Herman is also especially generous with the details, like a friend offering insightful advice. For example, here’s her precise description of her pool: “The pool measures 12 by 24 feet, mirroring the dimensions of the original gamecock house, now a dining pavilion. Three inch-thick, rock-faced bluestone coping edges the pool, which is finished in a French gray plate.” Likewise, her notes on plants are conversational and useful, like when she describes Orlaya grandiflora, Herman tells the reader, “It self-sows easily, making groupings achievable, but is not problematic or invasive.”
Above: Herman is especially fond of umbels like the vibrant Zizia aurea. Photograph by Neil Landino, from A Moment in Time.
Herman is clearly a devoted plantswoman. The book features many hero shots of specific plants (all helpfully labeled). Of those close-up moments, she tells us, “I think it’s really important to have that sense of intimacy, paired with big, broad shots for context.” Herman says there easily could have been more, noting “it is about all those individual pieces that make up the greater whole.” Herman has included a Resources section at the back of the book with all her favorite places to buy plants, seeds, and garden ornaments, which will be of particular interest to gardeners in her region.
Above: Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is paired with the deep pink of Tanacetum coccineum. Photograph by Neil Landino, from A Moment in Time.
This book will appeal to anyone with an appreciation for formal, English-inspired gardens, but is also a surprisingly intimate book that any seasoned gardener will relate to.
Above: A Moment in Time: Designing a Country Garden by Kathryn Herman is available wherever books are sold including Bookshop.org.
For those familiar with Los Angeles, the words “Santa Monica” will likely conjure up a very Californian version of the all-American idyll: an iconic pier and long stretches of boutiques surrounded by tree-lined streets and quaint homes with tidy lawns and the occasional shrub or agave. The scene is so picturesque that you can’t blame most homeowners for choosing to simply cut and paste these same elements onto their own landscapes.
So when Molly Sedlacek, the founder of ORCA, was contacted by two prospective clients seeking a Mediterranean-inspired garden for their Santa Monica property, she was intrigued. And when they mentioned the idea of ripping up the existing driveway and replacing it with more garden, she knew immediately she would accept the job. In the world of landscape design, it’s typically the designer finding, and sometimes fighting for, more green space—not the other way around.
What proved problematic was the site itself. A relatively small footprint meant that every square inch, including the aforementioned old driveway, had to be put to good use, especially since a new outdoor kitchen would also be required. So Sedlacek went about designing programmatic areas that would blur the lines between each other and the home’s interior. “The client needed a garden that is connected to their everyday lives: an art room that spills into the entry courtyard, a living room that opens up onto the dining patio, and a dining room that overlooks the pool.” To better define these areas, Sedlacek leaned heavily on the home’s existing white stucco and Spanish-influenced exterior to select hardscaping elements that would feel “naturally weathered” and right at home on a Balearic island.
Her inspiration: Potter’s House Mallorca, the retreat made instagram-famous by European garden designer Luciano Guibbelei. “We studied it for plants colliding with the water’s edge, groundcovers feeling very effortless, and also the use of fruit trees, bees blossom, and Ligularia dentata.” But while the resulting garden may look just like an arid landscape pulled from the coast of Gibraltar, it is primarily composed of U.S. natives and nativars, with a sprinkling of Mediterranean species for effect. Sedlacek and team brought in deep-green species like Ceonathus ‘Snow Flurry’, Frangula californica and Dryopetris arguta to contrast with the lighter palette, while Oenothera lindheimeri and Carex pansa create languorous drifts in sunnier areas.
The whole effect is of something wild and slightly forgotten. Sedlacek’s favorite element is tucked in the back corner of the garden, next to the site of a brand new pool, where the native Rosa californica clambers up a brick wall from the early 20th century to form a near-perfect simulacrum of an old European villa. “Seeing something built in 2025 that highlights something that has [already] lived here for a century is very special.”
