"Eleesabeth has turned our depressing rental landscape into a big awe!
- 5/12/2019 Shue Snyder
So what do you do with a California rental property...in Mountain View?
You keep it to rent, of course, which was the program that we designed to and to give the renters areas for privacy.
This modest property was the family home and now is a rental. The couple needed an upgrade from the humble landscape eyesore it had become in the neighborhood. We set about to make a landscape "Program" that served that practical goal and also provided the people who live there - several high- tech students and workers - with several areas for private sitting and collective get-togethers. Tivoli lights were installed for night lighting.
If it wasn't a party house before...it certainly is now." - One of the inhabitants...
The renters love it... The owners love it... In other words, it fits our criteria and achieved the program's goals.
Backyard:
A relatively inexpensive (but quality) shelter was used as a focal point for needed shade in the summer and rain shelter in the rest of the year. Using D.G. (compacted decomposed granite) path, we conveniently accessed the shelter. The path widens to a patio for the shelter, then narrows and turns the corner to get to the raised vegetable garden. Two lawn areas are provided for enjoyment with a mix of colorful perennials and grass / grass like borders which will grow in to have a formal but gracious edge. These borders are accented with a couple of easy to maintain roses and climbers which were used for color and focal points.
You keep it to rent, of course, which was the program that we designed to and to give the renters areas for privacy.
This modest property was the family home and now is a rental. The couple needed an upgrade from the humble landscape eyesore it had become in the neighborhood. We set about to make a landscape "Program" that served that practical goal and also provided the people who live there - several high- tech students and workers - with several areas for private sitting and collective get-togethers. Tivoli lights were installed for night lighting.
If it wasn't a party house before...it certainly is now." - One of the inhabitants...
The renters love it... The owners love it... In other words, it fits our criteria and achieved the program's goals.
Backyard:
A relatively inexpensive (but quality) shelter was used as a focal point for needed shade in the summer and rain shelter in the rest of the year. Using D.G. (compacted decomposed granite) path, we conveniently accessed the shelter. The path widens to a patio for the shelter, then narrows and turns the corner to get to the raised vegetable garden. Two lawn areas are provided for enjoyment with a mix of colorful perennials and grass / grass like borders which will grow in to have a formal but gracious edge. These borders are accented with a couple of easy to maintain roses and climbers which were used for color and focal points.
Snyder Backyard Before and Afters:
Snyder Backyard Gallery Photos - 4 months after installation
Front yard was a challenge.
Owners wanted to get some curb appeal but not go overboard on budgets. They decided to keep the existing concrete path, which was too narrow to provide gracious entry. Solutions which was inexpensive was a parallel path, which opened up the garden, widened the path and tied in the front seating area. This seating welcomes and provides another niche for inhabitants to get some private time outside. Planting area between this seating and the street was gently bermed with a couple feet of earth to support a plant screen. When plants grow in they will give the seating area some privacy from the street but arrangement will keep it open to the sun and entry from the driveway.
Plantings are a mix of natives and very hardy plants which will provide color and seasonal interest all year.
Frontyard - Before and Afters:
Owners wanted to get some curb appeal but not go overboard on budgets. They decided to keep the existing concrete path, which was too narrow to provide gracious entry. Solutions which was inexpensive was a parallel path, which opened up the garden, widened the path and tied in the front seating area. This seating welcomes and provides another niche for inhabitants to get some private time outside. Planting area between this seating and the street was gently bermed with a couple feet of earth to support a plant screen. When plants grow in they will give the seating area some privacy from the street but arrangement will keep it open to the sun and entry from the driveway.
Plantings are a mix of natives and very hardy plants which will provide color and seasonal interest all year.
Frontyard - Before and Afters: