Midcentury Green Garden Ideas and Designs
Urban Oasis Landscape DesignSculptural agaves, succulents and California native plants punctuate the front landscape complementing the “arroyo seco” rain garden studded with boulders and branches. The rain garden catches 50% of the stormwater runoff from the roof and infiltrates it into the soil. The remaining 50% of the runoff goes to a second rain garden in the back yard.
Hursthouse Landscape Architects and ContractorsA low-profile planting combination of Hosta, Liriope, Coral Bells are among the featured plants expertly integrated into the back yard environment. With the conservancy as a background, the bluestone patio is thoughtfully located for convenience and intimacy. Landscape design by Bob Hursthouse and Josh Griffin.
Reveal Design LLCThis front yard had to also act as a clients back yard. The existing back yard is a ravine, so there is little room to functionally use it. This created a design element to create a sense of space/privacy while also allowing the Mid Century Modern Architecture to shine through. (and keep the feel of a front yard)
We used concrete walls to break up the rooms, and guide people into the front entrance. We added IPE details on the wall and planters to soften the concrete, and Ore Inc aluminum containers with a rust finish to frame the entrance. The Aspen trees break the horizontal plane and are lit up at night, further defining the front yard. All the trees are on color lights and have the ability to change at the click of a button for both holidays, and seasonal accents. The slate chip beds keep the bed lines clean and clearly define the planting ares versus the lawn areas. The walkway is one monolithic pour that mimics the look of large scale pavers, with the added function of smooth,set-in-place, concrete.
Drake's 7 Dees Landscaping & Garden CenterLow-voltage night lighting flanks the path as it continues through the backyard space. Late night trips out to the shed for that last-minute hobby session just became more feasible. Photography by: Joe Hollowell
Rohit Bhoite House of DesignA house is one’s sanctuary of dreams, emotions & hope. And what better way to bring this etymology to life than a home that expresses just this. Drive down about hundred kilometers off the coast of the bustling city of Mumbai and nestled amidst the Sahyadris Mountains, is interior designer Rohit Bhoite’s recent heartfelt project. When he was approached for the Linear House Project, it was simply barren land and the creative brief was to design a space that reflected the diverse yet cognitive personalities of the home owners keeping in mind that it had to be kid friendly too.
From the day Rohit’s team started ideating and drafting their initial thoughts to where the complete home stands today, its been an overwhelming and fulfilling journey of over two years. Layout orientation diagrams and computer simulations where discussed with the homeowners, iterated and concluded with great detailing, keeping in mind the philosophy and personas of all.
The pristine architectural structure, pool deck, landscaping, interior design and execution, each aspects of the project had been well planned and executed with timelines. Nature and urban contemporary visuals had to blend extremely well into each other. It was the perfect opportunity to create an abode of tranquility with a colour palette of industrial shades with earthy hues and tones that evoke a sense of clam.
Overlooking the expansive mountain range the house was designed in a horizontally stretch with the living room & dining being placed right in the centre as the focal point where family and friends would love to spend time together. The two master bedrooms fondly knows as the Black and White rooms put at extreme ends. There is also a kids room and a guest bedroom apart from the comprehensive kitchen.
The living space practically has no walls but folding shuttered glass paned French windows on custom designed track channels that allow them to fully open up on both sides. One side being the landscaped lawns and the other being the pool and the barbeque gazebo. The idea was that one can embrace the feeling of sitting outdoors even while inside the leisure of the living room… literally re-creating an inside out look. The flooring selected was a blended ash grey shade with Diesel tiles to offset with the industrial feel. The chalet style sloping pitched roof is as capacious with an 18 feet height at its highest point in the center running through the entire living and dining area. Walls were hand crafted in textured grey and subway tiles as one of the highlighters, with the couch in pure linen fabric and relaxed rattan wicker chairs to offset the colours of the walls. Planters that are about nine feet in height were placed strategically. The icing on the cake was the handmade glass mesh chandelier discovered by Rohit on one of his travels and literally an instant hit with the home owners too. Apart from this, canescent lighting has always been a must have on his projects. He strongly recommends this offering to his clients at most times.
