Forested Sanctuary

High in the secluded forests of Tiger Mountain sits Mirrormont, a neighborhood developed 62 years ago on challenging terrain. This is where our project begins.

The homeowner settled into their well-built mid-century modern home on a heavily wooded, extremely steep site, where initial landscape development was limited to the driveway, front walkway, detached garage, woodshed, and parking area. Prior to our engagement, a landscaper had proposed a multi-level terrace with retaining walls cutting deeply into the slope, resulting in a series of patios without a clearly defined purpose.

Guided by the principle that form follows function, Bear Creek Landscaping developed a master plan centered on a large, level sun patio designed for entertaining and outdoor cooking. The proposed deep excavation into the hillside was eliminated and replaced with a terraced, large vegetable garden that steps gracefully above the patio, preserving the natural character of the site while improving usability.

A sturdy staircase replaced the DIY paver steps through the larger garden. Then a traversing walkway and a smaller terraced vegetable garden were installed to link the sun patio to the lower lawn and rounded look-out patio. Evergreen plantings along the lawn's edge were added to complete the space. The final renovation focused on the area adjacent to the basement, converted into a mother-in-law suite, where a stone staircase and path were constructed to seamlessly connect the suite's square patio and deck to the rest of the backyard.