REHAB WITH APPEAL FOR POOL GARDEN IN ENCINITAS
Wanting a bit more pizzazz for their back garden, the homeowners desired a sustainable make-over, with more colorful plants and pleasing materials for the paved areas. The old layout was still satisfying, although the spaces felt too in-distinct. The pavement was worn-out and tired, and the old plant palette demanded too much water.
We started out with creating, with different materials, two distinct areas: seamless colored concrete with an elegant sand finish for the dining/entertaining area, and sand stone pavers with gravel inter-spaces for the shady relaxing area.
The dwarf Lemon trees create a spatial separation between the pool and the shady terrace where the shade trellis casts a pretty diamond pattern on the ground.
Since both owners have busy lives, the shaded terrace is the favorite space used for relaxing and refreshing. To increase its restful atmosphere, an urn fountain, sitting atop a hidden reservoir from which the water is pumped back into the urn, was placed right at its side for closer viewing.
Each detail was carefully considered. In order to underline the casual character of the outdoor relaxation area under the shade structure, the sand stone pavers were snapped instead of cut which adds a wavy, less defined line to its edges. With water conservation and low maintenance in mind, we chose pea gravel to fill the spaces between the stones instead of a green groundcover. Low-voltage accent lights illuminate fountain, plantings and stone by night and are an important part of the décor.
A pink Cecile Brunner climbing rose hugs the shade trellis posts; drought tolerant blue Lavender and blueish Senecio, a slow-growing clean and tidy succulent groundcover, connect with other highlights in blue, the owner’s favorite color, tying the whole harmoniously together.
