landscaping a mid-century modern home

After we remodeled our bathrooms, we were left with a 10 by 67 square foot piece of land off the back fence. I was terrified it would turn in a junkyard. Odd bits of yard are prone to become somewhat ghetto overnight ... a hose here, some unused lumbar there, random pieces of flagstone stacked up against a wall -- and before you know it, a blight on the neighborhood.  But, luckily, I had saved a tiny bit of the remodel budget to deal with our mid-century modern garden problem. I was obsessed with having a view out the new bathroom window:

I got my wish.

You remember the BEFORE?

Pretty normal for a BACK back of the house. Except the sprinkler line was cut which elminates water to other areas of the yard, and when it starts raining we would have had mud slide. Due to the weep screed incident,  near the fence line, the yard was left approximately 6 to 9 inches higher than the strip near the house -- which would force rain towards the house during a big storm. BAD. 

The AFTER:

Concrete pavers create the path

Our needs were simple. We wanted California native plants, sparse landscape, decomposed granite, concrete pavers and some sort of water feature (AKA bubbling pot). And we got it.

Our design held pretty true to the tips on Eichler for Sale who have recommendations for mid-century modern landscaping and garden design:

There are some general guidelines and tips to keep in mind when designing a landscape or garden to compliment Eichlers or other midcentury modern homes:

• Allow the geometry of the home to guide the overall design of the landscape & garden,
• Select water-wise plants that maintain their foliage year-round,
• Allow hardscape elements to carry from the front yard to the back (including the atrium),
• Repeat the use of certain plants throughout the landscape,
• Consider a water feature,
• Mix materials to create variety with textures (rock, grass, wood, metal, crushed stone) 

 Please enjoy the tour of our new back-back yard.

Limited budget for lighting used wisely via Corona Lighting

Landscaping and gardening are such instant gratification. This landscape design project took only five days which included lighting, sprinklers, drainage, dirt and gravel removal, custom fountain construction & installation, hardscape and planting. Versus nearly six months to add the new bathroom addition (and a year of planning leading up to that).

The crazy big pot from West Coast Pottery. Made in China. You can see it
from inside the bathroom.

Assorted succulents, and grasses planted among gravel and Mexican pebbles

The infamous bathroom window with grasses growing below.

Careful and artistic pebble and rock arrangement.

Pavers going around the side of the house, staggered placement very Eichler.

Annie loves the new grass.

Jack is concerned... look at the size of that thing!

To the right, the tall, thin plant Cyperus Papyrus, landscaper used these throughout.

More ornamental grasses.

We are going to add a bigger pump to Mr. Pot.
He is a little under powered right now.

Landscaper left a blank spot without plants along the wall, way towards
the back of this picture for a bench. More Craigslist opportunities.

The little up lights on the trees are so pretty

Leading back towards the main center patio

A previous gravel section of the yard now has decomposed granite. Jack is happy.
Potential future home of a table and benches.

View of area that had gravel and was, frankly, a mess.
Now ready for garden furniture to sit and admire the new landscaping.

Another view of the succulents

"This would be a great spot to hide treasure." Don't be fooled by
the size of him, still a kid.

Grasses planted in front of some sort of SCE box that we store
on behalf of the neighborhood.

I honestly can't get over the transformation. The rest of the yard looks pathetic by comparison. I am inspired.

Resources:

Dan Morines, Tropical Effects Landscaping, Yorba Linda, California,  dan@teilandscape.com, 714-455-2105

Related Posts:

• Lighting a Mid-Century Modern Landscape
• Do It Yourself or Hire a Landscaper
• Landscaping Disasters Post Mid-Century Modern Remodel
• Weep Screed and Inspection
• Dwell on Design: Landscape Idea #1 Modern Trellis
• Dwell on Design: Landscape Idea #2: Modern Planters and Outdoor Furniture