Madison Landscape Design Spotlight: Permeable Patio, Softscaping & Custom Privacy Screen
How Can Small-Lot Landscaping Transform a Madison Home?
With thoughtful design and sustainable materials, Carrington Lawn & Landscape turned a compact Madison yard into a private retreat featuring a permeable patio, softscaping, and custom privacy screening.
Client & Project Background
At Carrington Lawn & Landscape, we believe great design bridges the gap between beauty and function, especially when it comes to small-lot living in Madison’s charming neighborhoods. This recent project on the city’s near west side showcases how thoughtful planning, sustainable materials, and expert craftsmanship can turn a challenging space into a welcoming, family-friendly retreat.
The homeowners, a young family with two children, had recently completed a major home renovation that extended their home’s footprint into the backyard. While the new deck offered elevated views, it also created new height transitions and design challenges for the landscape below.
They wanted a space that encouraged time outdoors together: private, peaceful, and practical. The family envisioned a space that blended seamlessly with their renovated home, offered room to play, and provided year-round natural beauty.
Having seen Carrington Lawn & Landscape’s work firsthand through a neighbor’s referral, they reached out for help bringing this vision to life.
Key Design Elements for Small-Lot Madison Landscapes
The design combined hardscape, softscape, and custom carpentry to create a cohesive and functional outdoor living space.
Hardscape Features
- Unilock® Town Hall® permeable pavers for the patio—a sustainable choice that manages stormwater while providing a timeless aesthetic.
- Unilock® Olde Quarry™ wall block and Ledgestone™ coping and step treads to create smooth transitions between levels.
- Fond du Lac Premier flagstone steppers create natural movement through the landscape.
- Custom-built cedar screening structures to add privacy and warmth.
Softscape Features
The plant palette focused on texture, seasonal color, and scale—creating visual depth without overpowering the smaller lot. Plantings included a variety of perennials, ornamental grasses, and compact trees such as:
- Green Mountain Boxwood
- Emerald Spire Crabapple
- Seven Son Flower
- Swedish Aspen
- Arborvitae
- North Star White Spruce
- Bobo Hydrangea
- Northwind Switchgrass
- Autumn Fire Sedum
- Blue Ice Amsonia
- Caradonna Salvia
Aluminum edging tied everything together, giving clean definition to planting beds while maintaining a polished look.
How Much Does a Project Like This Cost?
The total project investment, approximately $45,000 in 2023, included the patio, cedar screening, and extensive softscape installation across the backyard, side yard, and front of the home.
Design Challenges & Solutions
- Multi-Level Transitions:
The main challenge was connecting the new raised deck to the yard while working around different elevation points at the driveway and garage. Carrington Lawn & Landscape’s team coordinated grading and used subtle retaining and step features to create a seamless flow between levels—a perfect example of why landscape designers should be consulted before deck stairs are finalized. - Privacy in a High-Traffic Area:
A nearby busy street required privacy without closing off the space. A layered solution, including the cedar trellises and a mix of narrow trees, shrubs, and perennials, created soft visual and sound screening while keeping the yard open and usable. - Stormwater Management:
Drainage limitations called for a creative solution. Installing a permeable patio base allowed stormwater to soak naturally into the ground, reducing runoff and supporting sustainable groundwater recharge.
The Final Result
The finished design strikes a perfect balance between structure and softness. The warm tones of the Unilock pavers and cedar screening complement the home’s architecture, while the plantings bring four-season interest and natural beauty.
The family now has a private outdoor living space that transitions seamlessly from the deck to the yard—perfect for morning coffee, playtime, and evening gatherings.
Beyond the visual transformation, the project embodies what makes Carrington Lawn & Landscape a trusted choice for Madison landscape design: collaboration, craftsmanship, and creative problem-solving. Every decision, from material selection to plant choice, was guided by sustainability, longevity, and the homeowner’s lifestyle.
Madison Landscape Design Trends to Watch
This project reflects a growing trend in Madison landscape design: maximizing small-lot potential with permeable hardscapes, functional layouts, and sustainable plant choices.
Whether it’s screening a busy street, connecting new architecture to existing grades, or reimagining a front yard, Carrington Lawn & Landscape’s design team takes every detail into account to create spaces that truly fit the people who live in them.
Ready to Transform Your Madison Outdoor Space?
Your landscape should reflect your home, your lifestyle, and the natural beauty of Wisconsin. Whether you’re tackling a full-property renovation or simply ready to enhance your outdoor living area, our team at Carrington Lawn & Landscape can help you bring it all together—beautifully, sustainably, and built to last.
Let’s start your Madison landscape design journey. Contact us today!