Have you ever spent time in a backyard that felt like a natural oasis? An outdoor space that combines the wild beauty of the natural world with the aesthetic touch of human design? What if that space wasn’t just beautiful, but also easy to maintain and helpful to the environment?

In Southern California, a mother-daughter design team is leading the way, teaching the public and their clients how to transform ordinary outdoor areas into extraordinary plant sanctuaries. Their backyard project exemplifies how, after a century of rampant urbanization (deforestation, invasive species, paving paradise and putting up a parking lot) we’re finally coming back to our roots.

In a viral TikTok video, Donna and Caitlin Whelan demonstrate how they created a “lush habitat garden” out of an ordinary backyard. It’s captured the hearts of green-thumbed viewers and offers an inside look into the process of eco-friendly landscaping.

@whelandesignhouse ♬ Birds Sound – Calming Bird Sounds

♬ Birds Sound – Calming Bird Sounds

Environmentally respectful choices

Donna and Caitlin run Whelan Design House, a boutique interior design firm that specializes in high-end projects. Drawing on their combined talents and impeccable taste, this mother-daughter team creates beautiful living spaces with a human-centered approach. Their commitment to healthy environments shines through in their design philosophy. As they state on their website, “Our world is full of synthetic materials, but we believe there are other options. We guide our clients toward sustainable and environmentally respectful choices and away from chemical-laden fabrics and unhealthy materials.”

Which brings us to their viral backyard renovation. This was more than just a design project: it’s a masterclass in the power of........

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