As you descend into this home, you are taken on a path filled with art. Mature oaks and Japanese maple trees create a sense of protection overhead. Retaining walls and stairs helped create usable spaces throughout this steep and narrow lot. The goal was to create a more generous entrance with new stairs, lighting to front door, pathways around the property, and a spa area — all with lots of places for art.
Collaborating closely with the homeowners, we integrated their favorite art pieces directly into the landscape, turning the garden into a colorful gallery.
The dead space under the upper deck was reimagined into a spa deck. Key details that elevated the space included cladding the underside of the upper deck and adjoining wall, installing an opaque privacy glass, connecting stairways between levels, and adding a custom, sunken spa nestled in the trees. To the side of the house, a once-forgotten strip of land was transformed into a functional space for pets, complete with lush, shade and deer-tolerant plantings that enhance both form and function.
Location: Belvedere, CA
Landscape & Photography: Shades of Green