The dining table is a solid wood plank and polished off in a complimenting natural wood tinge with a clear glass bottom to ensure that the dimensional view of the house does not get blocked. It is fondly known as the floating table in the family!
Geometry with tiles and forms has been a focal point in Rohit’s structural designs, especially when it comes to bathrooms. The powder bathroom is a classic example of just that with extensive use of hexagonal tiling. A custom granite sink with brass details around the periphery and edges of the mirror is the focal point and forms the visual balance of the small yet utilitarian space.
There are 4 bedrooms to the Uday Villa. Two Master bedrooms, one kids room and a guest room. One bedroom which the team terms as ‘His Black Room’ was designed simply to the preference of the gentleman and ‘Her White Room’ designed to the choice of the lady of the house. The black and white room have the same layout but are situated at both the extreme ends of the house, each overlooking the greens and the azure pool with tall glass retractable French top to bottom windows.
The black room has a beautiful choice of natural hues of deep and tan browns, greens and a grey concrete wall giving the room an industrial look. The opposite wall holds the much loved yet tricky to use aluminium checked Tiles. Polished kadappa (slate) flooring holds the visual identity together and almost completes the look of the black shera(cement) board panel with a deep wooden texture. A tan cosy corner chair, which happens to be one of Rohit’s steals while scouting for local designer portfolios, at the rear end; Adds to the eccentric highlight that you see in the other details as well, such as the bed frame and the word work around the room. A metal mesh light weight glass tube adds a fantastic delicate highlight almost completing the room to perfection.
Apart from keeping the bathroom clutter free, practical and trendy, it incorporates the palette of the room, here as well with brass detailing, Diesel tiles and fittings in a clean and trend setting chrome finish.
The white room made to the choice of the lady of the family, has a strong feminine voice yet keeps to the integrity of Rohit’s design style. The walls are textured with concrete finish light grey colour with Diesel tiles and the ceiling is masked with shera board in an ash wood shade. The industrial looks is softened with a smart chic choice in upholstery to add warmth. A signature Rohit Bhoite custom designed four poster urban bed with light sheers was a mush have for the lady in the house and it was honoured. It was created in house from scratch and holds a natural veneer polish. To offset the industrial grey, earthy tones of greens were used by way of planters and browns in the carpet. The bathroom door adds a touch of nature to the entire space. The pendant & ceiling light fittings have a touch of brass to compliment the room and add finesse.
The bathroom was designed with granite and hued concrete that supports the industrial tone of design language that Rohit is trying to bring about to the project.
The kids room is a eclectic blend of yellow, grey and tan brown. The little home owners insisted on slumber party bunk beds and given this fun brief, custom made beds were designed with a height of 15 feet so they do not need to bend over or have heads hitting the roofs when at play. The lights form yet another highlight of this room, that juxtapose floating cloud formations, symbolizing ideas that can creatively flow in thin air. Cement tiles in the flooring, textured walls and fabrics in earthy tones truly complete this room.
Shades of blue are the highlight of the guest room. The angular yet non symmetrical geometric patterned flooring offsets the colour tones of the custom-made bed, the head board and the roof. Concrete tiles form the base and the half and half wall , cuts the monotony of a plain white wall that runs across the length and height of the room. The colours of the room spill over the bathroom with the coloured concrete walls and flooring. The raw look with refined designer fittings was Rohit’s way of incorporating technique into his art form.
The pool being a highlight for the kids in the family, was designed in the length of 15 mts. x 5 meters to cover the exact expanse of the house, so it is visible not only from the living and dining areas, but also both the black and white rooms at both ends of the constructed structure. There is a practical and aesthetically clear glass porch with matt black gazebo work where the open to air bar, BBQ grill and open to air outdoor furniture has been placed for outdoor dining on a beautiful winter day or a hot summer evening. The family hopes to spend much of their time here as the kids love to make a splash on most days.
