An after image. This image shows the formerly-dilapidated small garage, which has been rebuilt into a cabana with large sliding glass doors and a bar. A stepping stone walkway of large irregular flagstones leads up to the front door of the cabana, which retains its traditional Craftsman feel. Mosses and low plants including wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) have been planted in between the cracks of the walkway. A new trellis will provide separation from the neighbors once the vines grow larger.
An image of a modern house framed by fall leaves and a concrete patio
Mostly native planting we designed in the back portion of the yard including Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), Golden groundsel (Senecio aureus), Red Buckeye, violets, Hellebores and more.

Ecological landscape & planting design in Washington, DC

Sandbox Land Studio specializes in landscape design for residential clients. I listen to your concerns, goals, and dreams, and evaluate the existing conditions on your site in order to design beautiful, functional, and ecologically beneficial spaces. My designs transform sites with steep slopes, drainage issues, small lots, little privacy, empty spaces, difficult access, and more into comfortable spaces you will enjoy. I design both hardscapes (patios, decks, paving, steps, walls, etc), and softscapes (planting design, earth moving, etc). Unlike some other designers, I elicit feedback at multiple steps in the process, preferring not to surprise clients with landscape features they didn't ask for and don't need. Together, we can  create a beautiful, sustainable landscape or garden for your property!

I am based in Greenbelt, MD and work in Washington, D.C. and Maryland including Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties. I'd love to chat about your project!  
Email renee@sandboxlandstudio.com or text/call Renee at 202-780-9493
A hand sketch of an Aronia melanocarpa twig with leaves and berries

Why Hire Sandbox Studio?

Sandbox Studio will provide you with design solutions you might not have considered. Hiring me to develop a concept plan for your property before spending money will prevent you from making expensive mistakes and missing opportunities to make the most of your landscape. Don't worry if your space feels wrong and you don't know what to do about it, and definitely don't feel embarrassed- I'm here to help!

  • Improve access and views to the outdoors
  • Prevent damage from stormwater, erosion, and flooding
  • Improve ecological functioning and biodiversity
  • Turn your steep slopes into an asset
  • Provide habitat, food, and shelter for birds and pollinators
  • Spend more time outdoors enjoying nature
  • Create the right amount of privacy with fences and plantings
  • Experience a sense of joy as you watch plants grow and change as the seasons unfold
  • Connect to nature by eating fruits, nuts, and vegetables produced on your property
  • Make a positive impact on the earth!

Selected Projects

Space to Gather in Kensington, Maryland

These clients in Kensington,  Montgomery County, Maryland, wanted space to host large parties, and their existing patio wasn't cutting it. The tiered aluminum pergola has a 24' x 24' central gathering space and two 12' x 12' wings, one with an outdoor kitchen. The pergola also has motorized louvers that can be closed in the rain, and fans to ensure the space is enjoyable even when mosquitoes are present. A new stone fireplace acts as a focal point and, along with river birch trees, partially encloses the space. A low deck to the side provides an additional space to enjoy a hot tub. I completed this design while working with Groundsmith Collective.

An evening photo of a newly installed landscape design. The house and landscape are illuminated and a crowd of people socialize under a new tiered pergola, around an outdoor kitchen, in front of a stone fireplace, and on a low deck.

Midcentury Stormwater Management in Arlington, Virginia

This homeowner was concerned about an eroding slope, a muddy back patio, and stormwater entering through the lower door of the house. To complicate matters, an easement limited options in the side yard. A wall just inside of the easement prevents runoff from reaching the back door and new patio. A gravel walkway infiltrates stormwater between monolithic bluestone steps, which can be moved in the unlikely event that work must be done in the easement. Native shade-loving plants also slow down runoff. The shed was relocated and the area planted with ferns, which thrive in the moist soil. As part of the project the narrow deck was expanded by several feet, creating a much more usable perch from which to enjoy the new plantings, which were designed to provide season long-blooms in the back yard. German irises already onsite were transplanted to the slope, responding with a beautiful show of pink and maroon. I completed this design while working with Groundsmith Collective.

After photo shows the  slope regraded with monolithic bluestone steps and a gravel walkway of 3/8" river stone. A new wooden deer fence with vertical slats and a Craftsman gate surrounds the back yard, and native shade-tolerant perennials frame the walkway in green.

Modern Rowhouse Design in Eckington

The owners of this rowhouse in the Eckington neighborhood of Washington, DC had to descend dilapidated stairs from the main level of their house to reach their small backyard. I maximized the vertical space in this small rowhouse lot by adding a second story deck with stairs and a pergola, taking advantage of the fact that the main level was a full story above grade. This deck added 85 square feet to the 500 s.f. back yard and created two gathering spaces where there had been none. I worked within stringent Washington, DC regulations to maximize the deck footprint and create a usable small backyard landscape design with room for a tree, plantings, trash and recycling storage, and a grill/smoker. The cables support flowering vines, which will grow to provide shade and privacy for the second level of the deck, which is a hot, south-facing space in full view of the neighbors. The rain garden was designed and installed by DC's Riversmart Homes program. I completed this design while working with Groundsmith Collective.

An after photo of a rowhouse or townhouse landscape design with a black metal two-level modern deck with an integrated pergola. Cables on the deck allow vines to grow up and shade the space. New paving also allows for a shady space underneath, and a rain garden infiltrates stormwater and provides pollinator habitat in an urban area.

Craftsman Rustic & Native Plants in Hyattsville, Maryland

These clients in Hyattsville, Prince George's County, Maryland, had a dilapidated old deck and garage that constricted access to the back yard, full shade from a large mulberry tree and neighbors' bamboo, and a desire to spend more time outside and create habitat. We designed a new deck with tiered steps that opened up the back yard, an irregular flagstone patio and walkways, a rain garden to infiltrate roof runoff, and a pollinator garden featuring straight-species native plants that was planted in the fall of 2022. I drew up deck and trellis construction details, which received County approval with no revisions. The house is still undergoing renovations. A local architect worked with the clients to create a cabana on the same footprint as the tiny garage, creating a garden office and entertainment space in keeping with the home's Craftsman roots. I completed this design while working with Groundsmith Collective, a local design collective.

An after image. This image shows the formerly-dilapidated small garage, which has been rebuilt into a cabana with large sliding glass doors and a bar. A stepping stone walkway of large irregular flagstones leads up to the front door of the cabana, which retains its traditional Craftsman feel. Mosses and low plants including wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) have been planted in between the cracks of the walkway. A new trellis will provide separation from the neighbors once the vines grow larger.

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