The real inspiration for this project came from 20 years ago, when the client camped on the land before there were any buildings at all. Our challenge was to create a modern day cowboy house based on Spanish Haciendas.  The clients wanted something that felt like it was “one with nature”, growing out of the rocks and the mountain.

With a large circular driveway in front of the house and grounds dappled with wild flowers and native grasses, there’s an immediate sense of romantic elegance that is welcoming and casual. The long rectangular lap pool tucked closely in to the back of the house provides amazing views of the surrounding valley floor.

Because the area is extremely susceptible to fire, the planting around the buildings was limited to turf and a few trees. (The pool does double-duty, also serving as a reservoir for water to be used in case of fire.)  We installed native plants on the surrounding slopes, further from the house, to maintain respect of the rural setting, and keep landscape maintenance and water use to a minimum. The simple clean lines and rustic materials reflect the modern ranch theme and are visually calming.

More private spaces were created in the lower rear garden. A glass tile veneered circular fire pit is surrounded by another circular wall and bench design, providing both visual interest and a place to enjoy family life.

This project required a 360-degree perspective, encouraging us to think about how it would be seen from all sides and angles. Since the house looks out over the garden, as well the unobstructed Laguna Beach coastline beyond, we designed a lower garden that was appealing from above, as well as from within.

We had to accommodate the city’s four-foot height limit in the front yard, which inspired low-profile custom features such as a rectangular concrete fireplace that glows with sparkling fire ice. A custom-made steel and glass water feature welcomes you at the entry and creates privacy for the patio just behind it.

The clients had a clear vision of what they wanted to see, and they’d collected many Japanese garden items they wanted integrated into the design, but they had no idea how to make it all come to life. To satisfy their “yen for Zen”, we designed the garden with flagstone footpaths meandering through grounds that feature woodland plants and Asian water features.

To enhance the backyard’s usability we added a large stone-edged patio with a custom-built gas fireplace that connects to a new outdoor kitchen with a long serving counter.

A serpentine baffled wall separates the front yard from the street, but a welcoming wood gate dresses up the entry. Many unusual perennials, shrubs and grasses create seasonal interest and enhance the Zen sensibility. The spa, in dire need of a facelift, received sacked stone veneer and redefined spillways.

The enclosed front courtyard welcomes you in to sit and enjoy a space surrounded by sycamores, birch, camellias, and a stately angel’s trumpet tree by the front door.

This garden’s theme: exploring the many different shades of the color pink, so we selected grasses, succulents, and other drought tolerant plantings that support and complement the concept.

The highlight of the back yard is the expansive wood deck, which offers breathtaking views of the ocean and sunsets beyond; it also provides ample spaces for entertaining, dining and lounging.  The deck overlooks a sunny bed with a bubbling fountain surrounded by orange blooming coral aloes, yellow gold coin, lavender, germander and yarrow.  The view also includes a boxwood hedged tea rose garden surrounding a tall white birdhouse.  Just below the rose garden is charming potting shed with stained glass door and windows.

Leaving the deck, you travel down a narrow brick path, passing a wisteria vine climbing up the overhead trellis, and a small birdbath ringed by huge azalea bushes.  The path leads to a large grass lawn edged by a raised vegetable garden and a secret lower garden filled with fruit trees.

This is a true beachside garden, one that celebrates every member of the family, and the individual elements that make up the whole.  Enjoyed by its tenants and stewards, this garden offers a tranquil sanctuary from the busy world outside.

The house was slated to be completely remodeled in several years, but until then, the clients wanted it to be a fun, casual garden to enjoy until the time came to scrap.

Informal pea gravel paths wind around the house, providing views of lush bromeliad shade gardens, drought tolerant succulents and grasses in the sunny areas.

To create a sense of privacy in the front yard, we built a large front walled garden and narrow entryway, with a faux bridge that takes you to the private entry.  Once inside, the house opens up dramatically with an impressive indoor- outdoor dialogue.

For the back patio, we created entertaining spaces that blend seamlessly into the house itself, with no barriers.  Using the same travertine flooring throughout and pocket doors, the pool and dining area flows into the house effortlessly.

We made sure to preserve the fantastic views to the open water, but we included a very carefully placed Coral Tree as a sculptural element in the patio.