Third Nature Studio / blog » Under Construction

A Wine Country Entry Garden

randi — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:08:35 +0000

At Templeton Ridge Winery and Burbank Vineyards the clients are passionate, creative people embarking on the exciting task of building a vineyard and winery from scratch. They love their setting, the view and the greater landscape, but disliked many aspects of the style and quality of the home on the site.

The view above shows the entry in transition. Soon it will be surrounded by drifts of olives, waves of golden grasses, and simplified concrete paving that will compliment and quiet the angularity of the house.

The photo below shows the existing entry that greeted us at the main house when Nicole Kelly and I began our project.

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DIY Landscape Staging Handbook

randi — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:26:39 +0000

I’ve recently completed a quick handbook of staging recommendations for a Lower Pacific Heights Edwardian home in San Francisco. The owner is having her interior professionally staged by a staging company and recognized that a good deal of attention was needed for her exterior spaces as well.

The house is gorgeous, but was lost behind a hodge podge of dead and dying plants in mismatched planters and crumbling diagonal lattice. I proposed a series of quick fixes for each exterior space, including the entry garden, interior light wells and two small decks. As soon as it’s officially on the market, I’ll update my blog with listing info!

The proposed entry includes new paint on the garage door and garden gate, tidied and pruned back plantings, mexican pebble rock mulch and 3 large planters with sculptural plantings.

The existing entry.

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Olive Tree Placement at Templeton Ridge

randi — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:00:19 +0000

The rainbow makes the construction site look deceptively peaceful. It’s busy at the Templeton Ridge Winery residence these days. Field grown olives have just been placed and its a thrill and a relief to see the neighbor’s house disappear. I’m sure the clients are looking forward to some peace: swimming amidst the grapes and looking out at the hills – it’s not too far off now.

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A Modern Pool Landscape in Wine Country

randi — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:20:29 +0000

Construction is well underway at the main residence of Templeton Ridge Winery and Burbank Vineyards. I am really pleased with how dramatic the view is out into the surrounding hills from every vantage point.

I know linearity can be a tough sell for many when it comes to landscape and garden design. I love a meandering path and a lush bramble as much as the next person, but it’s hard to beat a strong line when it comes to leading your eye out to the greater landscape.

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Duboce Park Residence

randi — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:54:24 +0000

This project was done in collaboration with Stephanie Stillman for a luxury residence near Duboce Park in San Francisco. A two unit building was converted into a single residence, and Third Nature Studio provided landscape design services for the developer. The palette is simple, lush and drought tolerant – all vibrant green agaves, bright blue senecio succulents, and trailing rosemary. Three Arbutus ‘Marina’ trees anchor the front and back yards, and their firey red bark will stand in refreshing contrast to the the cool jewel tones of the succulents. Materials used include grey crushed granite paving, architectural slab pavers, and simple vine covered metal mesh trellises set over beautifully distressed brick.

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Watching the Grass Grow

randi — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:19:58 +0000

We have a few final tasks to tackle before the work at NE 99th is complete. The contractor has yet to add the Mexican Feather grasses to the front and back planting areas, and there is also the woodwork to seal and minor odds and ends to finish. It is looking great, and the lawn is finally taking off. It was my hope that the simplicity of the design would complement the giant birch in the back yard, and I’m really happy with the results. I think it will be a beautiful ceremony site, and a wonderfully relaxing space for years to come.

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Past Projects

randi — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:24:21 +0000

The years I spent at Meyer + Silberberg were great: I can never say enough good things about that firm and the people there. Here are a few selected images from some of the projects I worked on as a designer, draftperson and renderer from 2004-2008.

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NE 99th Progress

randi — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:38:43 +0000

Progress continues to be made at NE 99th Street. It’s going to look great when the lawn comes in! The clients are painting their house as well, so they’ll have a complete transformation by summer. I can’t wait for the big day.

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Progress at NE 99th

randi — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:55:48 +0000

The landscape contractor, Teufel is doing excellent work at NE 99th, and we are on schedule to have a beautiful, established landscape by wedding day. The clients are a joy to work with, and we are all thrilled to see our collaborative design slowly emerge from the mud.

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Construction begins at NE 99th in Portland!

randi — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:55:34 +0000

We are breaking ground next week at the NE 99th Street project in Portland! The house has great, mid-century bones, and the landscape is intended to be a contemporary complement to them. Best of all, the design will be the setting for the clients’ summer wedding, and I feel so honored to be a part of creating such an important, meaningful space for them.

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