Garden Tour: Cosy Spaces Within a Beautifully Expansive Garden
A large but poorly laid out garden has been turned into a series of outdoor rooms for relaxing, gathering and playing
This dreamy property in the coastal mountains south of San Francisco, in the US, already had a pool, lawn areas, gardens and mature trees, including a large Japanese maple and many oaks. However, the homeowners wanted to make the landscape design more refined, cohesive and colourful, so they hired landscape architect Lisa Howard of Bay Tree Design. At the top of their wish list was providing lots of places where their four boys, aged between 4 and 12, could play.
The new design has patios, seating areas, container gardens and more. “My clients love to entertain large groups, but [they] also wanted cosy spots for smaller groups to gather,” Lisa says. She created outdoor rooms so guests could spread out. New garden areas allow the homeowners to grow fresh flowers for parties, and herbs for garnishing homemade pizzas.
The new design has patios, seating areas, container gardens and more. “My clients love to entertain large groups, but [they] also wanted cosy spots for smaller groups to gather,” Lisa says. She created outdoor rooms so guests could spread out. New garden areas allow the homeowners to grow fresh flowers for parties, and herbs for garnishing homemade pizzas.
Before Photo
“This garden was to be a place where different plants would come and go,” Lisa says. To create structure, she replaced the mulch and some of the concrete areas with 1cm basalt rock gravel and added Corten steel planters. The planters contain vegetables, herbs and flowers for cutting.
“There was already [hardwood] in the landscape, so we repeated that material throughout the design,” Lisa says. Here, she used it to create the piece in the foreground, which covers the air conditioning unit, separates the parking from the landscape and provides a working surface for gardening.
She also added wood platforms between a series of new and existing concrete steps along the edge of the house, to give the exterior and landscape a more organized and intentional look. She added trellises for climbing plants and a steel-and-wood pergola.
(There is a site plan at the end of this story, and this area is marked as number six.)
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“There was already [hardwood] in the landscape, so we repeated that material throughout the design,” Lisa says. Here, she used it to create the piece in the foreground, which covers the air conditioning unit, separates the parking from the landscape and provides a working surface for gardening.
She also added wood platforms between a series of new and existing concrete steps along the edge of the house, to give the exterior and landscape a more organized and intentional look. She added trellises for climbing plants and a steel-and-wood pergola.
(There is a site plan at the end of this story, and this area is marked as number six.)
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The pergola frames an inviting spot for hanging out and enjoying the view. Lisa added a board-formed-concrete base to the structure, which makes the sitting area beneath it feel like a cosy room. From these seats, the homeowners look out over Portola Valley’s eastern ridge.
“I cannot take credit for the planting in the raised beds,” Lisa says. “I provided the structure for the garden, and my client and her gardener chose the plants. The new planting was a great opportunity to add colour,” with the wood and Corten steel adding warmth.
Lisa returned to the site about two days after everything had been planted, and already several species of birds and butterflies were enjoying it. “The wildlife found this garden immediately,” she says.
“I cannot take credit for the planting in the raised beds,” Lisa says. “I provided the structure for the garden, and my client and her gardener chose the plants. The new planting was a great opportunity to add colour,” with the wood and Corten steel adding warmth.
Lisa returned to the site about two days after everything had been planted, and already several species of birds and butterflies were enjoying it. “The wildlife found this garden immediately,” she says.
Before Photo
This photo shows the other end of the garden as it was previously. Beyond it was – and still is – a lawn where the boys like to play football.
More: 8 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Garden
More: 8 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Garden
At the far end of the garden, past the pergola, this small seating area overlooks the lawn and the hills beyond. It’s a great spot for football spectators. The Corten steel planters that edge the gravel create another intimate outdoor room with vast vistas out to the hills.
This large Japanese maple tree at the edge of the lawn is a favourite climbing tree for the boys (marked as number seven on the site plan at the end of the story). “I like to study how other countries design landscapes that engage children, and in Europe they talk about how tree climbing engages all the senses and critical thinking skills,” Lisa says.
She created this small deck to make the lowest branches accessible for the youngest boys. “Tree climbing fosters a sense of adventure and joy, and can instill confidence, especially for the littlest boy,” she says. The deck is also a spot for watching the football games on the lawn, and the opening at the base serves as one of the goals.
She created this small deck to make the lowest branches accessible for the youngest boys. “Tree climbing fosters a sense of adventure and joy, and can instill confidence, especially for the littlest boy,” she says. The deck is also a spot for watching the football games on the lawn, and the opening at the base serves as one of the goals.
This ‘before’ photo looks across the pool to an existing outbuilding (shown in the top-left corner of the site plan). Part of the project was transforming this building into what the homeowners call the teen room. “This is the home where all the kids’ friends come to get together and play,” Lisa says. “The teen room gives them a spot that is all their own and, at the same time, it’s close to the house.”
