It began with a tree.
Not just any tree—but a towering, timeworn guardian of a historic property in Lake Forest Park. Its roots ran deep, both physically and emotionally, standing sentry beside a crumbling deck and a sagging outdoor grill. Where others might have seen an obstacle, Malone’s Landscape saw a centerpiece. What followed was a transformation—not just of a backyard, but of what’s possible when craftsmanship, creativity, and care come together in harmony with nature.
Founded in 1991 with a vision and an F250, Malone’s Landscape has evolved into one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier landscape design-build firms. Family-owned and operated by Jim and Debbie Malone and their sons, Ryan and Jake, the company has spent over three decades elevating outdoor living across the region with timeless design and expert execution. From covered patios and custom outdoor kitchens to fire features, pools, and full-service maintenance, their work has redefined what it means to live luxuriously outdoors.
Their recent project—nicknamed The Tree—earned top recognition from the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals, and it’s not hard to see why.
The site: one of the original homesteads in Lake Forest Park, complete with basalt stone, a meandering creek, and rich architectural character. But time had taken its toll. The deck was rotting, and the once-beloved grilling area clung awkwardly to the base of the tree. The homeowners had a vision: a new outdoor haven that felt intentional, enduring, and above all, integrated with its surroundings.
That tree, however, was non-negotiable.
Rather than design around it, Malone’s placed it at the heart of the vision—literally. The new roofline was engineered to rise and part around the trunk, framing it like a work of art. Custom log framing and hand-built scissor trusses infused a modern-rustic aesthetic that honored the home's origins while elevating its functionality.
“This project raised the bar for what’s possible when landscape design, environmental sensitivity, and architecture come together,” says Ryan Malone, COO of Malone’s Landscape. “It represents where we’re headed as a company—taking on more complex, high-impact projects that push boundaries and showcase the depth of our design-build craftsmanship.”
But this wasn’t just a design challenge—it was a regulatory one. With strict creekside building codes and tree protection ordinances in place, the team had to get creative. When no footings were allowed near the water or within the tree’s expansive drip line, the city proposed a bold workaround: apply for a tree removal permit—not to cut it down, but to unlock construction permissions without harming the tree itself.
Meanwhile, the physical labor was nothing short of monumental. With no access for cranes or heavy machinery, the Malone’s team hand-carried every beam and material across a temporary bridge. That included 700-pound scissor trusses, hoisted into place with hand-cranked lifts and sheer grit. The first truss, perfectly aligned to sit behind the tree, had to be exact. There was no room for error—and they nailed it.
What resulted is a space that feels like it has always been there: a composite deck and outdoor kitchen that blend seamlessly into the landscape, a fire pit that invites lingering conversation, and above it all, that majestic tree, framed like a sculpture.
The homeowners were deeply involved throughout—present on site, hands-on in selections, and attuned to detail. When the new stone veneer didn’t quite match the home’s original basalt, they worked with the Malone’s team to custom-blend two veneer products and hand-apply a color enhancer until the tones aligned flawlessly.
This level of collaboration is a hallmark of the Malone’s process.
“Every part of the project—from layout to final touches—was a team effort,” Ryan reflects. “The result is a space that looks effortless, but was anything but. It’s a tribute to the problem-solving, craftsmanship, and shared commitment that carried it through.”
By honoring the site’s natural elements instead of removing them, Malone’s turned a challenge into a defining feature—and elevated landscape architecture into living art.