We hear about disasters around the globe on a daily basis, but it’s hard to imagine that such devastation will ever hit so close to home. In early December 2017, the Thomas Fire swept through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties to become the second largest fire in California history. On January 9, 2018, before the… Read More
Our Padaro Lane project takes Silver at the 2018 APLD International Landscape Design Awards! Location, location, location, right? This house definitely had that… and more! Filled with light, right on the sand, breath-taking views of the Pacific Ocean – It’s the perfect weekend getaway! However, a crucial element was missing – a connection to the beach!… Read More
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to the body and soul.” … Read More
Ever wonder what a day in the life of (fill in the blank) would be like? Well, here’s your chance to peak behind the scenes at some of Grace Design Associate’s day-to-day activities. Read on to find progress shots of our current projects, some charming landscape details we’re particularly proud of, images from site visits… Read More
I don’t want this to come off as a rant… but time and time again we roll up on a situation in the garden. Something we really, really wish had never been born — or had been drowned at birth. I’m talking about irrigation gear installed loud and proud right at the front door or… Read More
We’re knee deep into our remodel and we’re drilling down into the details. As you read on you’ll get a sneak peak at some cool stuff we have planned for our new digs…and of course some of our favorite items we will be using! The fun and funky fireplace in the dining room gets hipper with… Read More
We’re hot and heavy into remodeling our new home now. Our current focus is the interior – we want to make it livable as quickly as possible. (Which also gives us more time to fantasize about the outside. I’m going to relish garden-making here!) We’re after bright, airy, fresh, relaxed spaces. Earthy, honest materials. A… Read More
We just completed a gorgeous fire pit and now I’m on the hunt for the perfect outdoor stools to provide extra seating that will look great in the space and provide extra seating when needed. We’re fans of built-in seating around fire pits… but we also want the ability to pull up closer to the… Read More
In my last post, a whole mess of paving was transformed into one of the world’s sexiest parking lots. (Click here if you missed it: Hidden Valley Part 1 – The World’s Sexiest Parking Lot). Join us now for a peek inside the new garden gates to see how the sloping site was reconfigured to… Read More
In Santa Barbara, a lot of living gets done outdoors. Our clients’ personal enjoyment of their gardens–where they sip their morning coffee, entertain friends, play with the kids, read a book, take a nap–is factored into our plans as we shape their outdoor spaces. But sometimes, we get a gardener: a hands-in-the-dirt, dyed-in-the-wool gardener whose… Read More