An entry walk leads from the driveway at the front of the house straight to the yard, so guests don’t have to walk through the house to reach the outdoor spaces. The walk is a series of raised concrete pavers with a sand exposed finish. “It looks more aged and refined. It reveals the aggregate in the concrete, so it’s not that bright white,” Stevens says.
Quiet Elegance A zinc table topped with a pot of succulents stands out like an elegant statue against a backdrop of olive trees, juniper and silvery coast rosemary (Westringia fruticosa) in this Los Angeles garden by Studio William Hefner. Where other areas of the backyard may have more color and activity, this planting vignette provides a peaceful place of visual rest.
4. Interesting path materials. Most side yards don’t have much room to play with. But you can draw the eye down the length of the space with an interesting path — whether of crunchy gravel, stately brick or a hopscotch-like arrangement of pavers. Here the mix of concrete squares and smooth stones creates an interesting juxtaposition of textures.
The path then transitions to a series of concrete steps with integrated step lights. A steel railing fabricated by the homeowner follows the path of the stairs up to the outdoor living area. “The site was really sloped, and there was quite a bit of earth work that had to happen to make this work,” Stevens says.
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