Designing Cozy Spaces Landscape design is an interesting challenge at any scale – to incorporate all of the important elements in a practical and aesthetic way, at the highest level of comfort and with the right style and mood, designers have a lot to think about. But when we are working with a [...]
Design for Play For so many of our clients, play is an important part of relaxation, and summer is the perfect time to embrace outdoor play-spaces! Having a place to unwind outdoors is something we all need, whatever form your leisure activities take. For some of us, it’s sports – golf, sand volleyball, [...]
Screening The Landscape The private retreat experience is a must when designing residential landscapes. Every landscape benefits from at least one space that feels safe, sheltered and secluded. For some homeowners, the privacy of a front gate or fence keeps the entire property a private space, while for others a garden nook with [...]
HOW TO HIRE A LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRO You’ve decided you want to hire a professional to design your landscape, but how do you decide who to call? If it’s your first time hiring a design pro of any sort, it can be an especially daunting idea. There are many services available to help [...]
Wildfire Awareness Firescaping is a lot like travel insurance, although the hope is that it is never needed, it’s better to be prepared. According to CalFire, in the last three years alone over 1.7 million acres of land have burned in California due to wildfires. We do not say that to [...]
Form & Function in the Landscape Photography by Sarah Cosca The designed landscape is a balance between beauty and necessity, form and function. Any architect will tell you that beauty is not enough—structure and practicality are also needed. At the same time, design without attention to beauty is, well, never a [...]
Structures in the Landscape In nearly every garden style, constructed elements play a role in defining space for an inviting outdoor experience. Gates and trellises, pergolas, and cabanas—landscape structures have the power to transform a garden. The variety of styles gives infinite possibility to these elements, allowing a landscape’s unique character [...]
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 [...]
Contemporary Elements We are always excited about new things, especially when they relate to Landscape Architecture, so contemporary landscaping has truly stolen our hearts. Here are a few of our favorite contemporary elements we use in designing landscapes that stun with their simple and innovative modern style. Contemporary Aesthetic [...]
