Making a big splash in a small space was the name of the game for this design build client who had just given up their longtime coast property loaded with succulents for warmer climates in land in Santa Rosa. Creating play spaces for their dogs, patios for entertainment, and pathways leading to their covered pool, and privacy from the neighbors was the framework agenda.
Smaller rectangular spaces quickly feel blocky with too many straight lights, we sought to break up these lines with organic shapes in the center including the undulating curved lawn as a running space for the dogs lined with low maintenance, low water use succulent plantings. In juxtaposition to the organic central space, we created a contemporary pathway with custom cut bluestone and decorative inlay patterns around drains and edge work.
The client’s for, and knowledge of succulents was deep so we worked in collaboration with them to utilize existing succulents saved from their coast property as well as introducing new varieties well suited for their new Santa Rosa home. Saving plants in this manner is a wonderful way to implement sustainable practices by relying on existing resources rather than new materials imports.
Many residential lots in flat areas suffer from poor drainage as the water has no place to escape, this property was a prime example with water gathering up and threatening the foundation. We created a custom drainage solution of channeling water from the downspouts into an underground cistern which allows water to percolate into lower parts of the soil profile. Once the water reaches a certain level, a sump pump automatically kicks on and pumps water out the street curb in front of the house.
