For his own home, a modest mid-century tract house in Los Angeles, the Architect expanded the home’s usable space without a large-scale remodel or addition, by turning the backyard into a series of “outdoor rooms.” A concept that is sorely missing from most Los Angeles homes, where maximizing square footage at the expense of the usable yard space has become the norm. The result is a lush oasis that works as a true extension of the house. It opens directly from the main living spaces through a previously enclosed sun porch, onto a deck used for both lounging and dining as well as a firepit patio sheltered by a timber pergola. This makes it as suited to an intimate dinner as to a large party or backyard barbecue.
From there, garden elements define a sequence of distinct spaces, each with multiple uses and its own character. Functional areas are deliberately pushed away from the house so the entire yard comes into use: a dedicated barbecue area tucked behind the detached garage, raised vegetable beds along the edge of the open green, and stepping-stone paths that wander between shrubs and trees to secluded seating areas hidden within the garden. The project began with removing all existing grass turf from the front and back yards. Its replacement is a palette of drought-tolerant, environmentally appropriate plantings, anchored by a soft carpet of Kurapia, a low-water, durable groundcover that gives the look and feel of a lawn without the thirst or upkeep. Layered around it, the planting reads as lush and abundant as any traditional garden. Whether it’s the homeowners and their dog on a lazy Sunday afternoon, visiting friends and family, or local bees working the many flowering plants, this yard is a special place for everyone who experiences it.
Principal Architect
Nicholas Blondin