The landscape design holds a special place for Rohit. This was a design avenue he had been assigned for the very first time. With a lot of in-depth research about flora and fauna with climate durability in mind, the plan was all about juxtaposing natural elements with the existing rock formations originally found in the same space as discovered. Everything was designed around the original being of these mini boulders to represent his ideology of aligning it all into a beautifully orchestrated form without having to compromise on the integrity of the design planned.
To finish off the project Rohit and the home owners added the final touches to the bold hues with customized furniture elements, paintings and eye-catching curios from all across the world. A dream realized… an idea fulfilled… a happy family.
Northwest Native Landscapes LLCDramatic plant textures, modern hardscaping and sharp angles enhanced this mid-century modern bungalow. Soft plants were chosen to contrast with the sharp angles of the pathways and hard edges of the MCM home, while providing all-season interest. Horizontal privacy screens wrap the front porch and create intimate garden spaces – some visible only from the street and some visible only from inside the home. The front yard is relatively small in size, but full of colorful texture.
Mark S. Garff, Landscape ArchitectAlready partially enclosed by an ipe fence and concrete wall, our client had a vision of an outdoor courtyard for entertaining on warm summer evenings since the space would be shaded by the house in the afternoon. He imagined the space with a water feature, lighting and paving surrounded by plants.
With our marching orders in place, we drew up a schematic plan quickly and met to review two options for the space. These options quickly coalesced and combined into a single vision for the space. A thick, 60” tall concrete wall would enclose the opening to the street – creating privacy and security, and making a bold statement. We knew the gate had to be interesting enough to stand up to the large concrete walls on either side, so we designed and had custom fabricated by Dennis Schleder (www.dennisschleder.com) a beautiful, visually dynamic metal gate.
Other touches include drought tolerant planting, bluestone paving with pebble accents, crushed granite paving, LED accent lighting, and outdoor furniture. Both existing trees were retained and are thriving with their new soil.
Photography by: http://www.coreenschmidt.com/
Daryl Toby - AguaFina Gardens InternationalSet beside a forested ravine, decks, patios, and walkways unite different levels of the garden while grounding the house within the larger landscape.
FormLA LandscapingConcrete steps lead from the gravel patios to a vibrant IdealMow meadow of Carex pansa peppered with California native accent grasses and wildflowers.
Ginkgo Leaf StudioA linear group of sesleria Autumn Moor grass intersects with the front walk at the steps. Beach pebble mulch is used to highlight the grasses from the other plantings.
Renn Kuhnen Photography
Klopf ArchitectureThe Roger Lee designed house from 1962 was purchased by the current homeowners in almost original condition, as the previous owners elected to defer most maintenance projects over the years. The clients were able to see beyond the dated materials and finishes, single-paned glass and uninsulated walls and they approached Klopf Architecture to help them expand and update the entire home, one the family could settle into and enjoy for years to come. It was important that the new designs were aligned with Lee's original intent not only because of the client's appreciation for mid-century modern architecture, but also because the house was deemed historical. The Stanford Real Estate Office requires a stringent design review which safeguards the integrity of the community, which Klopf Architecture was happy to oblige going into their updated designs.
As with many original mid-century modern homes, the house was scaled to the 1960s lifestyle where rooms were smaller and openings to views were limited and tightly framed. The original conditions defined the direction the family of four would take in updating the house and making it comfortable for their modern lifestyle. Klopf designed a full gut remodel and major addition to bring the house into the 21st century and provide the living area needed for the client's family. The newly expanded house added just about 1,100 sf to create an airy, comfortable and family friendly house, taking full advantage of the beautiful southwestern views that extend out to the hills beyond. The enclosed garage created an additional 240 sf of covered space for long-term storage.
