Potager & Poolside Garden — The Heights

This kitchen garden was designed as a productive, beautiful extension of the home—an outdoor room that supports everyday food growing while elevating curb appeal. The long, narrow side yard came with real constraints: a utility box near the gate, tight circulation, and the intense afternoon sun conditions. Instead of treating these as limitations, the design uses them to shape a garden that is rhythmic, intentional, and welcoming.

Five raised beds create 79 square feet of planting space for seasonal vegetables, herbs, and fruit. Their varied sizes and heights introduce a gentle cadence through the space, while stepping-stone pathways with creeping thyme soften the geometry and make the garden feel immersive rather than utilitarian. An arbor and trellis marks the entry and offers vertical growing space, transforming the kitchen garden into a defined threshold—an experience, not just a production zone.

To balance the warm red brick of the home, a small birdbath adds a cooling note and attracts pollinators, reinforcing the garden’s ecological role. Irrigation lines are planned for consistency through Houston summers, though every element can adapt as the family’s needs change.

A temporary extension of the garden expands food production while preserving the option for a future pool. Movable raised beds, flexible stepping stones, and a small central lawn create a family-friendly space that can shift over time. A permanent trellis and pergola anchors a shaded seating corner, offering structure and beauty whether or not the pool is eventually installed.

This project brings together productivity, flexibility, and a quiet sense of place—an edible garden designed to grow with the family and to reflect the life of the home.

Target Installation: Spring 2026