ELMWOOD
This Beaux Arts and Crafts home was designed by renowned architect Walter J. Ratliff. The garden was overgrown with ivy and was ready for a northern Californian plant palette. The clients prioritized native plantings and an informal planting style. From a purely practical standpoint we also enlarged the parking area and integrated it into the garden with a meandering path through the new plantings. We look forward to watching this garden mature.
PACIFIC AVENUE
In a traditional Piedmont craftsman we redesigned the pool deck from old fashioned pebblecrete to a natural stone flagstone and made the Thomas Church designed pool sing. Rather than walking up through a series of narrow stairs to the pool we created central flagstone steps so that there is a true sense of arrival when moving from house to pool.
ELMWOOD AVENUE
This grand Elmwood craftsman now has a formal entrance that creates a strong sense of arrival juxtaposed with an informal mediterranean planting plan.
Crocker Highlands
A narrow and steep lot is terraced to provide lots of space for play and socializing. The garage gets reworked as a studio with pleasing French doors and an arbor. In time the fences and concrete will be covered in Ficus pumila creeper to create an emerald green backdrop. The rich texture of the antique brick patio is paired with an Arto Arabesque tile water feature (which doubles as a dog bath!).
UPPER ROCKRIDGE
This ranch style home was recently remodeled. We redesigned the entrance to create a welcoming transition through a Californian cottage garden from sidewalk to front door.
OAKMORE
A low-maintenance garden for entertaining and play where texture is central to the design. Natural stone, river pebbles, cedar and poured concrete come together to meet the brief.
BAYO VISTA AVENUE
We created distinct spaces for play and entertaining on a challenging site that features a narrow garden wrapping the house on three sides.
ALBANY HILL
After a move from Chicago, our clients wanted a garden that would maximize every opportunity to be outside and enjoy the California weather.
PACIFIC AVENUE
The new entrance for this home is accessed through the garden rather than via the driveway. The result is a magical entrance across stepping stones to the bespoke gate.
MANDANA BLVD
By creating terraces where children and adults can enjoy the garden separately and together we maximized the available space. High on the list of priorities were vegetable and fruit production as well as generous entertaining areas for gatherings of family and friends.
AMHERST AVENUE
By removing grass we were able to creat three distinct entertaining areas
with echos of a Japanese garden.
SONOMA AVENUE
We created a practical and beautiful transition between home and garden while making the entertaining areas feel informal and inviting. Bring a little piece of the California countryside to the middle of Berkeley by integrating the chicken coup and including corten steel raised beds to maximize cut flower production.
LAKESHORE AVENUE
A contemporary design using corten steel retaining walls has a mediterranean garden framing the house while a patio creates space to meet friends and watch as the kids are playing street side.
OAKLAND
We designed a hillside garden featuring California natives and mediterranean plants that opens up access to the formerly overgrown garden for the enjoyment of the family.
CATALINA AVENUE
We created a moment of welcome and calm on a property with a short set-back from a busy road.