Above: Sedlacek carved out new beds and added permeable paving in what used to be the entry driveway. The new space functions as a courtyard where kids can play, and still has enough hard surfaces to squeeze in a car if necessary.
Is there any greater luxury than bathing outdoors? You don’t need much more than a shower head and a modest enclosure (ideally one that offers a glimpse of the sea). We combed through the many outdoor showers we’ve come across over the years and selected the most memorable. Here’s our top 20: Martha’s Vineyard Charm […]
It’s always a delight to catch up with our friends at the California design studio Terremoto. Talk inevitably ranges beyond the confines of gardens, touching on issues within the landscape industry that are rarely addressed.
Appreciation of laborers and the creativity that they bring to a project is part of the Terremoto DNA. Co-founder David Godshall explains how this dynamic collective of garden thinkers and doers continue to meet the moment, while showing us around a lovely little garden in Ojai, northwest of Los Angeles.
Photography by Caitlin Atkinson except where noted.
On the Client Brief
Above: At the back of the house, old Chinese elm trees provide protection from the elements.
“The bones of the property were very beautiful but needed updating to be more functional for the clients, as their needs were softly different from the previous property owner’s. An avocado orchard existed, which we, of course, preserved and protected, and coast live oaks surround the property in a beautiful halo,” says David.
Above: For an area in full sun, “We created a mosaic of native and non-invasive Mediterranean plants.” These include sage and lavender.
“The magic of Ojai (I say this as a plant nerd) is that it sits at the confluence of multiple horticultural typologies,” David continues. “It’s a place where coastal sage chaparral crashes into agriculture (most notably avocados and citrus) and more cottage-y, slightly old-school garden-making traditions. Opuntia and geraniums have a surprisingly synergistic relationship. Our clients wanted to bring their garden into a thoughtful new era while being respectful of the innate qualities of Ojai that make it the place that it is.”
Four years ago, during the pandemic, Leyla Ghorbani started listing her backyard pool in Potomac, Maryland, on a website called Swimply. She says the experience has completely changed her life.
Four years ago, during the pandemic, Leyla Ghorbani started listing her backyard pool in Potomac, Maryland, on a website called Swimply.(Courtesy Leyla Ghorbani)
Four years ago, during the pandemic, Leyla Ghorbani started listing her backyard pool in Potomac, Maryland, on a website called Swimply.(Courtesy Leyla Ghorbani)
Most pools close after Labor Day weekend, but there are plenty of options around the area if you need a place to swim.
Four years ago during the pandemic, Leyla Ghorbani started listing her backyard pool in Potomac, Maryland, on a website called Swimply. The site lets you search for private pools near you, and then rent them by the hour.
“I found that families were really excited to be able to have the privacy of an outdoor space they could enjoy, without the worries of potentially catching COVID,” she said.
Since then, she’s had some very memorable guests.
“I’ve had a dating show for the OWN Network filmed here. That was really entertaining to watch,” she said. “I have hosted a first birthday for a dog, and that was quite elaborate.”
The listing on Swimply is called “The Modern Meadow House,” and it has a 5-star rating with almost 200 reviews. Since May, almost every weekend at her pool has been booked. Because Ghorbani has a heater, she can keep her pool open through October.
“Sometimes, even Halloween is very warm and muggy,” she said. “The benefit is that I can be flexible, since it’s my own pool, in terms of opening and closing.”
The price for her pool starts at $95 an hour for a group of five. Ghorbani has a full-time job in information technology as a program manager, and the extra money helps cover the maintenance and management of the pool and backyard.
“It is a nice additional source of income on the side for life’s incidentals and surprises,” she said.
Ghorbani said the best part of renting out her pool is meeting new people. She has dozens of repeat customers, and some have become close friends. She loves hosting hallmark occasions: everything from birthdays to bridal showers, photo shoots, graduations or anniversaries.
“There have been some guests that have insisted I joined them. And I’m like, ‘No, no, this is your party. Thank you,’” she said. “It’s honestly wonderful, and I find it gratifying. I’ll keep doing it for as long as I feel like people are happy and having a positive experience.”
