Project Details
Location: Lafayette, Colorado
Project Type: Residential landscape design + build
Landscape Style: Colorado-inspired xeriscaping
Key Features: Colorado Buff flagstone patios and pathways, custom weathering steel retaining walls, natural boulders, dry creek, drip irrigation, layered water-wise planting, pollinator habitat, multiple outdoor living spaces
Before & After
Water-Wise by Design
When these Lafayette homeowners moved into their newly constructed home, the backyard was essentially a blank slate. The builder had established the grading and slope, but little else had been done to turn the yard into a space the homeowners could actually enjoy.
They wanted something very different from a traditional lawn-centered backyard. Their vision was for a low-water, low-maintenance landscape that felt connected to Colorado, provided privacy from neighboring homes, preserved views toward the adjacent open space, and gave them comfortable places to spend time outdoors with family and friends.
The challenge was accomplishing all of that within a relatively small backyard, but without significantly changing the existing grade. That’s where Boulder Landscape & Design’s expertise came in.
Working With the Landscape, Not Against It
Rather than flattening the property or fighting the builder-established slope, the design used the existing topography as the framework for the yard’s transformed landscape.
Custom weathering steel retaining walls manage changes in elevation while defining a series of connected outdoor spaces. Layered plantings of varying heights soften the steel and bring color and texture to the landscape. Colorado Buff flagstone patios and pathways provide warm, natural surfaces throughout the yard, while large, hand-selected boulders are integrated into the grade to provide both structure and character.
Around one of the primary seating areas, the boulders create a tucked-in feeling that makes the patio feel nestled into the landscape rather than simply placed within it.
Together, these elements allowed us to create multiple distinct outdoor “rooms” within a compact footprint, done without making the backyard feel crowded or over-designed.
Making Every Square Foot Count
One of the most successful aspects of this landscape is how much it accomplishes within a relatively small space. Separate areas for relaxing, dining, gathering, and moving through the garden are connected through changes in elevation, pathways, planting, and material transitions, all accomplished without walls. Instead, the landscape gradually unfolds as you move through it.
The backyard feels bigger than its footprint suggests, which was intentional. Every element was carefully considered, with many serving more than one purpose. The boulders help manage the slope while creating privacy and a sense of enclosure. The retaining walls define outdoor spaces while addressing changes in elevation. Even the dry creek serves as both a drainage solution and a natural landscape feature.
A Different Approach to Water-Wise Landscaping
This yard’s transformation is a great example of how eliminating traditional turf doesn’t mean living with a sparse landscape full of rock and gravel.
Instead, layered plantings adapted to Colorado’s climate bring color, texture, movement, and seasonal change throughout the yard. Plants were selected to require relatively little pruning and deadheading as they mature while also providing privacy and supporting birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects.
Low-volume drip irrigation delivers water directly to planted areas, helping reduce the irrigation demands associated with a traditional lawn.
As the landscape continues to mature, the planting will become an even stronger part of the experience, softening the stone and steel while creating an increasingly established garden.
Turning Drainage Into a Design Feature
Stormwater management presented another opportunity to make a functional element part of the landscape.
A naturalized dry creek was incorporated into the yard to slow and capture runoff, encourage infiltration, and provide a route for excess water during larger storm events.
But instead of drainage infrastructure being the focal point, the thoughtful design used elements like stone, planting, pathways, and gathering zones around the creek so that it becomes part of the experience of moving through the landscape. Stepping stones cross it, plants soften its edges, and the creek visually connects different areas of the yard.
When Everything Works Together
The creative problem solving used in this Lafayette backyard illustrates how a practical solution can also become an important part of the design.
Overall, this project demonstrates how design doesn’t have to be centered on one dramatic feature. In this case, it was about how everything worked together.
The weathering steel walls address grade while defining space. Boulders retain portions of the slope while creating enclosure and character. The dry creek manages water while adding movement. Plantings conserve water while providing habitat, privacy, texture, and seasonal interest.
What began as a small, exposed builder-grade backyard is now a comfortable and functional outdoor space that feels established, connected, and distinctly Colorado.
The project is a great example of how thoughtful landscape design can make even a small backyard feel spacious, private, and inviting. By working with the existing site and choosing materials and plants that serve multiple purposes, we created a landscape that balances beauty, function, and long-term sustainability.
Most importantly, it shows that water-wise landscaping doesn't have to mean sacrificing lush planting, comfortable outdoor spaces, or seasonal interest.
Looking to transform your yard into a beautiful, functional, and distinctly Coloradan space? Contact Boulder Landscape & Design to reach our team of design experts. Fill out our Start Your Project form to begin the conversation
