Dynamic Family Garden in La Jolla
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A double layer of sails provide cool shade in this La Jolla backyard garden.Layout, character and colors of materials harmonize well with the tones and architecture of the residence: Charcoal grey concrete with exposed aggregate, black beach cobble, granite, bamboo for the kitchen cabinets, blue-green glass pool and spa tiles, and moss-green shade sails. |
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Black Timor Bamboo Privacy ScreenA mix of Black Timor Bamboo and Bamboo chungii makes a perfect privacy screen. |
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Airy Kangaroo Paw enhancing refinished pool area.Pool and spa were modernized with more efficient plumbing and a luminous glass tile. The old pergola was removed; we thus opened up the space for another lounging area and a play lawn and still had enough room for a hammock under a Forest Pansy Redbud. |
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Bamboo facing for the outdoor kitchen cabinets.Choosing bamboo for the outside kitchen cabinet facings made perfect sense considering that bamboo is already used inside the residence as flooring material made the choice of this material for the outdoor kitchen cabinets. |
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Before -View of pool garden and house.Prior to the remodel, the existing garden consisted of a courtyard, paved with gray industrial-type concrete tile that was made un-usable by a planter bed set into the middle. |
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New Dining and lounging area by re-finished pool.When the design collaboration began on this back garden renovation, we agreed on certain important design elements: It would echo the character, textures and muted colors of this Frank Lloyd Wright-like rendition of a California beach bungalow; it would be using contemporary landscape materials and more colorful low-water-use, low maintenance plants; it would be compatible with the homeowner’s love for modern art and 20th/21st century furniture. And finally, we would respect the orthogonal character of the previous design because its energetic and dynamic character suits the clients’ taste and active lifestyle. |
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Lava rock-filled light troughs, spaced at strategic locations in the garden, act as beacons in the night garden and tie the different spaces together.The old cluttered garden has evolved into a dynamic and sunny space with a strong structure and organization that allow entertainment, relaxation and play. The modern materials and shapes are never in danger of appearing angular and harsh because colorful plants, water, fabric and airy foliage soften the edges and add to the pleasant atmosphere of this garden. |
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Naturally rusted steel troughs contrast well with colorful plants.Naturally rusting steel, as reference to the copper accents on the house, is used for edging as well as for raised planter boxes, fountain and gas-fire troughs. Their angularity and color harmonize well with the modernity and colors of the other elements. |
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Rusted Steel FountainWith plenty of room for play and relaxation this garden is a successful landscape design composition of exciting contemporary materials, dramatic plants and energetic layout, complementing the house’s architecture. |
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Rusted steel planting troughs maximize planting space in pool area.Despite of the many distinct paved spaces, the hardscapes do not overwhelm the garden as inter-planting with burgundy Carpet Bugle, Silver Carpet and Evergold Sedge soften the angularity of the raised steel containers. Most of the original overgrown “tropical” plants were removed and replaced with low maintenance, low-water-use plants in the colors that harmonize and contrast well with the preferred color palette: Forest Pansy Redbud and “Ti Ruby” Cordyline, magenta Rock Purslane and golden Kangaroo Paw, purplish Echeveria and in-ground Bromeliad with striking foliage that turns reddish in the sun. A few splashes in orange-red add life to the picture. |
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Shade sails protect the dining area from hot noon sun.Layout, character and colors of materials harmonize well with the tones and architecture of the residence: Charcoal grey concrete with exposed aggregate, black beach cobble, granite, bamboo for the kitchen cabinets, blue-green glass pool and spa tiles, and moss-green shade sails. |
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During construction: Tall Walls looming beyond fenceA couple of months into the design phase, the neighbor gave us quite a fright: He started construction of a two-storied house and screening wall of 30 ft height that were looming behind the fence. We opted for bamboo in combination with shade sails, and together both created an attractive and sufficient screen. |