Another issue the homeowners wanted to tackle in this part of the landscape was a disconnected feeling between the house and the pool area, which were separated by the driveway (seen at the top right of this photo).
More: Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Garden
Another issue the homeowners wanted to tackle in this part of the landscape was a disconnected feeling between the house and the pool area, which were separated by the driveway (seen at the top right of this photo).
More: Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Garden
After: Lisa transformed the top part of the driveway into a sports court (marked as number one on the site plan). The tall posts hold a net that prevents balls from going into the neighbouring garden. The sports court can be used for extra parking when needed.
Lisa also designed a gravel patio off the teen room. She added new stairs to connect the outbuilding’s patio to the pool, working around some beautiful existing granite boulders. Then she cleaned up the plants around the stairs and path, adding a wood wall on the right and replacing some of the ornamental grasses with lawn on the left. She also added concrete around the pool to give it an even, 1m border.
Lisa also designed a gravel patio off the teen room. She added new stairs to connect the outbuilding’s patio to the pool, working around some beautiful existing granite boulders. Then she cleaned up the plants around the stairs and path, adding a wood wall on the right and replacing some of the ornamental grasses with lawn on the left. She also added concrete around the pool to give it an even, 1m border.
Before Photo
This area to the right of the pool house (at the bottom left of the site plan) was neglected. However, Lisa saw it as an opportunity for another small gathering spot.
The new patio Lisa created is seen in the background of this photo. This is the view from the teen room’s patio to the pool house.
Lisa created connections across the landscape with materials. She used scored concrete around the sports court, seen on the left side of this photo. The scoring provides pleasing proportions that break up the concrete and help prevent cracks.
Scroll down to the site plan to see where she added another scored concrete path across a lower part of the driveway. (Both of these pathways are marked as number three on the plan.) She also repeated the use of wood and basalt gravel.
Lisa created connections across the landscape with materials. She used scored concrete around the sports court, seen on the left side of this photo. The scoring provides pleasing proportions that break up the concrete and help prevent cracks.
Scroll down to the site plan to see where she added another scored concrete path across a lower part of the driveway. (Both of these pathways are marked as number three on the plan.) She also repeated the use of wood and basalt gravel.
Improving the outdoor shower area located off the right side of the pool house was another part of the project. Lisa designed a wood surround and added a bench along an existing concrete retaining wall.
This is another spot where garden party guests can grab a seat. Also, the bench lifts up, providing storage for pool toys and floats.
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This is another spot where garden party guests can grab a seat. Also, the bench lifts up, providing storage for pool toys and floats.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
On the site plan, the buildings are marked in white. The area that runs above the top of the house is the edible and cutting garden (marked as number six), and the lawn is to the right of the house. The climbing tree is marked as number seven. Below it (marked as number eight) is where Lisa repurposed old granite kerbs from San Francisco streets into steps that lead to the kids’ swings and other similar equipment. There is also an existing oak grove there.
To the left, the scored concrete around the sports court creates a connection to the teen room and its patio. Another scored path creates a connection between the home’s entry courtyard and the pool area. Both of these are marked as number three.
The pool house is located on the bottom-left side of the plan, with the shower (marked as number four) to its left and the new patio (marked as number two) to its right. Lisa also created additional parking to make up for when the area at the top of the driveway is being used as a sports court (marked as number five).
Now the garden has lots of places where kids and grown-ups can hang out. Lisa also created strong connections from place to place. Guests at parties can spread out in the property and find intimate areas for talking. The kids have spaces they can call their own, and they also like to help their parents collect herbs and flowers. All the changes Lisa made keep the family engaged with the landscape and foster an indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite thing about this garden design? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
To the left, the scored concrete around the sports court creates a connection to the teen room and its patio. Another scored path creates a connection between the home’s entry courtyard and the pool area. Both of these are marked as number three.
The pool house is located on the bottom-left side of the plan, with the shower (marked as number four) to its left and the new patio (marked as number two) to its right. Lisa also created additional parking to make up for when the area at the top of the driveway is being used as a sports court (marked as number five).
Now the garden has lots of places where kids and grown-ups can hang out. Lisa also created strong connections from place to place. Guests at parties can spread out in the property and find intimate areas for talking. The kids have spaces they can call their own, and they also like to help their parents collect herbs and flowers. All the changes Lisa made keep the family engaged with the landscape and foster an indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite thing about this garden design? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A couple and their four sons
Location Portola Valley, California, USA
Size Three-quarters of an acre
Landscape architect Bay Tree Design
Contractor Paravati Construction
Photos by Caitlin Atkinson
Previously, the landscape was disjointed, with the sunken area seen in this photo to the side of the house used as a parking spot off the driveway. The planting beds were full of mostly agave and other desert species.
The wife wanted to use the garden for growing edible plants and flowers for cutting, and to have places for small gatherings. “This space needed structure. We also wanted to pull in more colour and make it a child-friendly space,” Lisa says.