Kylee here to share our backyard transformation with Yardzen. When we bought our new home, it was after months of searching in a tough market. We had to be realistic about priorities, and an established yard became one of the compromises when we chose a charming cape-style house in Portland.
The Before
These photos were taken shortly after move-in. We placed our belongings and added a simple flagstone path from the house to the detached garage. We were grateful for any yard at all, but you can see it was essentially a blank slate—full of potential but needing direction.
I feel confident designing interiors, but landscaping is outside my comfort zone. I had ideas but not the knowledge of what plants suit our climate or how to lay everything out. When the opportunity to work with Yardzen came up, we were excited to have experts help turn our vision into practical, beautiful plans.
What is Yardzen?
Yardzen is an online landscaping company that creates custom yard designs tailored to your style preferences, regional climate, and budget. Their service produces detailed visuals and plans so you can see how your yard will look and know what it will take to get there.
How does Yardzen work?
I selected a Backyard package, though Yardzen offers several options including exterior, hardscaping, and painting packages. The process involved sharing our budget, taking a style quiz, providing inspiration photos, and submitting photos and videos of the property. Yardzen then delivered initial designs, and I gave feedback for a final revision. The package includes a final design, a plant list, a furniture list, and construction-ready CAD plans. They also connect you with vetted, licensed, insured landscape contractors in your area through their Pro Network, so you can get quotes and decide whether to hire a pro or do the work yourself.
My Experience / The Result
I wasn’t sure how accurate a virtual consultation could be, but the renderings exceeded my expectations. The plans felt like our yard—only far more beautiful. Seeing that vision made me excited about what the future holds.
Last fall we added a flagstone path from the patio to the garage to avoid muddy trips to the car. In the renderings I can now imagine this area filled with flowers and hydrangeas—the only specific plant I requested. I asked for an English cottage garden feel that’s slightly wild but classic and low maintenance, and the plans achieve that balance: lush without being overly fussy.
On one side of the yard we currently have a temporary fence to contain our dogs, but the design shows a charming white picket fence that I’ve always wanted. We’ve already received quotes and hope to install it this year—maybe even tackle it ourselves.
One challenge was the tall blue house looming behind our property and dominating the view from our kitchen. Yardzen addressed this by lining the boundary with lush plantings and adding a magnolia tree with a small bench beneath it—an attractive focal point that will sit in the view from my kitchen sink.
Privacy along the side of the house is solved with trees and a privacy wall, and I loved the suggestion to add window boxes—one of my favorite details.
A key goal was a cozy outdoor retreat. The pergola and privacy wall create a sheltered, room-like space on our patio—perfect for relaxing with a book and a glass of lemonade.
What’s next for our backyard?
With Yardzen’s designs and shopping lists in hand, you can implement the plan yourself or hire a contractor from their network. I plan to phase the project over time—doing some planting myself (I’ve already started) and hiring professionals for larger tasks as our budget allows. I appreciate that Yardzen connects you with local landscapers who understand the plans and can bring them to life.
Final thoughts on our Yardzen design
I am so pleased with the renderings and the straightforward process. Yardzen offers several package options based on your needs, and having a professionally crafted plan gives me confidence the project will turn out beautifully. Without this guidance, I might have approached the yard haphazardly and made avoidable mistakes. Instead, I now have a clear, expert plan to follow.
If you enjoy cottage gardens, I’ve put together a Cottage Garden Pinterest board where I’m collecting inspiration. Follow along on Instagram stories—I’ll be sharing updates as we add new plants this summer.