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With summer heat waves in full force, a cool dip in the pool is a great solution…but beware if a pool has this strong smell – it is clue for something icky.
There are almost 11 million swimming pools in the US. This include private, community, school and hotel pools. Some 36% of children and 15% of adults enjoy pools at least six times a year. Nothing says summer than lounging by the pool with a drink and some good music. With summer heat waves, a cool dip is the most refreshing thing you can imagine. But, if you are in a shared pool, you need to be a little careful and beware if a pool has a strong chlorine smell.
A quick check to see fi the pool is clean includes clear water, the side and base aren’t slimy, the pool filters are working and there is no strong pool smell. The smell of chlorine makes us think of summer and suggests a the swimming pool is clean. But the CDC says don’t be fooled and it is not truly accurate. In fact, a pool that smells heavily of chemicals and chlorine likely means there’s a lot of bacteria and contaminants in there.
Chlorine is added to pools as a way of preventing germs and keep it clean. But, the chemical is still affected by what comes off of swimmers’ bodies, like sweat, fecal matter, urine, deodorant, makeup and dirt. These contaminants mix in with the chlorine and result in chloramines, which are the chemicals responsible for the strong pool smell. They appear more frequently in pools where there’s not a lot of ventilation, especially if these are located indoors.
A clean pool should have no smell at all and it should have a clear and blue-ish color. If the water is muddy and the feel of it is slimy, it means that the pool hasn’t been properly cleaned and that it can harm you skin. It’s also important to remember that, no matter how annoying and boring it is, you should always shower before you enter the pool in order to prevent the development of more chloramines. Urinating in the pool is also out of the question as it really brings out the chloramines.
Too often pathway gaps are neglected and become a home for weeds. But where some may see awkward spaces between stepping stones, I see potential. Plants between pavers can soften hard lines, adding a lush, living element to a design.
It’s relatively simple to fill the cracks between pavers with creeping plants that will stay low, won’t mind being squashed a bit, and may even be fragrant. Ground cover can triumph over weeds, too. Read on for everything you need to know:
How do you choose a ground cover to grow between pavers?
Above: White blooming Isotoma grows in a pathway, framing pavers with texture and color in a California garden designed by Elizabeth Everdell. Photograph courtesy of Everdell Garden Design.
As a landscaper, I routinely feel like a boss on the plant employee search, hunting for highly qualified plant candidates for the position of ground cover. Listed below is my required criteria:
Height: A plant should be low growing, raging in height from basically flat to 2 inches tall. Anything taller could be trip pedestrians and make the pavers look as if they are sinking, even drowning. Rule of thumb: the larger the scale of the pavers, the taller the filler plants can be.
Foliage: The ground cover should be vigorous (but not invasive) and dense like a carpet to smother competing weeds and cooperatively traverse the spaces for continuity.
Above: Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista. Cotulaleptinella ‘Platt’s Black’ (dollhouse fern) grows densely and has a shallow root system, which makes it ideally suited to creeping between stones to fill cracks. See more of this garden in our Gardenista book.
Hardiness: A plant that grows between pavers should be tough and durable to withstand occasional trampling by foot or paw.
No-Fuss: Ground cover plants for pavers must require as little maintenance as possible. A total given.
Design: The ground cover needs to meet the design needs of foliage color, texture, and form. The choice also should complement the colors and textures of the pathway material rather than compete with it, and be congruent with the current landscape theme.
What are the best plants to grow between pavers?
The options below are by no means the only ones, just some of the popular ones, and you have different options depending on whether your path basks in sun or hides in shade.
Above: Different varieties of thyme such as ‘Minimus Russetings’ and ‘Purple Carpet’ soften the pavers in this Brooklyn rooftop garden. Photography by Marni Majorelle. For more, see Brooklyn Oasis: A City Roof Garden, Before & After.
