The owner of this traditional home in Palo Alto wanted a simple, tailored look to complement the house.

Like many older homes, its foundation plantings were were too close, giving the impression of a shirt with its neck too tight. Now, with its borders widened, the entire home has a more relaxed and expansive look.

Outlining the garden with a header course of bricks in mortar has added a formal edge, in keeping with the home's essentially formal design. The existing concrete pathway to the front door was also widened with the same type of brick edging. New irrigation, lighting and turf were installed.

With its new landscape, the home has a walkway wide enough to welcome guests two abreast, and new borders with more generous proportions for a more comfortable fit.

While it's traditional style remains fully intact, the home is now considerably warmer in tone and much more pleasing to the eye.