Five Garden Rooms on a West Seattle Lot

A Quintet of Themed Spaces

Will Green divided a 50-by-120-foot lot into five garden rooms: front entry patio, checkerboard courtyard, raised deck, pond garden with English-style border, and a chartreuse-painted patio. Each room has its own theme and mood, evolving from experiments with wildflower meadow, English garden, and Italianate styles.

Flow and Function

Narrow lattice walls covered with vines and masked by shrubs separate the rooms. Arbors mark entries, acting as “picture frames” that entice visitors to step in. The couple uses each space at different times based on sun, bloom, and mood. Parties spread across multiple gardens, creating varied conversations.

Design Tricks

• Let one dominant color unify the gardens (red, orange, dark purple, gold) with liberal dark green and lime green foliage.
• Use hedges or vine-covered lath panels as garden walls; minimum room size 12 by 20 feet.
• Provide flow with connecting paths; each room needs an entrance and exit.
• Create views by locating seating away from perimeters.
• Hang a mirror to reflect light and create illusion of infinite space.