A cracked swimming pool created an eyesore taking up a majority of the backyard landscape, so it was one of the first elements to go during the transformation. Working with Outer Space Landscape Architects, the family asked for a mix of relaxing outdoor patio spaces that eventually blend into the native landscaping, extending their views outward toward the natural greenery of the trees beyond their property. Filling in the old pool was a smart way to expand the living spaces outward. The orientation of the house was designed to enjoy the views, but the original architecture provided the first homeowners with mere glimpses of the landscape outside.
Klopf was able to broaden those views, continuing and extending on the original architecture to take full advantage of the unobstructed natural views across the rear facade of the house. Small horizontal openings in the primary bedroom and office were replaced with much taller windows that now follow the angled roof line upward, extending across almost all of the facade. We worked with Western Windows, whose designs included an oblique-shaped, operable casement that allowed our design to rise with the slope. A new corner office added to the primary suite, offers a bright and functional work-from-home solution that looks out at the distant views and added natural light from the expanded window configuration that now wraps around the corner.
The existing lower level was designed by Lee as a utilitarian space, serving as a wet pool room with a drain in the center of the floor, bathroom, laundry and storage areas. Without the need for a pool room, Klopf was able to convert the area into a much more comfortable and functional living space with a new family room and guest suite. The new spaces enjoy easy access to a new outdoor patio through floor to ceiling, full-width glass sliders.
Continuing along the rear facade, a previously exposed deck extending from the living room and hallway provided access to the backyard through a single set of stairs leading toward the side of the house which made sense when the pool was in place. The new deck was re-envisioned as an extension of the main living room and now serves as a second outdoor living room. A new slatted pergola above provides the homeowners welcome relief from the hot afternoon sun. A second set of stairs now creates a better connection to the redesigned lower level. Klopf was able to reconfigure the spaces, extending the living room outward toward the views, where the family now claims it as the heart of the home, spending a large majority of their time outdoors.
Back inside, the original wood-burning Malm fireplace was beautifully restored and a gas burner installed to comply with California's strict air standards. It now rests in front of a wall of Heath accent tiles where a dated red brick wall used to stand. A new taller window brings more light and views into the refreshed interior living room. The original glass doors opposite the fireplace were replaced by larger sliders that when fully opened, create a seamless transition to the new outdoor living area so the two spaces feel like one connected space. The original utilitarian kitchen was needlessly tucked into the far back corner and closed-off, out of sight from the living room, so the clients asked Klopf to open it up and expand the kitchen forward so it felt more connected. Today the much larger kitchen is connected to the living area where a short wall with a cutout offers a visual glimpse into the kitchen and a handy pass-through counter for serving guests. A new breakfast nook was also added to create another spot where the family can gather for casual meals. Just outside, a new built-in outdoor grill and prep area extends the kitchen outside and connects to a new outdoor dining spot nestled amongst the trees, taking advantage of the views out back.
Klopf was able to expand the other two bedrooms, add a new laundry room and half-bath and convert the carport to an enclosed garage to add more storage areas which was lost when the pool house was converted to the family and guest room.
To maintain a historical connection to the original designs, the exterior siding was repeated on all exterior walls, a full-height stained glass window at the front entryway restored, and an interior slatted screen element repeated outside at the exterior entry courtyard and over the new outdoor living room to create a shade trellis. The new house stands proudly and shines against it's new landscaping features, while respecting and expanding on the original intent of Roger Lee's designs epitomizing the comforts of indoor-outdoor living in Northern California.
Completion year: 2020
Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, Klara Kevane, Noel Andrade
Contractor: ORB Construction, Brendan O'Reilly
Structural engineer: Sezen and Moon
Landscape architect: Outer space
Furnishings and decoration: Urbanism Designs
Photographer: Mariko Reed
Ecoscape Environmental DesignThe homeowner of this midcentury modern residence in Boulder is originally from Australia and wanted the landscape design plantings to be inspired by her native land. End result was practical contemporary aesthetics, economical concrete dimensional-cut steppers, and a fabulous plant palette of ornamental grasses, hardy ground covers, and Colorado-friendly succulents.
Midcentury Green Garden Ideas and Designs
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