SAN LUIS

This coastal garden sits in the hills above Carmel with expansive views from Carmel Beach to Point Lobos. We worked with the clients to craft a vision for a modern garden that draws heavily from Old World traditions, with spaces flowing naturally from indoors to outdoors and a core of terraced courtyards for entertaining.
 
From the street, a staircase leads up to a courtyard with an elongated view of the front garden and a water rill that expresses the sloped site. Layered pathways climb further to the kitchen garden, the heart of the home, where our clients cook and dine with the gentle sound of a spilling water feature. Staggered Carmel stone walls define the space and provide a pathway to slip between on the way up to the art studio and fire pit to enjoy sunsets over the Monterey Bay.
 
We drew inspiration from both the Italian countryside and rugged, coastal Australian gardens to re-imagine a Californian plant palette. Powerful drifts of shrubs and succulents, highlighted with varied colors and textures, surround the entry. Courtyards closer to the house enjoy more delicate flowering accents like climbing roses, geraniums, Australian violets, and coastal succulents. The art studio is cushioned by a matrix of cloud-pruned shrubs, emphasizing the strong drifts of each plant.