Backyard Oasis at Dusk

Looking back it has been an interesting 2011 with all the projects we worked on. We have designed and created quite a few waterfalls and several unique gardens. In particular, landscape lighting has been very popular.  We have clients who, not having had this before, comment on the surprise they experienced the first night the system turns on. The truth is that a landscape looks completely different at night since only specific items are lit and the light hits the foliage from different angles than it would during the daylight from the sun.

I have not completely masted night shots yet. But I have included one for you to see the dramatic effect lighting can create.

I collected together a few photos of some of the more dramatic landscape features I could find to share with you.  As I was scanning through pictures of numerous projects, I came across photo after photo that represented, at least to me, the idea of client after

Northridge Outdoor Living Room with Fireplace

client who had decided that a particular new look was what they really wanted.  No one told them they couldn’t have what they wanted and it became our job to help make it a reality.  There is something refreshing in the idea that someone wants something and that person ends up getting what he or she wants.

Rock Waterfall

To me the beginning of a new year represents a chance to find some quiet moments here and there and take an undisturbed look into the future.  It kind of goes with the traditional idea of New Year’s resolutions.  I thought I would share this thought with all of our friends and clients (these are the same as far as we are concerned).

We also would like to thank you for all your wonderful support in the past and wish you a tremendous New Year.

This project actually began with the need to handle water that had been creeping slowly through the foundation of the house and under the floors in two separate areas.  Our job was to handle any outside water issues so that this would not continue in the future.

New Front Entry

We tackled the problem from several angles, including an underground drain pipe system around much of the house, sealing the side of the foundation and removing any water sources that were right next to the foundation, itself.  Some soil types are more susceptible to holding water and creating moisture problems than others and when the soil doesn’t naturally drain well, this can be an important area to address.

Anyway, the drainage side of the problem was handled.  There are not any

New Patio

photos of that portion of the project since drainage is the sort of project where the better the job is done, the less you see after it is all put back together.  There are, however, photos of the new brick entryway and the patio that was done earlier.

The client decided that since the area needed to be dug up anyway it was a good time to get the entry and the yard done up like they really wanted it.

Pool Make Over with new Pool Deck

The house sits on a property of about 60 acres of land almost completely planted with avocados. In addition to these testy vegetables (or fruit if you measure it by having a seed), it is also home to a few horses, three dogs, some geese and ducks, a pond full of turtles, a very large land tortoise and a few cats.

The challenge here was to provide an updated surrounding for the old swimming pool area which definitely had that motel feel. It began with removing all the old concrete decking, the brick around the pool, some constricting fencing which surrounded the pool area and a few other odds and ends. The pool got a new finish and faux rock trim to give it an updated look.

The decking area was expanded to allow for lots more furniture

New Concrete Patio and Stucco Wall

using an earth tone stone-like concrete finish. All the patio lines and stairs were done in curves which softened the look. In particular, the new wall with the curved elevation changes on top as well as sweeping layout gave the area a more relaxing feel. This also allowed an unobstructed view of the remarkable vista from the pool deck. The wall has a smooth stucco finish, suitable for sitting it also has lights which were mounted at regular intervals.

The finished look was much cleaner than what had been there before and I am told that it gets much more use.

Large BBQ Island

At the center of the patio is a very large BBQ island. The cook should have lots of company since the counter seats at least a dozen people. In case he or she gets thirsty, there is also a cold beer tap built in along with warming drawers and a fridge. Umbrellas help keep the sun issue under control.

The pool with its long slide for the kids, has a hidden cove behind a waterfall and beach entry. It also has a place for an umbrella to give the tanning a

Pool with Slide

break.

This property has other features as well. The veggie garden has five raised beds for planting of the family favorites. There is a horseshoe pit for testing the aim of the guests and a separate patio with a fire pit to warm up the cooler evenings.

One of my favorite features is a large lamppost in the center of the patio areas. It is on a rheostat which allows it to be turned down to a gas lamp-like glow or cranked up to full power which lights up the whole area.  Lights along the pathways and in the garden allow the lamppost to normally be kept on the low setting but during a party it is nice to be able to throw more lights on the tables, BBQ and pool area etc.

LaCanada Patio

That is also the best time to enjoy outdoor living.  Of course, in Southern California, we have a much longer outdoor living window than most of the country. In fact, it is most of the year.

This is why we like doing what we do.  The totality of our job is to help people enjoy taking advantage of their outdoor environment.  Why read that book in the living room when you can sit in a chaise lounge on a shady patio.  Why listen to a television when you can listen to a waterfall and watch the hummingbirds (it is far more relaxing).  Why not have friends over and uncork a bottle of wine to enjoy around a fire

Simi Valley Waterfall

pit.

