Outdoor living
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Fire Features
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LUXURY LANDSCAPING
A Contemporary Modern Luxury Landscape Built in El Dorado Hills, CA
- El Dorado Hills, CA
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- $520K Build
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- Front & Back Yard
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Shaping a Contemporary Modern Landscape in Serrano
This El Dorado Hills luxury landscaping project transformed a blank custom-built front and backyard into a clean, elegant outdoor environment. The design focused on complementing one of the most modern homes in the Serrano HOA community while keeping the landscape, hardscape, and outdoor living elements refined rather than distracting.
This $520K build included concrete walkways, retaining walls, concrete steps, a kids’ play turf area, planting, drainage, lighting, and irrigation by Hughes Landscape, with pools built by others. The result is a polished front and backyard landscape that feels intentional, architectural, and fully aligned with the home’s contemporary style.
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Design Style
Contemporary modern luxury landscaping
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Materials
Concrete, synthetic turf, retaining walls, planting, lighting
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Timeline
4–6 months
Completed a $520K landscape build in El Dorado Hills designed to complement a contemporary modern home with clean, refined outdoor detail.
01 – Concrete Walkways & Steps
Installing Concrete Walkways and Steps
The project included concrete walkways that helped define movement throughout the front and backyard. These paths gave the outdoor areas a clean, structured flow while matching the contemporary modern style of the home. Their simple finish kept the landscape refined and allowed the home’s architecture to remain the focus.
Concrete steps were also added to connect different elevations across the property. This made the landscape easier to navigate while keeping the design sharp, minimal, and architectural. The steps helped turn the blank outdoor space into a more usable and intentional layout.
02 – Retaining Walls & Site Structure
Building Retaining Walls for a Clean Modern Layout
Retaining walls were used to shape the landscape and create a stronger definition across the property. They helped support the layout while giving the front and backyard a more finished, intentional appearance. These walls also helped organize the outdoor space without making the design feel heavy.
Because the home had a very modern architectural style, these structural elements needed to feel clean and controlled. The goal was to support the landscape without distracting from the home’s design. Every structural choice had to work within the HOA guidelines while still preserving the home’s contemporary look.
03 – Kids’ Turf Area & Planting
Adding a Kids’ Play Turf Area and Planting
A kids’ play turf area gave the backyard a practical, family-friendly space while keeping the overall landscape polished and low-maintenance. It added function without taking away from the refined look of the property. The turf area created a dedicated place for play that still felt integrated into the overall design.
Planting was used to soften the concrete and hardscape elements throughout the yard. The planting design added depth, balance, and a more complete luxury landscape feel. It helped bring warmth and texture to a modern outdoor space built around clean lines.
THE TRANSFORMATION
Before & After
Before the Custom Serrano project began, the front and backyard were blank spaces from a custom home build, with no finished landscape, hardscape, or outdoor structure to match the home’s contemporary modern design.
BEFORE
AFTER
$520K
FRONT & BACKYARD BUILD
Full Property
LUXURY LANDSCAPE BUILD
4–6 Months
BUILD TIMELINE
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Outdoor Features That Shaped the Custom Serrano Transformation
Patio & Walkway Design
Concrete walkways created clean movement through the front and backyard, giving the property a structured flow that matched the home’s contemporary modern style.
Landscape Walls & Structural Features
Retaining walls helped shape the outdoor layout, support elevation changes, and create a more finished architectural look across the property.
Hardscape Design & Build
Concrete steps added function and definition, connecting different areas of the landscape while keeping the design sharp, minimal, and refined.
Refined Turf Solutions
A turf area created a practical, low-maintenance space for family use without taking away from the polished luxury feel of the yard.
Estate Planting Design
Planting softened the concrete and hardscape elements, adding depth, balance, and natural texture around the contemporary outdoor layout.
Landscape Lighting & Ambience
Outdoor lighting improved evening visibility, highlighted key landscape features, and helped the property feel finished after sunset.
04 – Drainage, Lighting & Irrigation
Completing the Build With Drainage, Lighting, and Irrigation
Drainage was included to help the landscape perform properly and protect the finished outdoor spaces over time. This was especially important for a full front and backyard build where long-term function mattered as much as appearance. A strong drainage plan helped support the durability of the hardscape and planted areas.
Lighting and irrigation completed the project by improving daily use, evening visibility, and plant health. These systems helped make the landscape feel finished, functional, and built to last. Together, they supported both the visual impact and long-term care of the property.
“I have worked with Ryan and the Hughes team on several projects. They truly care about their customers, and you aren’t just a number. Their attention to detail and communication is excellent, and they are always looking for ways to improve. I will continue to use Hughes on my landscaping projects.”
– Steven Tankersley
PHOTOGRAPHY
Project Gallery
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Ready to Transform Your Outdoor Space?
Hughes Landscape creates extraordinary outdoor environments for discerning California homeowners. Let's begin your journey.