CRAFTSMAN
STYLE GARDEN

\ LOCATION

South Pasadena, CA

\ SCOPE

This garden is a tiny postage-stamp sized lot in the historic Craftsman area of South Pasadena. The clients’ home dates back to the early 1900’s and they requested a garden that would complement their Bungalow style cottage.

I spent much time roaming the neighborhood and photographing great examples of Craftsman architecture, gates, pilasters and other applicable details.

Although the garden was small, their wish list was quite extensive; pool, spa, deck, outdoor dining room, bbq, and room for the family dog to roam.

My first move was to demolish the concrete driveway in order to gain valuable garden space. This driveway was replaced with oversized concrete pads (colored and finished to resemble bluestone) and inter-planted with Heucheras, small ornamental grasses and fragrant Elfin Thyme groundcover.

A salt-water pool was decided upon, and hand crafted tile from Mission Tile West was used throughout. The pool coping is a typical craftsman detail — a square edged concrete cap that is echoed on the arbor pilasters and seat-wall. Arroyo boulders, another classic Craftsman detail, were also used, along with Clinker brick.

A patio of full-color bluestone complements the Arroyo boulders and the burgundy tones of the brick edging. Careful attention was also given to the fence and gate details, which were fashioned after wooden elements at the Gamble House. Arroyo Craftsman light fixtures also adorn the garden.

The central feature of this garden is the wooden arbor, designed by local South Pasadena architectural designer, Phil Dube.

Asian-inspired plantings, such as Gingko trees, Japanese Black Pines and Red-Bud trees, lend the garden a tranquil air.

This garden was featured in the June 2007 issue of Sunset Magazine.