Graphic Design Principles Enlarge a Small Garden

Modest gardens can feel larger when clutter is eliminated, materials are limited, and details are highlighted. That's especially important for a contemporary house on a small lot, like Norman Adams's home in Palo Alto's Greenmeadow neighborhood. Before its makeover, the garden was overgrown and lacked a distinct style. To complement his newly renovated Eichler home, Adams turned to architect Mark Marcinik (who also designed the house remodel) to shape the garden.

Marcinik echoed the home's clean lines with square pavers, rectangular garden beds, and a grid-like glass-and-metal fence. He worked with landscape designer and contractor Elliot Goliger to simplify the plant palette. "Because the materials are limited, each element stands out more," Goliger says.

A "green driveway," made of 1-by-1-foot pavers interplanted with tall fescue, extends across the front of the garage, serving as both driveway and entry path. Carefully chosen elements—pavers, pots, and sculptural pieces—provide bold finishing touches.

Three Great Ideas from This Garden

1. Create the Illusion of Space

Garden beds, pavers, and the fence grid are set on a horizontal plane to make the front entry appear more spacious. Horizontal lines make long, narrow spaces look wider, Marcinik notes. Keep plants low to avoid a tunnel effect.

2. Mass Plants for Impact

Too many plant varieties make a small garden look busy. "Challenge yourself to work with blocks of color and form, and think of plants as groupings instead of singular elements," Goliger advises. "You can't be afraid to put 40 of the same plant in a space if that's what it calls for."

3. Highlight Hardscape

Surround pavers with grass or gravel for graphic appeal. "Hardscapes can be quite beautiful," Marcinik says. "Think of them as horizontal paintings."

Design: Mark Marcinik, Greenmeadow Architects, Palo Alto (650/856-8354); Elliot Goliger, Artisans Landscape, San Francisco (415/594-9090)