3d rendering for a landscape design project in Claremont, CA. - A mixture of drought tolerant plants and grasses with modern look materials make this house the envy of the block

I built this on my property for my aging father who has some health issues. Handicap accessibility was a factor in design. His dream has always been to try retire to a cabin in the woods. This is what he got. It is a 1 bedroom, 1 bath with a great room. It is 600 sqft of AC space. The footprint is 40' x 26' overall. The site was the former home of our pig pen. I only had to take 1 tree to make this work and I planted 3 in its place. The axis is set from root ball to root ball. The rear center is aligned with mean sunset and is visible across a wetland. The goal was to make the home feel like it was floating in the palms. The geometry had to simple and I didn't want it feeling heavy on the land so I cantilevered the structure beyond exposed foundation walls. My barn is nearby and it features old 1950's "S" corrugated metal panel walls. I used the same panel profile for my siding. I ran it vertical to match the barn, but also to balance the length of the structure and stretch the high point into the canopy, visually. The wood is all Southern Yellow Pine. This material came from clearing at the Babcock Ranch Development site. I ran it through the structure, end to end and horizontally, to create a seamless feel and to stretch the space. It worked. It feels MUCH bigger than it is. I milled the material to specific sizes in specific areas to create precise alignments. Floor starters align with base. Wall tops adjoin ceiling starters to create the illusion of a seamless board. All light fixtures, HVAC supports, cabinets, switches, outlets, are set specifically to wood joints. The front and rear porch wood has three different milling profiles so the hypotenuse on the ceilings, align with the walls, and yield an aligned deck board below. Yes, I over did it. It is spectacular in its detailing. That's the benefit of small spaces. Concrete counters and IKEA cabinets round out the conversation. For those who cannot live tiny, I offer the Tiny-ish House. Photos by Ryan Gamma Staging by iStage Homes Design Assistance Jimmy Thornton

smooth stucco in a subtle warm gray tone complements the natural movement and finish of the cedar entry

Bighorn Palm Desert luxury home with modern design. Photo by William MacCollum.

3d rendering for a landscape design project in Claremont, CA.

We used exposed beach pebble bands to break up the large amount of concrete in this driveway. The pebble is set on a concrete base and set in mortar which makes it very sturdy to drive on. After installed we put a clear sealer over the pebble to make it shine. The concrete has an etched finish which also shows small amounts of aggregate in the finish. This gives the concrete a sanded finish which is a non-slip finish. Tony Vitale of Landscape Logic

Closeup of a lovely pink Camellia!

Garden with mature size plants in summer

Photography: Travis Rhoads Photography

The property had quite a large front drive & the client wanted to create a private front garden. We removed the deciduous hedge planting and replanted evergreen hedging, giving a much smarter look. The front drive was reduced by half and divided with a tall yew hedge, slatted cedar fencing and bamboo screening.

I was initially contacted by the builder and architect working on this Modern European Cottage to review the property and home design before construction began. Once the clients and I had the opportunity to meet and discuss what their visions were for the property, I started working on their wish list of items, which included a custom concrete pool, concrete spa, patios/walkways, custom fencing, and wood structures. One of the largest challenges was that this property had a 30% (or less) hardcover surface requirement for the city location. With the lot size and square footage of the home I had limits to how much hardcover we could add to property. So, I had to get creative. We presented to the city the usage of the Live Green Roof plantings that would reduce the hardcover calculations for the site. Also, if we kept space between the Laurel Sandstones walkways, using them as steppers and planting groundcover or lawn between the stones that would also reduce the hard surface calculations. We continued that theme with the back patio as well. The client’s esthetic leaned towards the minimal style, so by adding greenery between stones work esthetically. I chose the Laurel Tumbled Sandstone for the charm and character and thought it would lend well to the old world feel of this Modern European Cottage. We installed it on all the stone walkways, steppers, and patios around the home and pool. I had several meetings with the client to discuss/review perennials, shrubs, and tree selections. Plant color and texture of the planting material were equally important to the clients when choosing. We grouped the plantings together and did not over-mix varieties of plants. Ultimately, we chose a variety of styles from natural groups of plantings to a touch of formal style, which all work cohesively together. The custom fence design and installation was designed to create a cottage “country” feel. They gave us inspiration of a country style fence that you may find on a farm to keep the animals inside. We took those photos and ideas and elevated the design. We used a combination of cedar wood and sandwich the galvanized mesh between it. The fence also creates a space for the clients two dogs to roam freely around their property. We installed sod on the inside of the fence to the home and seeded the remaining areas with a Low Gro Fescue grass seed with a straw blanket for protection. The minimal European style custom concrete pool was designed to be lined up in view from the porch and inside the home. The client requested the lawn around the edge of the pool, which helped reduce the hardcover calculations. The concrete spa is open year around. Benches are on all four sides of the spa to create enough seating for the whole family to use at the same time. Mortared field stone on the exterior of the spa mimics the stone on the exterior of the home. The spa equipment is installed in the lower level of the home to protect it from the cold winter weather. Between the garage and the home’s entry is a pea rock sitting area and is viewed from several windows. I wanted it to be a quiet escape from the rest of the house with the minimal design. The Skyline Locust tree planted in the center of the space creates a canopy and softens the side of garage wall from the window views. The client will be installing a small water feature along the garage for serene noise ambience. The client had very thoughtful design ideas styles, and our collaborations all came together and worked well to create the landscape design/installation. The result was everything they had dreamed of and more for their Modern European Cottage home and property.

Long before the riparian-loving, drought tolerant California native foliage established itself, this rain garden worked to keep stormwater onsite. It takes quite a bit of technology to do so. The bioswale accepts water from the back and front gardens as well as the roof of the home via drains, an underground vessel, and a sump-pump. It can absorb this level of water in a matter of minutes. Because the soil in this area tends toward clay, another drain helps manage possible overflow. Photo: Steve Matloff, 2018

Gorgeous modern landscape with clean lines and stunning detail.

The front staircase was falling apart with glued together bricks. The stairs were straightened, covered with Bluestone and Edenstone sides. The front brick walk was replaced with Bluestone also.

A fresh landscape and patio update to compliment this beautiful modern house.

As night falls, lighting highlights this entry structure in a Craftsman style that blends perfectly with the architecture of the home while welcoming guests to enter the property in a relaxing shaded space. Rustic materials of natural stone cladding, stained cedar wood and classic gate elements tie everything together.