Designing for Hillside & View Properties Steep slopes, dramatic grade changes, and sweeping views are often treated as obstacles to work around. At Montgomery Robbins, Inc., we treat them as the starting point for some of the most rewarding landscape design work in the Bay Area. What Makes Hillside [...]
Understanding Bay Area Planting Zones: A Guide for Homeowners If you've ever bought a plant at a local nursery and noticed a small "zone" number on the tag, you've already been introduced to one of the most useful — and most misunderstood — tools in garden planning. Planting zones tell you [...]
Designing Pathways for Bay Area Residential Landscapes photography by: Sarah Cosca The Role of Pathways in Residential Landscape Architecture In residential landscape architecture, the experience of moving through a property is just as important as the experience of gathering within it. A thoughtfully designed pathway does more than [...]
The Night Garden: Luxury Landscape Lighting Design for Bay Area Homes It’s easy to imagine a landscape only by the light of the sun. After all, that is when we see it most clearly. But some of the most memorable experiences within a landscape happen after dark, when lighting begins to shape atmosphere, [...]
Designing the Arrival Experience The entry to a home does more than create curb appeal—it establishes how the property is experienced from the moment you arrive. In residential landscape architecture, this “arrival sequence” shapes first impressions, daily routines, and how naturally a home feels connected to its surroundings. While there are many ways [...]
Ground Work: The Foundation of Residential Landscape Architecture in the Bay Area Landscape architecture is the design of space on every level—at eye level, above, and on the ground plane beneath our feet. The ground is often an overlooked aspect of design, yet it plays a critical role in how a space is [...]
Transitional Landscape Design: Creating Timeless Outdoor Spaces Transitional landscape design blends traditional and contemporary elements to create outdoor spaces that feel balanced, timeless, and highly livable. It combines clean lines with warmth, modern materials with classic forms, and is designed to evolve gracefully over time. Change is constant, yet the spaces [...]
Fire Features in Bay Area Landscape Architecture Fire features are among the most transformative components in luxury outdoor living design — especially in the Bay Area’s mild Northern California climate. At Montgomery Robbins, Inc., we integrate fire features not just as functional elements, but as design-driven focal points that extend seasonal living and [...]
How Corten Steel is Used in Landscape Architecture Corten Steel, also known as weathering steel, is a durable material increasingly popular in luxury landscape architecture. Designed to form a rust-colored patina that protects against corrosion, it offers both longevity and striking visual appeal. Its warm, earthy tones pair beautifully with stone, [...]
Smart Landscape Design: Luxury Outdoor Automation for the Modern Bay Area Home In high-end residential design, luxury is no longer defined by appearance alone—it’s about experience. Today’s discerning homeowners want spaces that not only look exquisite but also respond intelligently to their lifestyle. At Montgomery Robbins, Inc., our residential landscape architecture [...]
