Verdana Sept/Oct 2016: Force of Nature

Perched above the Pacific Ocean in Montecito, California, the home is a blend of European and Latin Modernism. Built in 1992, our clients wished to maintain the modern aesthetic, but infuse it with traditional elements and the comforts of a family home. This concept extends into the gardens, beginning with the walled Entry Courtyard, which has transformed from a previously uninviting and sun drenched space to a tranquil garden shaded by three mature specimen olive trees accented with boxwood spheres.

The Axial Garden serves as the main focal point of a great hall that runs the length of the home. The garden previously featured a poorly scaled water feature surrounded by tropical plants that were struggling due to severe drought. To enhance the drama of the view, we shifted the focal point – now an updated sleek water feature with drought-resistant Agave Americana – back to extend views from the house. A vine-covered steel arbor plays off the interior wood beams that run throughout the home.

Following the exquisite renovation of the client’s Master Suite, we re-envisioned the garden as a private outdoor space for yoga and meditation. Ficus hedges shield views from the greater gardens and fully enclose the space. Zinc containers with architectural plantings and a water feature further augment the space offering a foreground to the existing specimen Agave and Opuntia. The plants in this garden, which include varieties of salvia, lavender, rosemary, and assorted succulents, were selected for drought tolerance, seasonal bloom and fragrance.