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Eichler Home Landscape Remodel - Front and Back: San Rafael, CA

​Project Overview:​ 
​The front and back areas surrounding this Eichler home were updated with the mid-century modern aesthetic in mind.   The front landscape updates include a series of concrete walls and minimalist plant design with a massing of barrel cactus, artichoke agaves, upright thatching reeds a Blue Palm (Brahea 'Clara'), Mediterranean Fan Palms and other easy-care plants. Designed to echo the home's Eichler minimalist design. The dramatic corten steel sculpture screen, designed by artist Jesse Small, offers a striking focal point adjacent to the front doorway. ​The back landscape updates include modern concrete retaining walls and pathways accented with gravel and pebbles. The stately "Gracie Modern Arbors" offer eye-catching visual appeal and growing support for 3 grape vines along a long pathway ramp. A 4th arbor frames a stairway to the hillside with a flowering Passion Vine. The sloped hillside areas were updated with low-water and low-maintenance plants that include CA natives, other Mediterranean plants and several succulents. The narrow switch-back pathway maneuvers through the hillside and is edged with stacked stone.

Design Details:​

• Modern concrete retaining walls and pathways compliment the home's Eichler, mid-century modern design.
• The front landscape updated with an artful Corten Steel sculpture screen, modern retaining walls and fire-safe gravel much throughout the garden.
• Minimalist modern planting design with architectural succulents, palms  and other low water plants echo the mid-century modern design aesthetic for curb appeal and a low-maintenance update.
• The back landscape is highlighted by the striking circular "Gracie Modern Arbors" by TerraTrellis offering sculptural focal elements and structures for grape vines and flowering vines.
• A diverse variety of colorful low-water, low-care grasses, succulents and companion plants brighten the landscape and hillside offering year-round interest and bio-diversity..

Several photos from this project are featured in the Atomic Ranch Magazine special issue for mid-century
modern landscape design! It details  my design tips and favorite plants for CA plant zones 9-10. 

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