25 Years on Perkins Lane

25 Years on Perkins Lane Clay: Designing the Dream

Perkins Lane is one of Seattle’s best-kept secrets—an untamed coastal ribbon where the city fades away and the rhythm of the sea takes over. Nestled along the Puget Sound, this secluded neighborhood feels more like a coastal village than an urban enclave. It’s a place of whales, seals, salt air, and sweeping views—where cherry blossoms bloom and the horizon glows at sunset. You’d never guess you were still in Seattle.

For the past 25 years, SHD Landscape Architecture has had the privilege of designing some of the most stunning, ambitious, and technically complex projects along this extraordinary stretch of shoreline. Perkins Lane projects are our passion and our proving ground.

Building here isn’t for the faint of heart. The geology alone is legendary: layers of marine clay on clay, shifting and slick like stacked slip-and-slides. Add to that steep slopes, shoreline setbacks, and landslide-prone zones, and you’ve got one of the most challenging combinations in the Pacific Northwest. That’s where we shine.

At SHD, we specialize in shoreline landscape architecture and have become a trusted guide through the maze of Seattle steep slope permitting. We’ve spent decades working side by side with the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections, earning the confidence of city reviewers, geotechnical experts, and homeowners alike. Our work spans everything from helical anchoring and shoring wall design to native restoration planting, custom gardens, and elevated decks that celebrate the view while respecting the land.

The project featured here is a textbook example of our approach. Alongside trusted partners—Kulchin Drilling, Nelson Geotechnical, and CG Engineering—we're stabilizing a particularly precarious slope. Anchors are being drilled through the marine clay, ensuring safety and longevity while the surrounding landscape is shaped with care. The view? A classic Perkins Lane panorama: flowering cherry trees in the foreground, Puget Sound stretching wide beyond.

After 25 years, we don’t just know this neighborhood—we’ve helped shape it. One hillside, one home, one garden at a time. Every project is a story of resilience, creativity, and respect for this rare intersection of land and sea.

If you're ready to take on a challenging site, we're here to guide you—every step, every slope, every stunning view.