PROJECTS

WILLOW GLEN FRONT YARD, 2017

Klara's friend trusted her with redesigning her front yard. The whole family was involved in the process! I created a number of designs, and they selected the one that worked best for them. After that, the invasive plants and the old lawn were removed, and new plants were planted in December 2017.

The new garden was like a Christmas gift to the family and the local wildlife! Marta applied for Santa Clara Valley Water District Landscape Rebate Program and was able to save money on the landscaping costs.

MILPITAS GARDENS, 2020

Using rebates from the Santa Clara Valley Water District, the homeowners converted their yard into a stunning, mostly native garden. They thoughtfully integrated existing roses and fruit trees along the perimeter, then added varied topography with mounds and swales. This diverse landscaping not only creates visual interest but also functions as a rain garden, making the space feel larger while significantly reducing water use.

SAN JOSE FRONT YARD, 2023-2024

We transformed the area by introducing a series of elevated mounds and a striking rocky retaining wall, creating a natural buffer from the street. The central feature is a new decomposed granite (DG) patio, designed as a cozy spot for outdoor gatherings. The garden is planted with a curated selection of native California species, highlighting our commitment to a sustainable and eco-friendly design.

The project continued into the backyard, where we added a dedicated vegetable garden for year-round harvests and a tranquil gravel sitting area.

The homeowners applied for a Santa Clara Water District Rebate Program and were able to cut the cost of the irrigation supplies, landscaping materials, and the plants.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAMPUS, 2017-2025

Klara helped lead the redesign of outdoor common areas at her children's school.The lower elementary area, which once struggled with mud and dust through the seasons, is now a natural extension of the classrooms.

Klara's work continued with the design of the Welcome Area, a park-like space at the front of the school. In a truly collaborative effort, she worked with 5th-grade students to create and install informative signs about the native plants. (Implementation is currently underway.)

With the help of the school community, the spaces were transformed into a vibrant sensory garden that is largely self-sustaining, needing just a little extra water during the summer.

CAMPBELL FRONT YARD, 2022

Cynthia and Kevin had a vision of a child- and bird-friendly garden. Their original backyard space felt small and was overpowered by a stone retaining wall that they didn’t like.

We opened up the space and even used the retaining wall stone to build a low, Mediterranean-inspired raised bed. Fruit trees and ornamental plants were planted in the new planters and trellises added a vertical dimension to the garden.

SANTA CLARA FRONT YARD, 2019

The front yard consisted of lawn and some shrubs. The owners wanted to create a more diverse garden.Two parts of the front yard intersected with the walkway leading to the front door were visually connected by the dry creek. Polinator friendly plants and native grasses were planted on the mounds bringing even more interest.

My clients applied for a Santa Clara Water District Rebate Program and were able to cut the cost of the irrigation supplies, landscaping materials, and the plants.

GRAPHIC AND WEBSITE DESIGN

Klara's work goes beyond garden design.

She loves helping clients bring their ideas to life, whether it's through a 3D rendering of their future garden or a new logo for their business.

Klara is a hands-on designer— she created our company's website and logo herself, in addition to designing posters and flyers for many different events.

She looks forward to working with you to create something beautiful that perfectly captures your unique vision.

SOUTH SAN JOSE BACKYARD, 2021

The design of this South San Jose garden included the front yard and backyard upgrade.

The clients envisioned a backyard that had features containing a meditative corner, water feature, place to receive family members and friends for a barbecue.

The garden design focused on creating an modern farmhouse ambiance to match the house theme. As usual, low maintenance and low water requirements were crucial.

Klara understood clearly what we wanted and helped us tremendously with visualizing our future garden with the 3-D renderings. We have found this was one of her cutting-edge services.

She also helped us with finding the best contractor for the project. The project went perfectly within our budget, timing, and exceed our expectations.

Klara has the knowledge, is reliable, and is professional in her approach to the work. She is also very kind and consultative. I would highly recommend her to anyone. - Tim Pham

NORTH SANTA CLARA BACKYARD, 2019

Cynthia and Kevin had a vision of a child- and bird-friendly garden. Their original backyard space felt small and was overpowered by a stone retaining wall that they didn’t like.

OUTDOOR FURNITURE, FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS AND UPCYCLING

At Klara Maj Design, we specialize in giving materials a second life. We believe in the "afterlife" of materials and are passionate about creatively reimagining items that no longer serve their original purpose.

Klara loves woodworking and created various plans for outdoor furniture and structures. She built her very own (and comfy!) outdoor sofa.

And when a project is complete, I love bringing the garden's beauty indoors. Creating flower arrangements from freshly cut blooms is a simple joy that brings the entire design to life.