In the renovation and addition to this home in Falls Church VA, exterior hard-scapes and garden spaces surround the house while the spaces within the home are made larger and are opened up to the forestall views surrounding the home. When walking on the pathway one crosses the many thresholds along the exterior that help to separate and create new intimate garden spaces. Steel, concrete, and wood come together in this intricate walkway system comprised of slatted screen fences, a guiding pergola overhead, and a hard-scaped pathway. The changes in grade, volume, and materiality allow for a dynamic walkway that runs both to the new entry and continues to the rear patio where it then terminates at the patio access of the home. The master bedroom is extruded out over the lower level into the rear of the house and opened up with tall windows all along two sides. A more formal entry space is added at the front with full height glass bringing in lots of light to make for an elegant entry space. Partitions are removed from the interior to create one large space which integrates the new kitchen, living room , and dining room. Full height glass along the rear of the house opens up the views to the rear and brightens up the entire space. A new garage volume is added and bridged together with the existing home creating a new powder room, mudroom, and storage.

This small tract home backyard was transformed into a lively breathable garden. A new outdoor living room was created, with silver-grey brazilian slate flooring, and a smooth integral pewter colored concrete wall defining and retaining earth around it. A water feature is the backdrop to this outdoor room extending the flooring material (slate) into the vertical plane covering a wall that houses three playful stainless steel spouts that spill water into a large basin. Koi Fish, Gold fish and water plants bring a new mini ecosystem of life, and provide a focal point and meditational environment. The integral colored concrete wall begins at the main water feature and weaves to the south west corner of the yard where water once again emerges out of a 4” stainless steel channel; reinforcing the notion that this garden backs up against a natural spring. The stainless steel channel also provides children with an opportunity to safely play with water by floating toy boats down the channel. At the north eastern end of the integral colored concrete wall, a warm western red cedar bench extends perpendicular out from the water feature on the outside of the slate patio maximizing seating space in the limited size garden. Natural rusting Cor-ten steel fencing adds a layer of interest throughout the garden softening the 6’ high surrounding fencing and helping to carry the users eye from the ground plane up past the fence lines into the horizon; the cor-ten steel also acts as a ribbon, tie-ing the multiple spaces together in this garden. The plant palette uses grasses and rushes to further establish in the subconscious that a natural water source does exist. Planting was performed outside of the wire fence to connect the new landscape to the existing open space; this was successfully done by using perennials and grasses whose foliage matches that of the native hillside, blurring the boundary line of the garden and aesthetically extending the backyard up into the adjacent open space.

Credit: Scott Pease Photography

Mark Knight

The wood stair appears to be emerging from the library shelving.

This 6500 s.f. new home on one of the best blocks in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, was designed for the needs of family with two work-from-home professionals. We focused on well-scaled rooms and excellent flow between spaces. We applied customized classical detailing and luxurious materials over a modern design approach of clean lines and state-of-the-art contemporary amenities. Materials include integral color stucco, custom mahogany windows, book-matched Calacatta marble, slate roofing and wrought-iron railings.

Foto:graf Luckner Planung: gartenplus, die Gartenarchitekten info@gartenplus.com

Photography by Everett Fenton Gidley. Located in one of Pasadena's finest neighborhoods, this Marston & Mayberry-designed Mediterranean estate is adjacent to the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens. Originally built in 1928 and painstaking re-constructed in 2007/2008, the entire property was meticulously renovated by our clients. The end result is a stunning unification of old world craftsmanship exquisitely integrated with modern amenities that affords a graciously elegant yet comfortable environment. Interior Design by Tommy Chambers Architect David Serrurier Builder Thomas Lake Landscape Designer Mark Berry

J. Craig Sweat Photography Inc.

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