This steep, narrow backyard drops sharply from alley-level parking down to the house- creating both a challenge and an opportunity.

The design organizes circulation as a deliberate stepped sequence, with thick natural stone steppers set directly into the slope and large boulders integrated along the path to hold the grade. Where the slope was too steep for boulders alone, low retaining walls were built and faced with stone veneer, which echoes traditional DC garden walls.

At the base, a bluestone patio connects directly to the French doors and wraps around a built-in bench - opening views back up through the garden. Planting runs continuously from top to bottom, softening the hard edges and visually stitching the levels together. A cantilevered umbrella swings sideways when not in use, keeping the patio flexible without cluttering the compact footprint.