Spotlight: Evolution Of A Landscape Design In La Jolla

Style doesn’t sit still for long. Whether it’s clothing, cars, or hairstyles, what’s considered “in” today often fades out in just a few short years. Even if you’re not chasing trends, they tend to catch up with you eventually.

As regular HGTV viewers can attest, this cycle is not limited to low-cost items like clothing and hairstyles. Though slower to develop, interior and exterior design trends follow a similar pattern, with colors, materials, accents, and even foliage coming in and out of fashion through the decades. As properties change ownership, new styles are often pushed out of a desire to personalize the home.

It’s rare for the same contractor to be responsible for multiple iterations of the same project, but that’s precisely what happened with one of Torrey Pines Landscape Company’s long-time maintenance projects. After completing the original design some years before, the property switched hands to a new owner who wanted extensive updates to modernize the property. 

Seeing the quality of the work on the initial project, the new property owner saw no reason to switch horses midstream. TPLC was signed on to design and implement the updates and take the property into the 2020s.

The Challenge: Modernizing An Existing Design

As is typical for most projects in San Diego, the team would need to wrestle with a complex topography as they added elements to update the landscape. The property rests on a gently ascending slope from the front access street, with most of the usable outdoor space in the stretch leading from the street to the front of the home.

The landscape design extends the main property’s leveling outward to incorporate a multilevel pool area and a smaller patio jutting out into the lawn designed for entertainment. Outside of this primary level, the property consists of a lower driveway connected to the primary level with a curved stone staircase. A large expansive lawn adjacent to the driveway and extends up to the main level of the house.

The modernization efforts would focus primarily on the patio area, with minor adjustments to existing planting beds, and a new fence from the pool area to the front of the property. Contemporary additions, including outdoor rooms, composite decking, and updated water and fire features would be installed to increase comfort and usability. 

Design And Construction

With the modernization plans in place, the Torrey Pines Landscape Company contracting team went to work. The primary focus areas were the new enclosed outdoor kitchen, redesigned entertainment and relaxation area, and the aesthetic modifications made throughout the property.

Outdoor Kitchen And Dining Area

The patio area would be expanded significantly and split into two primary partitions: an outdoor kitchen/dining area and an open relaxation area. A pergola would demarcate the partition, enclosing the kitchen and dining area to create an outdoor room while leaving the rest of the patio more open.

The new patio layout needed to be tied into the existing entry tile, and as the old tile was weathered, this proposed a challenge. Finding a close match of natural stone tile then etching and staining it helped to blend the old with the new. To help with the topography changes in the landscape, new raised beds would border the new layout previously occupied by the upper reaches of the lawn. Planted in each raised planter is a citrus tree and underplanted with grasses. While the new retaining walls help create more level space for gathering, it was also important for the material to match the existing. To do so, the new stone veneer was sponged over with white mortar to match the existing entry stone veneer, this process is called German schmear. 

The dual outdoor kitchen elements would be installed on either sides of the pergola, one side featuring a stainless steel barbeque and internal shelving units, and the other containing multiple refrigerator units and more shelving space. The kitchen islands on either side of the center dining table lend themselves to hosting large gatherings. 

The pergola enclosing the space was designed to give a contemporary look to the space while still feeling traditional. The posts, constructed using thick timber and darker stain color, helps to compliment the house’s traditional architecture. Lighting fixtures would feature spherical wicker frames to accentuate the modern-rustic aesthetic.

The existing garden was tired and in need of refreshments, the overgrown plants were removed for a more modern composition of low water shrubs, perennials and agaves. Keeping it traditional with white roses and formal hedges while dashing in contemporary grasses. 

Relaxation And Socializing Area

Existing stone steps lead to the entry of the home and previous stone patio. The patio, traditional fountain and fireplace were removed in favor of the more modern outdoor kitchen and the upper reaches of the lawn were fully removed in favor of creating a second connection to the main walkway and up to the composite decking lounge area. The decking whose darker color helped break up the monochromatic color scheme of the hardscaping. More stone steps would lead from the new deck to a repaved path, connecting back to the existing entry walkway. 

The central focal point of the deck area would be the newly installed white stucco fire feature. Guests could sit around the fire pit, enjoying its warmth as they talked late into the night. This is a huge improvement to the previous fireplace as it provides more opportunity for gathering and conversation while not obstructing the view with a chimney. 

Directly adjacent to the deck was an elongated water feature, a fountain built into the white stone retaining wall that would extend to the kitchen area and beyond. Copper fountain scuppers trickle water into the reservoir, the light reflecting from the disturbed water into the delicate white glazed tile backdrop. This water feature exhibits clean lines and timeless materials rather than a round formal fountain. The placement is off to the side rather in the center of the patio to help with pedestrian circulation and furnishings. 

Outer Aesthetic Updates

The key to modernization is in the details. A few minor aesthetic modifications to the rest of the outdoor space are able to create an outsized impact in the viewer’s perception.

That viewer’s first impression comes at the entrance to the property. The property is bordered by a black iron fence to keep their dogs in the property while the main gate can be open for vehicles. This design extends to the decorative entrance gate leading to the inner driveway. An extended bed follows the fence, containing a tri-level arrangement of hedges that terminates in a long, flat lawn.

While many redesign projects focus on that year’s trends, the aim with this project’s design update was to create a space that used timeless materials in a contemporary arrangement. By combining natural stone, steel, and wrought iron with clean architectural lines, the design team crafted a space that feels both modern and enduring. This mix of timeless and contemporary ensures that the space will remain functional and attractive even as styles shift in the future.

Instead of forcing traditional features into an existing layout, the new design went with a fully bespoke and intentional approach. Expanding the patio area, connecting it to the arterial walkway, and dividing it into complementary sections significantly increased the usable space while maintaining consistency with the pool area’s existing aesthetics.

 

With the home’s exterior now equipped with modern elements, including outdoor rooms, composite materials, and integrated fire/water features and retaining walls, the updates were complete. If you have a landscape that’s in dire need of updating, Torrey Pines Landscape Company can help. Call today!