dreaming up a natural patio design in glen ellyn

this morning i’m at my drawing table, coffee in hand, exploring the possibilities for a patio design for a wonderful client in glen ellyn. i’m envisioning how the space can unfold naturally — guiding movement from the house to the detached garage and back toward a cozy seating nook near their new backyard art studio. the goal is to let the layout feel organic and connected, like it’s always belonged right here in the landscape.

for this landscape design, we’re planning a main patio near the home that comfortably serves two separate back doors (because real life needs real function). from there, a thoughtfully placed walkway will create an easy, natural path to the detached garage. deeper into the yard, we’re carving out a secondary outdoor living area near the art studio — a quiet little pocket designed for relaxing, creating, and simply being outside.

this family truly lives outdoors, which makes projects like this especially meaningful. they spend their time exploring, being creative, and soaking up everything the seasons bring. with that in mind, the hardscape design needs to support their lifestyle while still feeling soft and natural. the entire backyard design is being shaped to preserve the view to their beautiful tree-filled backdrop, complete with a peaceful stream that runs through the property — honestly, it feels pretty magical already.

as i sketch and refine the layout, i’m focusing on flow, function, and that subtle sense of wonder that great outdoor living spaces can create. this is the kind of custom patio and landscape design work i love bringing to homeowners across naperville, aurora, plainfield, batavia, geneva, wheaton, downers grove, lisle, and the western suburbs of chicago — spaces that feel grounded, usable, and deeply connected to nature.