to remove the pergola dining area and outdoor kitchen. With ample room available, they planned to add these elements later if needed.
• Privacy and Layout Changes: To enhance privacy for the guest house and improve walkway access, they reduced some of the grass area and relocated the seating and fire pit area from the pool deck (adjacent to the ADU’s living room windows) to the side of the guest house.
• Front Yard Pathway: To reduce costs and create a softer look that complements the tan pea gravel in their driveway, they chose stone pavers instead of a solid concrete path for the front yard walkway.
• Play Area Update: Considering the proximity to the pool and the potential for grass debris, they opted for turf in the small play area.

From backyard pool parties and gathering around the fire pit for s’mores to sitting on the front porch while waiting for the bus, the kids have been enjoying the yard every day since it was completed. Zoë and Matt plan to heat the pool during Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, so they anticipate plenty of use even when the weather cools. They’re thrilled to have created a yard that perfectly fits their family’s lifestyle and needs. As Zoë said, “So often in outdoor spaces, people want to focus on the ‘look’ first, but it’s really about how your family will use the space.” We couldn’t agree more—it’s all about creating experiences in your backyard!

Designing a Family-Friendly Oasis for Your Yard

LawnZ’s award-winning online landscaping design service is tailored to clients across all fifty states in the U.S., from Suwanee to San Francisco. Our design process starts with understanding your space, aesthetic preferences, and discussing your budget and vision to ensure there are no surprises when it’s time to build.

Our expert designers will develop a personalized vision for your yard, presented through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and detailed plant and material lists. Your design will reflect the look, feel, and functionality you desire while keeping costs within your budget.

Once your design is complete, we’ll assist you in connecting with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers to bring your vision to life.

Ready to enhance the landscaping of your ADU project, backyard remodel, or other outdoor space? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!