Ecological landscape & planting design

Sandbox Studio landscape design specializes in transforming challenging outdoor spaces 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 info@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.

A late evening photo of an installed landscape design in Kensington, Maryland. Dark vertical trunks of trees frame a pergola aglow with light and filled with 50 to 60 people. A stone chimney with a wood-burning outdoor fireplace anchors the end of the pergola, which also holds an outdoor kitchen. Light spills out onto the lawn, which is streaked with the shadows of trees.

An early evening photo of a landscape design in Kensington, Maryland. A louvered white aluminum pergola with lights and a fan frames the space overhead, and a new bluestone patio below provides a large space to gather. The last light of the day illuminates the trees behind. A stone fireplace with chimney anchors the space, and two chairs with bright cushions frame the fireplace.

An early evening photo of a landscape design in Kensington, MD. A louvered white aluminum pergola with lights and a fan frames the space overhead, and a new bluestone patio below provides a large space to gather. A stone fireplace with chimney anchors the space, and a round table is set out with brightly-colored snacks, all set up for a party.

An early evening photo of a white aluminum two-tiered pergola and a stone fireplace with chimney taken from above eye level. Chairs line the space, snacks are set out, and several people work in the outdoor kitchen, getting ready for the party to start. A new birch tree and plantings sit in alcoves to frame the space.

An early evening photo through the nearly bare fall branches of a young river birch tree to a new gathering space beyond, showing the new bluestone patio and in the background, people preparing for a party. The river birch's three slender trunks and delicately peeling peach and white bark evokes the white aluminum supports for the pergola behind.

A landscape design with a new Struxures pergola and stone fireplace

A before image of the project in Kensington, Maryland with a small bluestone patio with a curved edge, large enough for only a single table and chairs.

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.

Before photo of a muddy slope leading to a patio that floods.

Before and after photos of a landscape design, looking down from the top of a slope. Before shows a steep, muddy slope, dilapidated low wooden and chain-link fences, and a muddy, uneven patio.

Before and after photos of a landscape design, looking down from the top of a slope. After 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 defines the yard, native shade-tolerant perennials frame the walkway in green, and a new retaining wall ensures that stormwater does not drain onto the new bluestone patio.

Before photo of a landscape design, showing a muddy and uneven patio, bare soil caused by erosion and stormwater runoff, an undersized deck, and a curved walkway from one to the other.

After photo of a landscape design, showing a new bluestone patio protected from stormwater runoff with a retaining wall, an expanded deck, new bluestone steps from the deck to the patio, and expanded native plantings with seasonal blooms.

Photo of an installed landscape design with new monolithic bluestone steps and 3/8" river gravel between them. A new vertical deer fence acts as a background for native shade-tolerant plantings including Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica), Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum), ferns, Erigeron pulchellus 'Lynnhaven Carpet', Phlox, and more.

Photo of an installed landscape design showing a new bluestone patio in full color range to complement the midcentury house and a stepped retaining wall holding back grade. A new wooden deer fence protects plants from roaming herds of deer. Purple irises transplanted from elsewhere on the property bloom in the foreground.

Maroon and pink irises with gold were growing onsite already and were transplanted to this slope.

A closeup of native Maryland plants, specifically Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) in front of Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)

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.

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.

Before image of a small rowhouse back yard. A derelict staircase descends from the second floor and there are no gathering spaces.

A before image of a small rowhouse or townhouse yard showing a derelict wooden staircase, loose bricks, a chain-link fence, and lack of privacy from neighbors.

An after photo of a rowhouse or townhouse landscape design. Privacy is provided on the small lot by a new wooden fence. This photo is taken from underneath the new metal deck, which shields views from neighbors above and behind and casts shade on an otherwise sunny, south-facing lot. The vines will grow in and provide additional screening to the space. Trash and recycling storage is accommodated underneath the new metal staircase with cable railings.

View of the second storey modern steel deck with overhead pergola. The size was limited by DC building restrictions but is just enough to fit a couch and small table. Cables in the pergola overhead will support flowering vines.

A modern second-storey deck with a gathering space underneath. The deck is made from black metal, with black metal and cable railings and hardwood decking. Steel cables will allow vines to grow up, provide shade, and screen views of the neighbors.

Steel modern deck with pergola on rowhouse. Image of vertical stainless steel cables with vines growing up to shade the second storey deck.

An image of a rowhouse landscape design showing the new two-level modern black metal deck. Steps with wooden treads and cable railings lead up to the second-storey deck with a pergola overhead. Cables provide a place for climbing vines to grow up. A brick walkway allows easy access to the lower portion of the house and gathering area underneath the deck.

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.

A before image shows a tiny dilapidated garage from the 1920s or 1930s that is now too small for cars. The entire side yard, which used to be the driveway, is paved with asphalt.

After image of an old Craftsman garage that has been renovated into a cabana, and a new deck with tiered wedding-cake steps that opens up access and views to the back yard. The asphalt has been replaced with an irregular flagstone patio. Seams between stones were intentionally left wide to plant with mosses and low perennials.

A before image of a dilapidated old garage from the 1920s or 1930s and a dilapidated deck. Asphalt covers the ground between the two to the property line and access to the back yard and deck are narrow and cramped.

An after photo of a Craftsman bungalow and the renovated garage, which has transformed into a pleasant space that opens onto the patio and garden and could be used as a home office, "she shed", or entertainment space. A new irregular flagstone patio and new deck with tiered or wedding cake steps open up the space for entertaining, and new native plantings provide food and habitat for butterflies and other pollinators.

A new deck with a metal railing and dark deck skirt overlooks the irregular flagstone stepping stone walkway and native plantings.

Construction details for a residential deck including plans, elevations, and sections.

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