Compact and welcoming, low-maintenance but action-packed, the South Hills garden is in Sunset! The heart of this garden is our wonderful clients, who trusted us to reflect their dreams, and warm, open personalities in their little space (even when we brought ideas that surprised them). We couldn't be more grateful for their leap of faith. To supplement Jim McCausland's lovely article, we'd like to share some before and after photos and a little insight on the space's transformation from ho-hum yard to Sunset-worthy garden.

Before: low, sparse plantings were overwhelmed by the facade of the house and the driveway.

After: informal, breezy plantings wrap the house in layers of texture and color.

Before: a lack of height and interest made the planting bed feel both cramped and exposed.

After: plantings with varied height, texture and color embrace the entry and lead the eye into the borrowed view of the hills beyond.

Before: a true blank slate, this empty yard lacked form, focus and screening.

After: two garden "rooms" draw the eye, even when not in use, while plantings soften less desirable views and direct attention into the adjacent woodland.

Before: overwhelmed by the tall facade of the house, and made unusable by the slope, the original yard felt like an afterthought.

After: subtle terracing made room for two outdoor living spaces, while textural plantings give the garden depth and focus.