2009 Design Award
Piedmont, CA

Each year the City of Piedmont recognizes projects completed in the past year that not only meet Piedmont’s design and planning guidelines but exemplify outstanding design excellence. This Piedmont residence was selected by the City of Piedmont Planning Commission to receive the 2009 Design Award as the Best Remodel and Landscape. The clients’ preferences for unique plants, a touch of whimsy, family enjoyment & entertaining, and artistic taste infuse the garden with personality and spirit. The steep site unveils rich garden vignettes elegantly integrated through carefully crafted stone walls, stone paths, and abundant plantings. This beautiful sloping residence beguiles visitors as one enters through a custom crafted arching iron gate into lush, stately plantings amongst specimen Japanese maples. The stepping stone path sweeps down around the house changing scenes from a sunny rose garden to a shady glen, and grounds the visitor at bluestone terrace patios off the main living areas, which can be accessed from the interior through a collection of French doors. The cooling lawn beckons guests to stroll down stone steps to the gracefully curving pool and exuberant planting. A smaller fountain vanishes over the edge of the lawn through a runnel and bids one to descend an additional stone staircase and behold the ten-foot-high stone waterfall exuding a peaceful, rushing murmur. From this landing one can decide between a game of bocce ball, shooting baskets in the sports court, crafting handiworks in the studio workshop, sipping drinks while seated on a cool stone bench nestled in orange and purple flowers, dipping below to the cutting and vegetable garden to find a fresh sweet tomato, or simply disappearing up the shady birch walk amongst maples, ferns, and uncommon plant treasures. .