My clients bought a Mid-century house with a vintage landscape that left something to be desired. Both the clients and I have a great appreciation for midcentury design and its clean lines. However, the majority of the landscapes found in Mid-century housing developments across America miss the mark when it comes to more current sensibilities. The midcentury American philosophy was that man should exert dominance over the land and that hedge trimmers and lawn mowers are man's best friends.

Today more enlightened landscape designers strive to create landscapes that work with nature and not dominate it. In this project we did just that. These home owners loved the view of the mountains from their backyard in Santa Barbara, the way the warm colored sand stone boulders peek through the muted greens of the Chaparral. I designed this landscape to honor its geographic location. Sourcing local sandstone boulders like the ones found in the mountains behind the house, we built a low retaining wall. By breaking the sloping land into two flatter sections, we were able to slow down the speed at which water evacuates the property, thereby giving it a chance to soak into the soil. This allows the landscape to work like a natural mini water shed, keeping the storm drains and then the oceans from being overwhelmed with polluted water. Additionally, the water captured on the property provides more water to the plants while minimizing the need for irrigation.
When it came to choosing the plants, the clients wanted a variety of textures and colors while maintaining low water usage. To celebrate the fact that the house is located in Santa Barbara county, we wanted to incorporate the muted green tones with pops of colorful foliage. Using a combination of California native plants and Mediterranean adapted plants we created a plant palette that is dynamic, low maintenance and flutters with native fauna such as birds and butterflies and bees.