I think the modern age of computer screens is great, as far as it goes, but it is easy for it to go too far.  Two hours spent over dinner on the patio with some good friends can probably undo at least a week of office stress.

The owners after living there for dozen years and finally decided to do the place up the way they had always wanted it.  We started with the most obvious design feature of this home, the view.  Much of it was blocked with the previous landscape. There had been tall hedges around two of the key patios.  This was changed out to a custom iron railing.  The material used for

Perfect View

the new railing was black wrought iron.  Commonly, iron tubing is used for this but this rail is actual custom built solid iron with Spanish details to go with the house.  The same railing was used for the staircases and the other patios.  This type of iron is designed to last a very long time.

The house was given a new finish with smooth, Santa Barbara style stucco.  All of the new garden walls were given the same new warmer color and smooth finish that was used on the house.  Brass lighting fixtures were built into the new walls to cast a subtle light on the pathways and staircases at night.

The swimming pool was completely redone, replacing the old brick with a new stone look.  A waterfall and slide were added with a custom fire pit as well built into the faux rock at the back of the waterfall.  All of the outdoor flooring became either new flagstone or a textured concrete with a faux rock stain.  These two materials go very well together.

It all started with the decision to “do the place up” and the dream of the owners of what their place could be. We made that dream a reality.

I recall attending a party which was thrown by one of our clients shortly after we completed the landscape.  It was mainly a patio party – the food was great and there were some really interesting people there and the landscape was, of course, brand new.

Patio with Firepit - Calabasas

One of the things I noticed most was how everyone, including me, tended to gravitate to the patio with the built-in fire-pit as the sun got lower in the sky.  It wasn’t really the ambience created by the fire, but rather the simple fact that it was a lot warmer there.  It was amazing that 12 or 15 people could be sitting around one four and a half foot wide brick circle with a flame in the center and all be warm on an Autumn evening.

More than just the warmth was what seemed to be the natural camaraderie that ensued.  I just put it down to the campfire memories that must have been living in the minds of all the people sitting around that fire (its possible that the wine being served helped a little too).  I was swapping jokes with people I had never met before and finding out all kinds of things about them in exchange for telling them about some of my dumber escapades.  It turns out that the lady sitting next to me was not only fascinating, at a very lively 82 as I recall, but lived two doors down from Steven Speilberg, the movie producer that gave us Indiana Jones and a long string of other classic films.

It was a wonderful evening but it was mostly a testament as to how a simple landscape touch can make all the difference.

Fast forward many years to Southern California and it is a whole different scene.  There has been more than one holiday meal cooked outside on the grill and enjoyed on the patio table.  It seems to me that this scenario is a snapshot of what life here is all about.

The word barbecue can be used to cover just about anything used for outdoor cooking, from a Weber that takes 45 minutes to get the charcoal ready to a built-in gas grill with a back burner, rotisserie spit and all the other amenities that can be obtained.  Some of the cooking units are quite elaborate (and fun to use if you are into cooking).  Some of the gas grills have options like infra-red heating units, a flat grill for cooking things like pancakes and even a tray for adding charcoal or hickory chips to get that smoked flavor.

BBQ Outdoor Kitchen - Calabasas

The outdoor kitchen is really an extension of the outdoor barbecue and can include just about anything you could want to entertain outdoors.  These can be built into one large unit or can be split up into two or more.  They commonly have counter space for bar stools so the cook can join in the party while preparing the feast and electrical outlets for blenders and other small appliances.  The items you can add to this are pretty amazing.  Typical items built in might include a side burner, a small refrigerator, an umbrella and some storage drawers.

You might be interested to know that there is a long list of other things that are made for outdoor installation that include wine racks, ice makers, dish washers, high capacity burners for large pots and warming drawers, not to mention the possibility of adding a pizza oven, an outdoor TV or even a fireplace.

If you like to entertain, the possibilities are there.

Repurposed Fountain

The front entry had been an overgrown jungle with an old, tired concrete entry walk.  The solution was to change the entry walk to flagstone and to create a very unique water feature to go with it.  The water feature consists of 5 basalt columns of varying heights, each with a hole drilled through the center and each with its own separate pump.  The pumps are underground and the appearance is that the water just disappears into the pebbles that cover the ground.

The old water fountain that used to be near the front entry was recycled as a custom flower planter and moved to one of the gardens on the side of the house.  It was a little outdated and didn’t really match the house after the new stucco finish, but as a planter, it is just a little quirky and breaks up the garden with a splash of color.

Pool with Slide in Thousand Oaks

Another fairly unique feature is the custom built water slide.  When theswimming pool was redone, this slide/waterfall combination was built to give the area some extra character.  It also makes it a lot more fun for the kids and grandkids when they visit.