On Decks A Montgomery Robbins, Inc. deck on the cover of Sunset's 'Complete Deck Book' For a moment here in California, it seemed like decks were going out of style. Wood was being replaced with stone and concrete terraces, as homeowners began to work with the contours of their land and [...]
Landscape Topography Topography is the science of mapping land formations - determining the depth of valleys, steepness of hills, and where the flattest areas of ground lie. As Landscape Architects, the first step to any design is understanding the site, which includes the way the land is naturally shaped. Therefore, topography [...]
Making An Entrance The holidays are here, and what better way to start thinking about the new year than by updating the entry to your home? While there are many ways to enhance “curb appeal,” the keys to a successful entrance are actually quite simple. Feng Shui teaches the importance of the entry [...]
FEATURING FIRE There is something instinctively wonderful about relaxing around a fire, and as a result we find ourselves incorporating fire into most of our outdoor living spaces. Fire features, as we call them, can take on infinite forms and aesthetic styles to fit seamlessly into a designed space. Here are a few [...]
Feng Shui for the Landscape Feng Shui is often discussed in relation to Interior Design, and whether or not you believe in the life-enhancing powers of orienting elements, there are many Feng Shui principles that may surprise you with their ability to enhance your landscape as well as your interior. It’s [...]
Transitional & Timeless “The only constant in life is change” – Heraclitus (circa 500 BCE) The nature of change is something that has been on our minds lately, and we’ve been applying an idea that is central to our design philosophy to our everyday life. The balance of things that change [...]
Ground Work Landscape Architecture is the design of space on every level – At our eye level, above our heads, and on the ground plane beneath our feet. The ground is an often-overlooked aspect of design, but it has the ability to define space and create interest within the landscape. Here we focus [...]
Pathways In The Landscape photography by: Sarah Cosca In a landscape of any scale, the experience of moving through it is as important as the experience of resting within it. Imagine a destination point – a tranquil gathering space surrounded by garden some distance from the house – and imagine [...]
Backyard Stay-Cations Over the past couple years, we’ve been thinking more about the art of the Stay-cation, and how we can bring rest and relaxation home to our own backyards. The concept of the “Stay-cation” isn’t new (though the pun might be) but its meaning as it pertains to the home landscape [...]
Dining "Out" Staying home has become something we love, but it's nice to have the elevated feel of our favorite haunts – Our local cafes and restaurants with their outdoor seating and casual vibes. Our favorite spots have both food and ambiance down to a science. So, we have been experimenting [...]
