Venice Hideaway

Some words from a client on what they love about their new garden…

The side garden is my favorite part of the garden. Maybe because the transformation was so complete. The vines were there, but it was a dirt driveway, a pass-through for several years of construction materials, a place where our dog rolled on her back to collect, in her coat, filth, and debris to bring into the house.

I sit in the side garden every morning on the beam, with a cup of coffee. It pulls me away from the table, my computer, work. Sometimes I close my eyes. And just listen…there are so many birds talking at 7:00am!! The big gesture of the space is beautiful. 

The linearity of the tree trunks, the sensing of the two enclosing planes: a wall of vines on one side and the side of the house on the other. The minimal plantings are beautiful to look at, especially against the color and scale of the gravel, but it is how they articulate the space between things that is what makes the side garden feel so special.

And yes, Cleo the dog still comes out to roll on her back. But the gravel doesn’t let her collect any dirt to bring in the house.