House in the Trees

When you’re presented with something as beautiful as a heritage Live Oak tree on a lot, you must embrace it. We framed the design of this tiered backyard garden around this grand old Oak to create a lush garden of shade-tolerant tropical plants.

Because the backyard is used as an extension of the home as an entertainment space, the back patio was improved with saw-cut Lueder stone and steps were added to access the upper part of the garden. There, we created a separate gathering space akin to an outdoor room by use of raised steel garden beds, evergreen shrubs and gabion baskets of stone, fitted with cedar tops to form benches -- all nestled around a firepit. As privacy and the feeling of seclusion was paramount, a wall of bamboo screens the view of neighboring homes, while the sound of flowing water from the fountain and elaborate landscape lighting adds to the tranquil ambiance.