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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
HOME-GROWN GROCERIES If you haven’t grown your own food before, it’s the perfect time to start. We feel it’s one of those things that is simple to learn but can take a lifetime to master. We aren’t masters yet by any means, but we do learn more each year, and since [...]
Container Planting If you need to create a point of interest, a cooling sense of lush foliage, or a splash of color on your patio or in your garden, container plantings are a perfect solution. The subject of containers is discussed in every garden magazine, with many spectacular examples out there, but [...]
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 [...]