Full Sun:
Creeping thyme (Thymus spp): Considered one of the finest ground covers for filling in between flagstones. It meets all of the criteria of a good plant employee. This petite herb comes in many varieties, all with tiny, rounded fragrant leaves in shades of dark green, lime green, and even yellow with a white edging. Elfin or woolly thyme are especially good varieties that will grow in difficult soils, stay flat and are frighteningly easy to grow.
Dymondia (Dymondia margaretae) is a good alternative. Its phenomenally flat, tidy appearance bears slender leaves that are green on top and gray underneath. A slight upward curl on each leaf edge provides a frosted, two-tone look and it occasionally bears small yellow daisy flowers.
D.C.’s Department of Parks and Recreation is hiring for hundreds of seasonal jobs, including lifeguards, which are essential to meeting increasing pool demands.
D.C.’s Department of Parks and Recreation is hiring for hundreds of seasonal jobs, including lifeguards, which leaders say are essential to meeting increasing pool demands.
Thennie Freeman, the agency’s director, said the city is looking to fill over 700 seasonal vacancies. Some of them involve working at a city pool, but others include jobs with D.C. camps or programs.
D.C. hires about 200 lifeguards to support its pools, Freeman said. Last summer, the city reported an increase in visits to its pools as the weather got warmer. As a result, city leaders expanded their hours.
Now, the city is asking if applicants can commit to working until Sept. 30.
“In order to serve the public and give them more, we need more people like yourself,” Freeman said, referring to community members.
As part of its recruitment efforts, Freeman said the city has a junior lifeguard academy for 13- to 15-year-olds, “so that at the age of 16, we can hire them.”
The average age for D.C.’s lifeguards is 20 years old, Freeman said, pointing out that many of them are college students. The city is recruiting to hire more, she said, because college students who attend school in other parts of the country arrive back in and then leave D.C. at different times.
“In order to keep our pools open longer, which we did last year, we used our lifeguards who are attending college locally,” Freeman said.
Lifeguards have to participate in a physical agility test and cognitive test, Freeman said, but “we do train you on those things.” Lifeguards who pass the tests become certified through the Department of Health, she said.
D.C. has been recruiting lifeguards on college campuses, and “the retired senior population has been a wonderful resource for us to tap into for our summer hiring as well,” Freeman said.
The openings, though, go beyond poolside roles. Some of them involve working with a DPR boost camp, which offers kids aged 3 to 13 “enriching recreation opportunities on-site at District schools.”
Other roles involve leading outdoor programming, such as hiking, kayaking and camping, according to a news release.
All seasonal roles require 40 hours per week, and applicants are subject to a background check and drug test, Freeman said.
“The biggest challenge that we’ve seen in hiring is understanding that there are certain things that you cannot do,” Freeman said.
Becoming a DPR summer employee is the fastest way to getting a permanent role with the agency, she said. Last year, over 50 people who worked summer jobs were hired as regular employees.
“Come do the summer, do great work, you will get noticed,” Freeman said. “And if there’s a spot, we’d love to keep you.”
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While we were working on our book Remodelista in Maine with the photojournalist Greta Rybus, Greta let us in on a project she was working on: a book documenting hot springs, public baths, and soaking spots the world over. We’ve been awaiting the publication of Hot Springs ever since, and as of this month it’s officially out in the world—researched, written, and photographed by Greta, who traveled to five continents and thirteen countries, from Iceland to Bolivia, Turkey to Japan, Alaska to Hungary, to make it.
Some hot springs, Greta writes in the book’s introduction, “feel like a party, others like a prayer,” but each offers the opportunity to be present, to be in community, and to reconnect with our place in nature. (One of Greta’s notes on soaking ethics at some of the wilder locations: “Remember that you are the caretaker for that moment.”)
To celebrate the book’s launch, we’re sharing a glimpse inside Hot Springs (which, rich in blues and greens, feels as serene and all-consuming as a soak, even when you’re on dry land), plus a Q+A with Greta.
