About the Project

APLD GOLD Award for
Residential Design (2022)

This grand Spanish hillside property on 3 levels had been “modernized” and stripped of its texture, detail and early California character.  My remarkable client restored the house to a glorious state, and then hired me to develop a garden with features worthy of a fine Spanish house from the 1930’s California Romantica period. We also wanted to represent California native plants and have spaces for the grandkids to explore.

Fine design and artisan detail are the hallmarks of this style. Inspired by Casa del Herrero in Montecito, California and the Adamson House in Malibu, the masterplan included terracing the hillside, creating a stroll garden with ornamental and functional features at each level.   I employed the octagon as an organizing principle for the hillside construction, fountains and brick terrace.

Divided into levels, the Upper Fire terrace with hand hewn timber overhead and fireplace is a natural extension off the living room for entertaining and dining alfresco, complete with views over the city and garden.  The rich terracotta paving with glazed ornamental tile harmonizes with the homes’ elegant interiors.

Down the stairs, we transition to the Octagonal Peacock terrace,  where the patio, path and steps are paved with vintage brick removed from the site. A classic malibu tiled peacock mural is the backdrop for a gently gurgling water feature.  The walkway connects back to the house, passing a tiled exedra and moucharabi paneling. Down to Olive Terrace & Water Garden, we enter the planted spaces and kid-friendly gardens.  Left leads you to the wobble bridge of a multi-level treehouse built around a native sycamore tree.  And right through a garden with flowers, citrus and blueberries to a wooden flight of stairs that leads into the lowest level- a little grove of ceanothus and Catalina ironwood to explore.  Elegant, forged iron railings add security throughout, but we’ve trained native grape and Dutchman pipe vines to integrate them into the landscape.

Plantings.  Dwarf pomegranate hedges define the architecture of a couple of retaining walls. Sculptural tree aloes and variegated yuccas & bougainvillea provide focal points from different perspectives.  Smaller perennials, bulbs, and grasses, along with seasonal wildflowers, contribute to a changing habitat.

Native and Mediterranean plants support local bird populations & several species of butterflies.  We added a dust bath, water garden, rock piles for lizards and consulted with a local expert to position birdhouses and an owl box.