Formerly the main home, this historic Los Altos guest house (located in the front of the property), was dominated by a lackluster lawn.  We traded in the lawn for a Mediterranean-inspired pebble courtyard, surrounded by full and undulating garden beds.

Planted in the beds are a mix of succulents, low-water Australian plants (grevilleas, westringias, and leucadendrons) along with more traditional plants such as Japanese maples, roses, and wisteria.  The combination is nothing short of magical, providing a year-round explosion of color.

Passing through the gate leads to the homeowner’s primary residence and private garden.  Reducing the size of the lawn was a priority; however, we left a small portion for the family dog, who loves rolling around on it.