TOULON

Pacific Palisades, California

Interior designer Maryl Georgi, architect Karen Putman and landscape designer Michele Garzon of Cluster Design Studio transformed the existing outdated home into a timelessly beautiful contemporary Mediterranean-inspired property. In addition to planting and landscape lighting, Cluster Design Studio designed all of the hardscape, including the koi pond entry and water feature, the pool and spa, the outdoor kitchen and fire pit, and all decks and walkways.

Photos by Jennifer Termini

Limestone walkway leading up to the gate.

Tumbled cobblestone border around olive trees and lavender.

Floating limestone steps leading to the front entrance of the house.

Stacked stone and steel raised water rill pouring water into the pond.

The podocarpus hedge helps screen the house from the street.

The pond is home to koi, turtles and aquatic plants.

A boulder and simple planting of New Zealand flax, agave and succulents complement the base of the existing palm trees.

The original pool has been reshaped into this new configuration, separating the pool from the hot tub with wood decking.

Limestone pool deck and coping.

Both pool and hot tub have automatic covers hidden underneath the coping.

From cooking and dining to basketball and pingpong, versatility is key in this backyard.

Limestone fire pit deck between concrete storage bench and concrete table.

Silvered ipe wood deck is an outdoor living room complete with umbrellas and heating lamps.

The concrete table topped with cement tile is hugged by the wood deck.

Concrete outdoor kitchen complete with pizza oven and grill and plenty of storage space.

Stacked stone wall with floating wood bench and water feature. Ping pong table over decomposed granite.

Cedar staircase to access pool equipment also hides a meter below.

Tumbled cobblestone driveway.

MILNER

Hollywood, CA

Tucked away in the historic Whitley Heights neighborhood of Hollywood Hills, this gorgeous 1920’s Spanish-style gem is now home to Caya Music & Sound. The overgrown and underutilized yard was terraced into a series of outdoor rooms: a gathering place around the fire, alfresco dining and cooking, and an intimate hot tub with a daybed for lounging. The peaceful sound of the fountain carries throughout the property, unless there is a concert at the nearby Hollywood Bowl, in which case you can just sit back and enjoy the music.

Photos by Jennifer Termini

ROYER

Woodland Hills, California

Although we kept the original layout, this is a dramatically different backyard, both functionally and aesthetically. Featuring a shaded living area, alfresco dining and kitchen, and built-in seating and fire pit, this low-maintenance outdoor space is designed to be enjoyed year round for California living. We embraced the unique shape of the outdated pool and integrated it into a simple modern design using clean hardscape lines softened by surrounding plants and gravel.

Photos by Jennifer Termini

OXNARD

Woodland Hills, California

CARLA RIDGE

Beverly Hills, California

The front yard of this Trousdale home, previously owned by Ray Charles, was designed to complement its mid-century modern architecture by featuring cantilever steps in varying lengths, structural succulents and a California native ground cover on the hillside.

Interior design by Maya Williams