The owner of this new modern house did not want a typical modern landscape nor a cottage garden. We strove for something in between – a drought-compatible palette of grasses, perennials, trees & shrubs with a limited color palette of purple and orange flowers but a variety of leaf textures & colors. The Ipe deck allows the family to walk straight out their large accordion glass doors at the same level as their family room while the concrete pool decking provides a cool, durable solution for splashing water. Planting pockets around the house help soften the modern design & provide beds for espaliered fruit & herbs. Fast-growing English Laurels will help block the new school on the back side of their fence. Three jets of water arc over the back of the pool and swirls of colored concrete give the newly plastered pool a creative, naturalistic effect especially at night.