We were commissioned to develop a master plan for a residence on Green Lake in Bloomfield, Michigan. The homeowner arrived with a magazine cover in hand, inspired by the clean lines and elegance of French Contemporary garden design. French Contemporary garden design is a modern interpretation of classical French garden principles, rooted in symmetry, geometry, and refined elegance, but reimagined through a minimalist and often more relaxed lens. Using that vision and responding to the site's unique topography—essentially a broad, grassy “half-pipe”—we crafted a plan rooted in minimalist French aesthetics with a modern twist. To manage the dramatic grade changes, a series of retaining walls were constructed and artfully concealed by yew hedges, creating a seamless evergreen backdrop. The landscape now features a series of distinct garden rooms, including a tranquil sitting garden, a rose-lined pathway, and a refined front entry garden, each designed to enhance the home’s architecture and lakeside setting.
