The homeowner, a designer himself, recently purchased this early 1960s gem with plans for a complete renovation of the house to bring it back to its original Mid-Century Modern glory. We jumped at the challenge to design a stylistically appropriate landscape to match the home’s classic architectural heritage. With a pool included in the plan, I was inspired by the iconic MCM homes in Palm Springs, CA, and wanted to replicate that look and feel. We paid close attention to all the details: using burnished CMU blocks in a stack bond for the walls, planters, and fire pit sitting area. The design also includes a BBQ kitchen with a custom-built shade screen designed to match the existing patio shade structure on the house.

The final design includes a sunken fire pit living room entered by a sustainably harvested Ipe hardwood deck spanning the complete west end, while poured concrete modular slabs surround the remaining sides of the new pool and spa. Water-wise, drought-tolerant planting and citrus trees shape the perimeter.