A Garden Revival

This historic West Seattle home offered one big challenge when the Achaks purchased it in 2013 --a sweeping garden begging for renovation. Beginning in 2014, a local landscape designer and an updated vision transformed this neglected landscape into an inviting garden with play space for growing children, an outdoor kitchen and gathering place for friends. Restoration began with mitigation of drainage on this hillside lot.  Removal of diseased trees and old plantings around the perimeter of the garden led to surprise discoveries of old stone benches and statuary.

Walk through the entry gate flanked by Magnolia grandiflora to a mixed border of roses, hydrangea, and ligularia framing the large covered porch. The sidewalk leads left to a lavender-lined stone path along the house or right to a small terrace with one of the old stone benches and a view of Puget Sound and the garden below. 

Framed by lush layered plantings of grasses, white hydrangea, tall pines and katsura trees, a set of stairs leads to a small lawn and an inviting outdoor kitchen. Also discover a stone terrace and cutting garden under a Japanese maple. A flight of stairs adjacent to the covered kitchen takes you to a small container vegetable garden and sitting area above the garage.

According to Deb, some of the most inviting elements of the garden are “our katsura trees when they are fully leafed out. I love the hydrangeas when they are in bloom. The cutting garden under the maple tree is full of inspiration.  And I love our container garden (aka “the produce department”) above our garage. Our garden is a refuge from the city. We hope visitors enjoy a moment of calm when they tour it.’’