The clean lines of this simple garden reveal that less is more

Laurie Castellano and Roger Fisher of Palo Alto, California, set their heart in a garden with simple, clean lines to go with their architect-designed new home on a small city plot of 50 x 112 feet. They did their research and really knew what they wanted.

Balances the lawn and patio in the size of the house. The horizontal lines of the fence and the rectangular flooring that match the dimensions of the doors create a spacious and cohesive look.

Before completing the house, Laurie and Roger spent two years in the tiny 1920s cottage taking center stage on the property. Literally, they know a lot inside and out. They mapped the position of the sun during the year, painted the footprints of the house on the ground, and built temporary structures to determine how much space and volume their house would fill. From the start, garden space has been prioritized over the size of the house – it shaves inches off the building for outdoor gain.

Picture of the house at night

Trainor is among a small group of landscape designers who have considered working with them. “Bernard got” the need for consistency between the architecture of the house and the garden, Laurie says. Trainor liked their style, too. “It’s fun working with clients who really see making their garden an exercise in space planning rather than a room to fill with a list of features,” he says.

Madrone trees planted with New Zealand flax line the path to the front door.

Some elements were non-negotiable: Seeing plenty of California sunshine combined with real life indoors/outside was a priority, especially for Roger, a native of rainy Manchester, England.

A botanical garden, a water feature, a garden for a little granddaughter and the dog to play on were also on my wish list. Laurie admits to disregarding the personal vision of white roses in favor of a “sustainable and fuss-free” planting brief that was more consistent with the garden as a whole.

A fiberglass bowl surrounded by faux glass catches water from a simple faucet, design by Mark Ruggiero of Concrete Works.

Trainor’s design transformed a small garden into a spacious looking living area by highlighting the importance of negative space, letting the lawn and patio balance the bulk of the building.

The patio was paved with decomposed granite with a finish dusting, a smooth and permeable surface that helps water run-off, making it a sustainable option. The owners wanted a live fence or a fence as a border, but eventually agreed with Trainor that it would take up a lot of space. His solution: a fence of horizontal boards of cedar wood. This adds to the vastness of the garden, draws the eye along it and enhances the horizontal planes of the walls.

Wall benches allow plenty of room to sit in the sun and enjoy aromatic plants like lavender and rosemary.

The heart of the garden is a water feature on a direct axis with the master bedroom. The amber-colored fiberglass bowl flows into clear and amber faux glass pieces, all contained within a stainless steel mesh cube. At night, lighting adds jewelry box quality to the piece.

Laurie resisted Trainor’s suggestion that she grow her vegetables in containers, so he found the setting for a small, edible, productive garden. The rest of the planting meets the “no-fuss-or-fluff” brief – arid loving plants suitable for the Northern California climate are grown in grids and rows, creating colorful and textured effects from all points of view.

The olive tree provides a Mediterranean glow, while the velvety yellow flowers of the kangaroo paw add a playful touch.

The garden looks good from the inside too, and all doors open to ensure a great indoor/outdoor flow. Cohesion is achieved through the repetition of materials used within the garden. Cast concrete floors at every entrance echo the concrete floors inside the home. Low concrete seating walls outside define a sanctuary-like courtyard. It’s a soothing, well-integrated garden, and a real lesson in self-control.