Rancho Santa Fe – Modernizing An Outdoor Space in San Diego

While most people think of the ocean and rugged coastlines when asked about San Diego, in truth, the county’s geological and ecological diversity holds much more than that. Some of the metro’s most beautiful communities are located deeper inland, sprouting from the rugged hillsides and rolling valleys that are so characteristic of the foothills of the coastal ranges that parallel the waterline.

One of these neighborhoods is Rancho Santa Fe, an equestrian community due east of Cardiff and Solana Beach. The neighborhood is famed for its expansive estates, luxury hotels, and the vivid beauty of its cultivated and natural landscapes.

Any amount of time spent in the area will show that the people of Rancho Santa Fe take great pride in their outdoor living spaces. A quick tour through the residential streets shows that nearly every property is precisely manicured and kept up to date.

That’s why one resident decided the mid-2000’s landscaping design for their property needed an update. While the design was serviceable, the materials and aesthetics were beginning to show their age, and the owner felt like they could get more out of their space. After a brief review of our design build process, the owner hired us on to help leapfrog the landscape twenty years into the 2020’s.

The Challenges

Updating the curb appeal from a traditional design style to a more consistent contemporary landscape design style was top priority. Encompassing the entire property, from the front entry to the back yard outdoor living spaces. 

The front yard consisted of an old concrete driveway and flagstone walkway to the front door, with mix-match plantings and overgrown shrubs. The side yard, originally a small concrete patio area shaded by the trees in a nearby planter, needed to feel more inviting. An expanse of natural lawn stretched from the small stone landing to the back of the home, which was a water waste and maintenance pain. 

The back yard was paved with an exposed aggregate seeded concrete lined with flagstone walkways and banding, a more traditional look that did not match the new homeowners style. The patio stretched from the pool area on one side of the yard to a curved barbecue island adjacent to an overgrown pergola in the corner of the lot. 

 

The entire outdoor space was bordered by varying plants at different heights and widths from broadleaf trees, shrubs and hedges to perennials. In contrast, the homeowner desired a more organized and well maintained landscape. 

Front Curb Appeal

The hillside planting area lining the driveway was threadbare, populated with some scraggly perennials, shrubs and trees. It looked unplanned and unmanicured. To revitalize the front yard’s planting areas, the existing landscape was removed, keeping the mature trees. The new landscape was designed with clean lines and layers in mind.  The first is a simple, broad-leafed boxwood shrub that provides a full-bodied base layer of vibrant greenery. The second layer is a drought-tolerant Spanish lavender that adds a pop of color, a different foliage color and texture as well as a nice scent. The third and tallest layer is a row of roses, pictured here still in an early state of growth that will fill with time.

 

During the remodeling process, the homeowner worked with a paver contractor to replace the old concrete driveway and flagstone entry walkway. The homeowner selected a more contemporary grey paver and was designed to a more contemporary layout using paver steppers with lawn in between. 

The curved seat wall was remodeled to better match the updates to the house by removing the existing stacked stone veneer and replacing it with a clean white veneer. This wall leads you to a new pedestrian walkway of crushed stone leading to the side of the house and rear yard. The landscaping team planted rhaphiolepis and boxwood hedges along the house and walkway to help draw eyes toward the path and build an inviting atmosphere. The new gate was cut into the existing wall to allow better access around the property. The new wooden gate was stained to match the other house updates so that all the doors and windows matched. 

Backyard Outdoor Living

Just on the other side of the new gate, the smaller side patio was expanded to create a new seating area. The old flagstone patio was removed in favor of a new, clean concrete slab.  The focal point of the space is the modern sculpture-esque Paloform fire feature placed opposite the entrance on the center line of the French doors to the house. Tall hedges line the property line to create privacy and accent trees and succulents are planted within the contemporary mass planting of grasses. 

The natural turf lawn connecting the side patio to the main stretch in the backyard was replaced with synthetic turf to lower the use of water and need for maintenance. The lawn area would be shortened to provide more space for an expansive outdoor kitchen and dining area.

Expanded Patio Area And Outdoor Kitchen

The previous barbecue island and bar would be removed entirely and replaced with a much larger outdoor kitchen-dining area. A modern louvered pergola would cover the space, providing uninterrupted shade, lighting, and powered fans for optimal comfort during even the hottest summer days. The pergola is a prefabricated unit, installed by others.

The outdoor kitchen features a U-shaped bar and counter area with integrated stainless steel appliances, including a grill, side burner, pizza oven and sink. The kitchen cabinets are custom designed Urban Bonfire units and the countertop is Dekton for outdoor use. The counter cantilevers to create a space for bar seating and entertaining. 

The porcelain tile hardscape for the outdoor kitchen and lounge area extends towards the pool and up to the back doors of the home. The stacked-stone seating walls symmetrical to the back doors were remodeled to match the front seat wall with the clean white veneer to better blend with the new design’s color palette and complete the continuity of the new landscape design.

The centrally located seating area was updated with new modern designed furniture and another unique prefab fire feature by Lumacast. The stark white concrete fire feature is slashed with a stream of fire-safe tumbled gray lava rock, providing warmth and cementing the contemporary aesthetic of the landscape design.

The planter along the property perimeter line was removed and replaced with a completely new lineup of plantings. Keeping the plant palette tight with a few plants in organized layers helps accentuate the contemporary hardscaping. With the use of roses, boxwood, lavender, and rhaphiolepis hedges, this planting plan is cohesive across the entire property. Decorative bark mulch was used to top dress the planting areas and help maintain soil health and moisture retention.

Pool Area

The sand-colored flagstones that originally comprised the solid surfaces of the pool area were removed in favor of clean concrete slabs and steppers. The concrete color was selected in the same color palette as the rest of the yard and kept the cohesive gray contemporary theme to feel like a relaxing resort look and feel.

Rather than an uninterrupted surface, the slabs were used as steppers, separated by thin strips of artificial turf to break up the hardscape. The greenery provides a soft, green contrast to the hardscaping, simultaneously emphasizing the stark lines that characterize modern minimalist designs.

Two larger poolside seating areas were also created, featuring teak chaise lounges on one side and a large daybed and side table on the other. The stepping stone slab concept extends as a walking pathway out the other side of the residence to the second pedestrian gate bringing full circle to the front of the property.

With the concrete poured and finished and new plant planted, the property’s landscape had received the facelift needed to take it into the 2020’s. If you have a property whose landscaping needs a dramatic modernization, call today.