MEDITERRANEAN
COURTYARD

\ LOCATION

Los Feliz, CA

\ SCOPE

This project focused on creating a private courtyard and concrete patio for a guesthouse that had been recently renovated.

The challenge for the architect and I was to blend the architecture of this addition and the courtyard with the surrounding property, a 1920’s Spanish Villa.

I drew my inspiration from the private courtyards of the Mediterranean region, and echoed the estate’s simple white stucco walls for this small space. A custom wrought-iron gate is a miniature of the stately driveway gate and authentic iron light fixtures help to set the tone.

I chose a simple saltillo tile flooring and worked hard with the concrete men to achieve an exposed aggregate concrete finish that was typical of many Los Angeles homes of the 1920’s. This courtyard is centered around a traditional octagonal fountain, often seen in the gardens of Santa Barbara and Europe. The plant palette consists of giant Magnolia espaliers, Agaves, New Zealand Flaxes and Birds of Paradise.

This garden is a work in progress.