Photography from Hot Springs: Photos and Stories of How the World Soaks, Swims, and Slows Down by Greta Rybus, courtesy of Ten Speed Press.
Above: The Seljavallalaud Swimming Pool in Iceland.
Remodelista: What’s your first hot spring memory?
Greta Rybus: Growing up in Idaho, hot springs were a really big part of my childhood. Idaho has many different type of geothermal pools: from wild ones in riverbanks to ones that look like swimming pools. I have two distinct memories of being in large hot pools with my arms in water wings. I can remember the smell of the sulfur and that plasticky smell of the water wings and their slight pinch on my arms.
Above: Therme Vals in Switzerland is “an austere, brutalist shrine to hot water,” Greta writes in the book, designed by the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor and built “from sixty thousand slabs of granite from local quarries.”
RM: How many hot springs did you visit while making the book?
GR: I lost count! I went through my notes and files last week and counted between sixty to seventy hot springs, depending on how I was to make that tally. There are 23 chapters in the book, divided by location. But some feature individual hot springs, and others explore entire regions with many hot pools or baths. There are thirteen countries represented across five continents. I tried hard to represent the diversity of thermal places: the hues of the water, the cultural connections, their roles in cities and remote places, how they are cared for and managed by so many, the different ways people experience them.
Above: Therme Vals. Photography is forbidden inside, but Greta obtained permission to photograph during cleaning, which lent an intimate view on another side of bathing culture: “The cleaners are specialists in caring for the granite and the water and the metal detailing,” Greta writes in the book. “They use special cloths and sprays for each surface, and they explained their careful techniques, how it took trial and error to figure it out. I thought about how our sacred, special places require work and maintenance…It requires figuring it out together, navigating each other, and tedious, quiet labor. That’s the ritual, too.” (Greta also noted in, in a recent Instagram Story, the care that her cameras required while working in such steamy environments, too.)
RM: What’s the furthest you traveled while making the book?
Have you ever swam in a natural swimming pool? There’s no chlorine, no chemical taste or smell, nothing to sting your eyes. Recently architect Alan Barlis, who designed one for a client in New York’s Hudson Valley, described the experience like this: “Incredibly blissful. Once you swim in one of these things you feel like you’ve been so refreshed. It’s like being in a Brita for an hour. It’s like taking the best shower of your life.”
It sounds as if we all should be swimming in natural pools, for our health and the environment’s. So why aren’t we? For one thing, natural swimming pools cost more to install (on average 10 percent more than conventional pools, says an industry spokesman). Perception is another problem, because some swimmers equate chlorine with cleanliness. Finally, a lack of uniform guidelines and rules in the US may make the idea of installing a natural swimming pool seem, well, murky.
On the other hand: incredibly blissful.
So read on for everything you need to know to decide whether a natural swimming pool is for you.
What is a natural swimming pool?
Above: In Switzerland near Lake Lucerne, a natural swimming pool supported by a retaining wall on a steep slope “appears to almost float weightlessly out over the valley,” the designers say. Photograph courtesy of Biotop.
Think of a natural swimming pool as a chlorine-free zone. Instead of relying on chemicals to keep the water clean, natural pools have water gardens with plants that naturally filter and clean the water.
Industry pioneer Biotop, headquartered in Europe, has installed more than 5,000 natural swimming pools worldwide during the past three decades. Other industry players include Ellicar (formerly Ensata) in the UK, and Bio Nova and Total Habitat in the US.
How does a natural pool work?
Above: A natural pool at Plane Trees Lodge in Australia has a water depth of 6 1/2 feet. Photograph courtesy of Biotop.
A well-done mural can enhance a home’s value, but is mainly a personalization benefit of the … [+] homeowner.
