Before: 1,200 sq. ft. Del Mar, CA gloomy entry

Once upon a time, there was a house that was not exactly welcoming. Overgrown Monterey pines obscured the front door, making the approach gloomy. And for guests, getting from the driveway to the front door was a pain—after parking, you had to return to the sidewalk, skirting a jungle of juniper, and climb a steep staircase. (And if you thought you could maybe slip through the juniper, forget it: A wooden railing stood guard.)

See the after on how Kendra Berger and John Eisenhart created a brighter entry with sculptural steps and graphic plants.