This beautiful property is located in the hills above of Montecito with 360 degree of views onto the Channel Islands and the surrounding mountains. Inspired by the Japanese landscape design principal of the borrowed landscape the gardens on this property serves as a kind of picture frame from which to view the natural beauty of its surroundings. This 15-year-old costume-built home was crafted with all the style and workmanship ship found in Villa or Château in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, the garden design was not as well thought out as the house was. Most of this property receives baking sun, drying winds and is in an extremely high fire danger area. Do to these factors many of the plants on the property were unsuitable for their location. The original planting scheme was also lifeless and colorless. Poor landscape maintenance had left many of the plants on the property sick and dying. We came in to revive this landscape, breathing new life into it. Creating a drought tolerant and fire wise landscape was of utmost importance to these clients. Staying true to the more formal landscape styles found in Southern Europe we also want to create an opportunity to design seamlessly blend with its natural surroundings. We did that by incorporating a lot of California native plants. This vast property also contains an avocado orchard and a vineyard. By adding California native plants the property is inviting in native birds and insects that help keep pollinate the orchard and vineyard and keep pest problems at bay. Because these clients enjoy harvesting from their land we added elements of edible landscaping to this project. We filled pottery and planter beds with fruit trees, culinary and medicinal herbs as well as flowers that can be used in cut flower arrangements. Lastly, we went through carefully pruning diseased plants, treating pest problems an improving the soil. Now the landscape is not only more beautiful it is more protected against fire, is more water wise and integrate into its surrounds with a wholistic approach.

Design Consultant Jeff Doubét is the author of Creating Spanish Style Homes: Before & After – Techniques – Designs – Insights. The 240 page “Design Consultation in a Book” is now available. Please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com for more info. Jeff Doubét specializes in Santa Barbara style home and landscape designs. To learn more info about the variety of custom design services I offer, please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com Jeff Doubét is the Founder of Santa Barbara Home Design - a design studio based in Santa Barbara, California USA.

William Short Photography and Kendra Maarse Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean terra-cotta tile and orange floor hallway remodel in Los Angeles with beige walls

Large tuscan master carpeted and multicolored floor bedroom photo in Orange County with white walls

Inspiration for a large mediterranean gender-neutral dark wood floor and brown floor walk-in closet remodel in Austin with open cabinets and white cabinets

Four Walls Photography
Large tuscan concrete floor and white floor entryway photo in Austin with white walls and a dark wood front door

Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean concrete paver patio remodel in Los Angeles with no cover

After transplanting the pre-existing vegetation (including three species of palm and ferns) to a more suitable location on the property, MHG Greens&Gardens redesigned and planted the front lawn with two 9 feet tall Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), rimmed with a single low ball of Eugenia myrtifolium; and three Eugenia myrtifolium topiaries (three balls connected by a central bare stem); and an “Ayer, hoy y siempre” shrub (Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)), a small evergreen shrub with colorful blooms ranging from purple to white according to their stage of development.

Design Consultant Jeff Doubét is the author of Creating Spanish Style Homes: Before & After – Techniques – Designs – Insights. The 240 page “Design Consultation in a Book” is now available. Please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com for more info. Jeff Doubét specializes in Santa Barbara style home and landscape designs. To learn more info about the variety of custom design services I offer, please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com Jeff Doubét is the Founder of Santa Barbara Home Design - a design studio based in Santa Barbara, California USA.

TopNotch360
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean freestanding desk brown floor and dark wood floor home office remodel in Sacramento with blue walls

Large mediterranean beige two-story stucco house exterior idea in Houston with a tile roof and a red roof

The wood flooring wraps up the walls and ceiling in the kitchen creating a "wood womb": A complimentary contrast to the the pink custom cabinets, brass hardware, brass backsplash and brass island. Living room and entry beyond

A mixture of California coastal and modern Spanish style in this fireplace mantel setting. Hand painted ocean scene mixed with pottery and wrought iron candle sticks. Dried floral adds a touch of nature from the coast. House plants give a touch of modern design yet adding a natural living element.

Everyday is a vacation in this lush oasis in Palm Beach, Florida. From the inside out this home exudes a formal, yet relaxed coastal vibe with cool blue tones throughout the interior, intricate architectural details at every turn, & mature, verdant landscaping that mimics the appearance of a historic home in the tropics. Take the tour with Houzz. http://ow.ly/HIU130l279K Italianate Lantern: http://ow.ly/7f5i30nCqBB

Example of a huge tuscan beige two-story stone gable roof design in Orange County

Photo of a large mediterranean drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard garden path in Phoenix for spring.

Example of a small tuscan travertine floor powder room design in Orange County with furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, brown walls and an undermount sink

Because the sunniest place to grow vegetables is in the front yard, custom Cor-ten steel planters were designed as an attractive sculptural element, their graceful curves complementing the organic flow of the landscape. Informal gravel provides stable footing to walk and work, while remaining permeable to rain. Dwarf citrus grow in pots, and foundation plantings of Ribes sanguineum and Phormium 'Guardsman', and Ficus pumila vine anchor the home. Photo © Jude Parkinson-Morgan.

The custom arbor creates a cool intimate sitting area thanks to a cantilevered steel canopy with die-cut panel by Parasoleil. Arizona flagstone pavers and a boulder fountain ground the space in lush plantings. 'Koi' artwork (acrylic on reclaimed glass windowpane) by owner. Photo © Jude Parkinson-Morgan.