Landscape Lighting During the summer months we often stay outside later due to the nice weather, so this is the time of year when we find that landscape lighting really shines. Lending cozy elegance to the night landscape and safely illuminating paths and steps, lighting allows us to enjoy our outdoor living [...]
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 [...]
Backyard Stay-Cations Over the past couple of years, we’ve been thinking more about the art of the staycation and how we can bring rest and relaxation home to our own backyards. The concept of the “staycation” isn’t new (though the pun might be), but its meaning as it pertains to the home [...]
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 in the [...]
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 [...]
