Shades of Green Landscape Architecture
Seadrift Meadow Set along the Stinson Beach lagoon, Seadrift Meadow was designed for a large, active family seeking spaces for gathering and play. A native coastal planting palette creates a strong connection to the site while remaining durable and low maintenance. The front yard partially functions as a leach field and required shallow-rooted planting. A […]
Breaking with Conventions Arriving mid-construction, we transformed a bare site into a climate-responsive landscape that complements the home’s modern architecture and Sacramento’s hot, dry environment. Moving away from the neighborhood’s traditional lawns and boxwood, the design features a desert-inspired palette of olive, palo verde, and California pepper trees layered with succulents and grasses. Open fencing,
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Feeling Like a Kid Again: Exploring Nature-Based Playground Design Our founder, Ive Haugeland, recently returned from Toronto, Ontario, inspired by the power of play and feeling like a kid again. Invited by Dave Bang Associates, she joined a whirlwind playground tour showcasing the innovative work of Earthscape, a leader in nature-based playground design. Alongside a
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USA Today Features Shades of Green Firm Profile Rooted in Place: How Shades of Green Designs Landscapes that Belong Ive Haugeland was barely tall enough to reach the bloom. A girl in Norway, peering into the wide mouth of a red tulip, studying the dark stamens and yellow center with the intensity only a child
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Akiko Ono Becomes Partner at Shades of Green We are delighted to announce that Akiko Ono has become a Partner alongside Ive Haugeland at Shades of Green Landscape Architecture. Here the two are featured at the 2025 American Society of Landscape Architects Conference in New Orleans this past October. Akiko has been an integral part of
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St. Ignatius College Preparatory This project is a design of the new Northen campus for one of the oldest schools in San Francisco. The landscape scope includes a new front streetscape, including the new main entry to the school, a large multi-functional plaza with an integrated bioretention area and a meditative chapel garden on the
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Wellness Sanctuary SF Mature, field-grown olives create a canopy in the front of this Pacific Heights home. The front yard is gated and private with a stepped entrance to the front door. The trees create continuity by echoing the mature olive at the street. The backyard is organized into two levels – the upper level
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Summer Living Summer invites us outdoors—to gather, play, relax, and truly savor our gardens. Picture your family and furry friends lounging by the pool, while the grill sizzles in the outdoor kitchen. Children and adults alike enjoy garden games and playful amenities. A trellis brings both structure and shade, creating an elegant setting for open-air
Animal-Friendly Landscape Design At Shades of Green, we deeply value the role animals play in bringing landscapes to life—and as pet and livestock owners ourselves, we design with them in mind. In In the project above, we nestled a barn into the garden to create a charming “horse hello” moment while also providing a thoughtful
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Modern Minimalism Modern minimalism defines this sleek home designed with a large family in mind. The landscape follows a refined approach, complementing the architecture while leaving generous open space for children to run and play freely. Low-growing, drought-tolerant plantings introduce a soft, organic texture to the clean lines of the design. A muted palette harmonizes