Beautiful gardens don’t have to be large; in fact, a smaller garden often allows for more careful planning and exacting execution. If you’re looking for inspiration, the tiered front yard of Stevie Nicks’ former Los Angeles home shows precisely how cleverly arranged planting can turn minimal ground space into maximum impact.
The property at 2282 El Contento Drive in the Hollywood Hills, where Stevie Nicks resided from 1976 to 1980, features a bold, Mediterranean garden design. Rather than being planted out, agave plants, lavender, and a small tree are planted upwards, slanting towards the house. This vertical technique helps to make the most of a small surface area for a gorgeous facade. It’s perfectly coordinated with the home, allowing its Spanish-style architecture to shine.
The vertical garden at Stevie’s former home demonstrates that eye-catching gardens that add value to a home are about structure, not size. Let’s take a look.
Latest Videos FromHomes and Gardens
Stevie Nicks former home at 2282 El Contento Drive in the Hollywood Hills
(Image credit: Barry King via Alamy)
Recreate The Look at Home
The Old Farmer’s Almanac Heirloom Lavender Seeds
If you prefer to grow from seed, this English Lavender is a great choice. Its high linalool content helps naturally repel ticks, while its soft purple blooms and soothing fragrance create a calm, inviting atmosphere.
If you’re inspired to replicate the planting style of Stevie Nicks’ former home, lavender is a must-have, and this offer is hard to beat. Priced at just under $7.50 per plant, it’s an excellent value for such a popular garden favorite.
Pink Garden Pruning Shears
This pruning set is built to make garden work easier, safer, and more comfortable to handle. The sharp, rust-resistant blades deliver clean cuts through stems, while the ergonomic, non-slip handles provide steady control, even during longer pruning sessions.
Natural Decorative Polished Mixed Gravel
Gravel pathways help to prevent weeds and can help scare off burglars or unwanted pests – plus, they’re the perfect addition to a vertical, Mediterranean style landscape. These stones have exceptional color variety for a path that is as stylish as it is practical.
This easy-build raised bed makes planting a thriving vertical garden easy. They can be arranged at different heights to recreate the slanted look of the Hollywood Hills home’s front yard.
Storied Home Terracotta Urn Jar
To capture the aged look of this Spanish-style home without waiting years for natural weathering, this urn from Target is a beautiful shortcut. The whitewashed finish over the orange clay mimics the soft marks of time and weather, perfect for a fall patio setup.
In addition to its aesthetic benefits, a tiered garden like the one at Stevie’s home can positively impact the value of your home, leading to a higher selling price. That’s why savvy homeowners focus on planning a clever structure, rather than expanding their outdoor spaces.
Garden Trading’s Outdoor Expert, Matt Baldock, explains: ‘People often assume garden size is the biggest value-adder to a home, but design plays a much bigger role in how a space is perceived. A well-designed garden feels immersive, intentional, and easy to use. Buyers are drawn to spaces that already feel functional and enjoyable the moment they step into them.’
Furthermore, though vertical planting ideas are popular for the backyard, Stevie’s former home demonstrates how impactful they can be for a house’s front garden.
‘When it comes to smaller gardens, we often forget to look up,’ advises Matt. ‘Vertical planting allows us to maximise greenery without sacrificing floor space. Climbing plants, trellises, and raised planters can all help create the lush, layered aesthetic increasingly associated with high-end outdoor spaces. Vertical planting draws the eye upwards, which naturally enhances the perceived scale of a garden. It’s one of the easiest ways to create depth and texture without overcrowding the layout.’
Rather than dealing in straight lines, vertical planting can be used to create delicious curves and stylish shapes in the garden. Matt recommends: ‘Rigid lines can make gardens feel smaller by drawing the eye directly towards boundaries, whereas curved pathways, borders, and furniture arrangements create a gentler visual flow that naturally makes outdoor spaces feel larger and more open. Curved sightlines create movement and depth, which helps gardens feel less confined. Even subtle changes like rounded seating, circular rugs, or soft furnishings can completely change how spacious a garden feels.’
Whether you are hoping to sell your home or just looking for a way to elevate your front garden, vertical techniques are the expert-approved method for beautifying an outdoor space.
Love celebrity news and interior design inspiration? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.