Happy Family: A Tailored Urban Sanctuary for Active Play
The Happy Family project, led by Vision Accomplished Landscape Consulting, transformed a small and awkward urban backyard into a multi-functional sanctuary designed to grow alongside a young family. The homeowners sought a complete makeover that included dedicated play areas for their children, refreshed gathering spaces, and improved lighting and security. Central to their vision was a "natural" aesthetic for play structures, such as a custom play fort and treehouse, that would remain functional and aesthetically pleasing as the children aged.
To bring this vision to life while maintaining financial feasibility, designer Fern Cook focused on enhancing and repairing existing systems—such as retaining walls, irrigation, and stone patios—rather than replacing them entirely. The team navigated several significant obstacles, most notably the "Pinterest Effect," where online inspiration led to unrealistic expectations for material longevity in the local climate. Through extensive research and over 240 emails of close communication, the team found creative compromises, such as using pressure-treated wood crafted to look like rough-hewn natural posts for durability. Logistical challenges, including a shared driveway and limited street parking, required obsessive project management to ensure a seamless flow of deliveries and labor.
The final result is a masterfully organized landscape that maximizes every inch of the "awkward" property. Key highlights include:
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Custom Play Features: A steel monkey bar structure hand-tied with rope for a rustic feel and a challenging path made from cured red oak tree sections.
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Architectural Entryways: Hand-crafted cedar gates and pergola pieces featuring custom laser-cut steel inlays.
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Reimagined Patio: The original dysfunctional patio was updated with a custom paver inlay and mortared flagstones, creating a flexible space for a smokeless fire pit.
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Lush, Practical Planting: A palette of Zeon Zoysia turf, Soft Caresses Mahonia, and Autumn Fern provides a manicured look while leaving ample open space for running and play.
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Integrated Lighting: Strategically placed fixtures now illuminate the pathways and up-light the new pergola, ensuring the family can enjoy the sanctuary well into the evening.
Before
After
Judges' comments about this project
- This project solves a lot of problems.
- It is very functional, judges like how you leveraged the retaining wall to create multiple uses for the kids space.
- Love the inlaid fireplace design. The new fence/gard very nice, very modern take.
- Challenging clients were handled well.
Multi-award-winning landscaper, artist, and outdoor-living enthusiast Fern Cook brings over 20 years of hands-on experience to every project. With 30,000+ hours of landscape design and installation experience across 2,500+ Atlanta projects, she combines artistic vision and technical precision in ways that most landscape professionals simply cannot match.
Her MALTA and Urban Ag Council award wins, decades of permitting expertise, and work with HGTV productions aren't just credentials — they're proof that your investment is in the right hands. When Atlanta homeowners face complex landscape challenges, they call Fern. When you need an advocate who understands both the art and science of outdoor spaces, you've found her.
After founding Shady Grove Landscape Company in 2007 and personally overseeing hundreds of installations across Greater Atlanta, Fern recognized a critical gap in the industry. Homeowners needed an advocate — someone with deep installation knowledge who could protect their interests without the conflicts that come from profiting on construction.
In 2024, she launched Vision Accomplished Landscape Consulting to fill that void. As an independent Owner's Representative, Fern and her team provide the expertise that comes from decades of hands-on experience, combined with the artistic eye that has earned her recognition throughout the Atlanta design community.