Architect: Court Atkins Group / Interior Designer: Adrienne Warner / Photographer: Kelli Boyd
Zillow recently announced its six hottest home trends to watch for in 2024. Four of them are wellness related. No one should be surprised by this, as homeowners are increasingly acknowledging and appreciating the links between their living spaces and quality of life. That’s showing up in both home improvement and resale reports.
Here are the trends the real estate platform cited, and why designers and real estate professionals interviewed in writing about them agree — with a few caveats.
Sensory Gardens and Pathways
Sensory gardens, like this one in Charleston, delight multiple senses with beauty, scent and even … [+] sound.
Glen Gardner
What Zillow reported:
“Sensory gardens have been surging in popularity, with homeowners and home buyers prioritizing functional and beautiful outdoor space as a way to reconnect with nature. Listings mentioning sensory gardens or pathways are up 314% compared to last year.”
Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton ties this popular amenity to the extended time we spent at home during the pandemic increasing our passion for connecting with nature. “Sensory gardens concentrate those benefits by engaging all five senses,” she shared.
They’re appearing most often in Philadelphia and Chicago metro areas, she noted.
What Experts Say:
“The demand for sensory outdoor experiences has been growing, driven by families and work-from-home professionals who value both educational outdoor spaces for children and a tranquil environment to offset home offices,” noted Megan Majd with Compass on Los Angeles’ Westside. She sees potential marketability enhancement from these features. “Greenery and outdoor spaces are always on the wishlist for buyers. Sensory gardens cater to a particular clientele who is aware of the wellness value these bring to their lives.”
Charleston, South Carolina-based landscape architect Glenn Gardner commented, “Sensory gardens and paths are a part of nearly all [our] projects, whether they are specifically requested or not — as I use them as a part of good design.” He includes fragrant elements like jasmine, gardenia, citrus blossoms, and tea olives. “It’s also wonderful to integrate an occasional edible like blueberries or figs along a pathway to grab a few while in the garden and eat while wandering. I am also a big fan of tucking herbs into the landscape, being able to run out and grab some sprigs of rosemary, bay leaves, thyme and oregano.”
Cold Plunge Pools
Cold plunge pools are in demand for indoor and outdoor use.
“Cold plunge pools are the hottest wellness trend of 2024, touted by influencers as a way to improve circulation and reduce inflammation. The share of listings that feature an at-home cold plunge pool is up 130% compared to last year.”
Pendleton commented, “We typically see built-in cold plunge pools as a feature in luxury homes, but there are an increasing number of portable plunge pools now on the market. From large plug-in models to inflatable plunge pools, anyone can get the benefits of a cold-plunge pool at all different price points, making this wellness trend more accessible than ever.”
Cold plunge pools are most frequently mentioned in for-sale listings in Stamford, Connecticut and Las Vegas.
What Experts Say:
Los Angeles-based Sally Forster Jones with Compass declared, “Anyone at the higher end of the market sees this as a new requirement, and if there isn’t a cold plunge, they are having one installed.”
“In recent years people seem to have the attitude that they will definitely get their money back (or perhaps more) with a tastefully designed pool,” Gardner observed. He does point out that cold plunge pools aren’t being driven by the same whole household impulses as other recreational features. “It tends to be just one family member who has embraced the therapy and wants to enjoy it at home as opposed to having to go to the gym or spa.”
Pickleball Courts
Pickleball courts are in high demand as the sport rises in popularity.
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What Zillow reported:
“This fast-paced paddle sport is becoming a sought-after amenity in backyards and neighborhoods. Nationwide, pickleball mentions are up 64% compared to last year.”
“Pickleball is accessible and appealing to all ages,” Pendleton observed, noting that it offers both fitness and social interaction benefits. “With the sport’s rising popularity, a dedicated at-home or nearby neighborhood pickleball court has become a selling point for many homebuyers.”
Mentions of pickleball courts are most common in for-sale listings in Sarasota and Provo, Utah.
What Experts Say:
“As the wellness movement continues to build momentum, buyer expectations are becoming more sophisticated,” shared New York City-based real estate agent Taylor Middleton of Douglas Elliman. She serves that metro, the Hamptons, and South Florida. “My clients — in particular my international and California buyers — are prioritizing contemporary options.” She sees pickleball courts (and plunge pools) likely having the most enduring appeal and value enhancement among the four Zillow wellness trends. Ultimately, Middleton surmised, “The main resale appeal is that in time, these amenities will become buyer expectations.”
“Pickleball has definitely been a family recreation conversation,” Gardner reported, citing its physical and social benefits, as well as the fact that it takes less space than tennis. “We have clients hosting parties at home based around pickleball tournaments with groups of friends. In several cases it’s being used as a destination activity to draw friends and family over to spend time.”
It’s worth noting that the noise and lights of pickleball courts can be a negative factor for some properties and communities.
Murals
The quality of this mural work enhanced the value of a spec home with its eventual buyer.
Architect: Court Atkins Group / Interior Designer: Deb Van Plew / Photographer: Josh Gibson
What Zillow reported:
“Homeowners and home buyers are saying goodbye to bland in favor of personality-packed homes. Murals are showing up 18% more often in for-sale homes and they’re more accessible than ever. Wallpaper murals are now readily available and depict all types of scenes, from large-scale landscapes to modern botanicals.”
Pendleton commented that “Personalization is a growing trend in interiors as homeowners increasingly want their homes reflect who they are and how they live. Murals make a visual statement, create ambiance and can be an instant conversation starter.”
Murals are most commonly found in for-sale listings in McAllen, Texas and Tucson.
What Experts Say:
“When done properly, and pending the home’s target homebuyer, a mural can certainly add to a home’s appeal. Especially for a younger homebuyer,” stated Orange County, California Compass agent Todd Davis.
Architect William Court practicing in Savannah and Bluffton, South Carolina shared that, “We have used custom murals and wall coverings on a number of homes. Each one tends to present a unique point of view and is often highly personal to our clients. It is an impact statement, so it takes a certain sense of commitment on their behalf.” He does not anticipate that these design statements will benefit the home’s real estate value. “Resale did not come into the conversation, but the sense of quality and finish were certainly discussed,” he noted. He did relate that one of the projects unexpectedly became a spec house and the new owner was attracted to the hand painted panels in the study.
A scroll through landscape designer Molly Wood’s portfolio reveals gorgeous, rambling properties and infinity pools with views of forever, but it was a recent project on a much more modest scale that caught our eye.
Wood’s clients, a family in Newport Beach, had a ranch house on a lot measured in feet not acres, to which they hoped to add a pool, room to entertain, and more. “There was just an old entry pathway and some weedy grass on site when I got there,” says Wood of the yard. But Wood, who has been designing gardens in California since 1995, was undaunted by the constraints of the space, noting, “I always say, ‘This is California real estate: Let’s maximize it. Let’s use it.’ ”
But how? Here, she explains how to design a small, stylish outdoor space that takes advantage of every inch.
Photography by Lane J. Dittoe, courtesy of Molly Wood Garden Design.
1. Define the functions.
Above: A pair of chaise lounges and a scalloped umbrella offer a shady place to lounge on the far end of the pool. White sage softens the division between the entry courtyard and the pool.
“My first question is usually, ‘What do you want to do out here?’” says Wood. For this family, adding a pool was the top priority, but they also requested space to grill, eat outside, and entertain. Wood maps out the yard by function before she starts to even think about plants and hardscape materials.
2. Use the pivot point.
Above: The cabana is completely open to the outdoors. The home’s interior designer Mindy Gayer collaborated with Wood on the outdoor furnishings.
To maximize the yard’s L-shape, Wood placed the pool cabana at the pivot point of the L, so it can be seen (and accessed) from both the far end of the pool and the dining area on the opposite side. You may not want or need to build a whole structure in your pivot point, but consider how the corner can serve both sides of your yard.
