Classic Montecito cottage landscape design with picket fence, drought tolerant plants and gravel drive
Beauty and the Beholder
My favorite part of designing is helping clients find their unique style. When it comes to Garden Design, beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder and that is part of what makes it so much fun and challenging.
There are as many types and styles of gardens as there are types of people. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to discover YOUR OWN garden style.
This full-color drought tolerant Montecito garden features a massive Santa Barbara boulder surrounded by flowering perennials; Santa Barbara Daisy, Penstemon, Lavender, Nepeta, Mexican sage and Kangaroo paws
How to Find Your Style
First of all, don’t be afraid to be yourself. You have a point of view, well now is the time to express it. Before you start digging, constructing or nursery shopping, shop for inspiration. Web searches, Pinterest, Instagram, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Santa Barbara Magazine, Garden Design Magazine, Food and Home Magazine, Houzz are all great resources for inspiration.
Start an Inspiration folder
In your search there will be images that speak to you, save those, even if you think it can’t be done, or isn’t feasible in your location, save it. Save all the images you love.
This landscape design is classic Montecito with pool and greenery, raised planters with Olive trees under coastal live Oaks
Trends
The internet is full of Trends, don’t fall for something just because it’s the “latest trend”. Your garden is something that grows and changes over the years, so choose a style because you can picture yourself and your family living in that space for a long time.
Traditional Montecito landscape design with a modern twist, gravel patio, custom steel fire pit surrounded by outdoor furniture curated by Jeffrey Alan Marks, Inc.
Anything is possible
There aren’t too many times in life where you can say just about anything is possible, but in landscape design it is. You may be limited in space, but don’t let that limit your imagination.
Can’t decide on a specific style? Feel free to mix it up! This is your garden and no one else can dictate what is “right” or “wrong”. If it speaks to you, it’s right for you.
Hope Ranch contemporary home with flagstone courtyard, Koi ponds, fountains, fruitless Olive trees, Iceberg roses, pittosporum and falkia repens ground cover.
How will you use the space?
This is one of the first questions I ask on a consultation. How will you use the space? Is your goal to have a family compound where everyone from grandparents to children can roam and play? Is the idea of hosting intimate dinner parties more your style, with candle-lit tables laid with platters of culinary delights? Or, do you want a quiet haven where you can relax and recharge? These are all things to consider and will influence design decisions.
Good taste is always in style
As in fashion, there are “classic” or “timeless” garden designs and plant choices that never go out of style. Then there are interpretations that are more modern or trendy that can give a garden “Pizzazz” or the “Wow Factor” that real estate agents talk about. One thing is for certain, Good Taste never goes out of style.
Grand estate entry gravel drive bordered by mass plantings of Mexican sage and Peppermint trees
Garden Rooms
If you can’t decide on one “theme” or style mix it up by using different moods in different areas of your property. The way to accomplish this is by creating individual destinations or garden “rooms” such as a secret garden, outdoor kitchen, tree house, vegetable garden, orchard, play spaces and of course fire pit, ponds, fountains and entertaining spaces.
Vintage loveseat nestled in a cozy secret garden with gravel path and drought tolerant plantings of bay laurel hedges, Spanish lavender, Mexican sage, Rosemary
What Now?
Once you have worked out what your needs are it’s a matter of deciding on the approach. You may have lots of ideas but no idea of how to get it done or where to start. Perhaps you know what you want but don’t know how to put it all together. This is where we can be of service. Start with a free consultation which gives you a chance to discuss your ideas and work out the approach.
No matter what you decide, remember, it is YOUR garden and so your point of view and individual tastes are the most important part of the process. That’s a fun concept, right?
Until next time, fill your garden with joy! xo Lisa