Plans for the Poplar Cottage Front Yard: Picket Fence, Landscaping, and a Whole Lot of Charm
THE POPLAR COTTAGE
Last summer, we started in on the front yard project at the Poplar Cottage - building decks, laying a pavered patio and walkway, and planting a few hydrangeas in front of the house to anchor the space. Now, we’re back at it.
Our goal? To turn this small front yard into a charming, functional, and beautiful outdoor space. Think picket fences, overflowing blooms, a shady spot to sit with iced tea, and twinkle lights overhead for cozy evenings outside. The kind of place that feels like it belongs in a whimsical storybook. Here’s what we’re planning…
That’s the ‘now’ picture. A couple things to note… the front yard is technically more of a side yard since the house sits on the front corner of the lot. Also, no sidewalks - we brought in gravel where there should be a sidewalk to keep down on mud and give walkers a path, but here’s hoping the city puts them in eventually. Did you notice the scaffolding at the back of the house? We’re allllmost done with the cedar siding - just the back top gable is left!
Okay, here’s what we’re imaging for this front yard…
The Vision: A Cottage Garden with Curb Appeal
We’ve always imagined the Poplar Cottage front yard as a nostalgic and inviting space. A place where we can host outdoor dinners under string lights and where the landscaping adds beauty and function without a lot of upkeep. I keep thinking about Nana’s backyard - how her garden is always full of blooms, how her yard feels welcoming even before you step off the patio. That’s the feeling we’re chasing here at Poplar Cottage - a space that feels inviting, lived-in, and well loved.
A few elements we plan to incorporate:
A classic cedar picket fence with arbor and gate
This will define the front yard, add instant cottage curb appeal, and give the space structure. We’ve never done a picket fence before, and I can’t wait to build this one.An outdoor dining space
We’ll be adding a table - possibly another DIY outdoor dining table - to the patio we built last year. It will serve as a gathering space for meals, crafts, and neighborly chats and give this small house a little extra hosting real estate.String lights above the patio and table
Because everything looks better under twinkle lights, right?! This small touch will bring big ambiance in the evenings, that is if we’re able to get the posts in that we need to support the strings. These are our go-toLED string lightsA nostalgic and waterwise garden
We’re dreaming of a low-maintenance front yard full of perennial herbs, flowering shrubs, and native plants. Think old-fashioned charm with a low-maintenance, low-water bent.
inspiration
Here are a few spaces we’re drawing inspiration from for this project. Most of these images come from gardens around Washington - I’ve always found the best landscape ideas come from seeing what plants grow and thrive in our own area.
This image via House Beautiful (from an old feature) is our fence and arbor inspiration. So charming!
Welcoming and full of blooms, I’m drawing inspiration from Nana’s backyard.
Pretty landscaping from a house in the neighborhood and a building in Seattle.
Cassandra Lavalle’s backyard is so dreamy. I love the mix of creeping plants and tall grasses and bushes.
Had to include our Farmhouse Garden as inspiration - definitely want to bring in some the same plants and the nostalgic vibe to the Poplar Cottage.
We can’t wait to finish this yard and share it all with you! Drop us a comment if you have any favorite plants or tips for waterwise landscaping. And as always, thanks for following along :)
