We created a contemporary garden on a cross-sloping lot. A single large terrace is contained with black-stained concrete retaining walls on the uphill side, and a rosemary hedge on the downhill side. At the far end of the terrace, smooth-finished sky blue stucco walls which play against the arching trunks of the native oaks on the property, form a focal backdrop for Brett Price’s sculpture “High Roller”.

The terrace is divided geometrically into patios, swimming pool and spa tub, a thyme lawn, and a dining patio under a light gray powder coated aluminum arbor, which captures views of both San Francisco and Mount Tamalpais. Simple plantings of Mexican feather grass and two crepe myrtle trees complete the composition. The paving is Argentinian porphyry, precisely cut in two foot squares, and carefully laid with precisely aligned joints, adding to the sense of geometry and organization within the space. The pool and spa are edged with a gray glass tile that matches the paving, making this a truly contemporary garden.

Landscape Construction: Murata Landscapes