Remember Me
forgot your password?

Landscaping Ideas for California Modern Homes

Joseph Eichler has made history, re-defining the American dream home and pioneering the California modern design. Today, there are countless ideas and approaches to landscaping, and the warm California climate provides limitless possibilities for your California modern home. But, to compliment the distinct architecture of Eichler and other modern homes, there are some landscaping guidelines that, if followed, will bring a beautiful balance of nostalgia and modernism to your dwelling's outside area.

Mid-century modern architecture owes an obvious debt to Asian design principles. This influence is observed in the rectilinear geometries, open floor plans, multi functional rooms, and the all-important direct connections between the interior of the house and the adjacent garden. By following these three key principles of an authentic Japanese garden, we can begin to create an outside space that perfectly suits the mid century modern design: simplicity in material selection and detailing, appropriate plant choices, and design restraint.

Some examples of landscaping ideas that follow the above principles:

- Allow the geometry of the home to guide the overall plan. Resist the temptation to add elements that will distract or cover the key architectural design elements of your home.

- Consider a mix of materials that provide an interesting textural contrast inherent in the indoor-outdoor element of Eichler design- think rock, stone, pavement, metal, mixed in with lush grass grasses, moss, plants and trees.

- Play with simple, but striking geometric patterns and contrast- think rectangular paving stones next to linear stalks of bamboo.

- Balance the interplay between all elements. Repetition of patterns is often signature. For this effect, first narrow the scope of elements you wish to work with. You can then use these well chosen elements in distinct ways. Good artists can create masterpieces, using only a few colors.

- Select water-wise plants that maintain their foliage year-round.

- Consider a water feature, like a fountain.

The following is a list of possible plants, shrubs and trees to consider using as accents and groundcover.

Accent Plants, Trees and Shrubs:

- Horsetail reed, Cape Rush, Papyrus and Feathergrasses

- Sedge, New Zealand Flax, Cordyline, Fountain Grass and Blue Oat Grass

- Bamboo, Japanese Maples, Weeping Atlas Cedar, Smoke Trees, Weeping Cherry, Purple Hop Bush

Groundcover: Grasses, Moss and Stones:

- Irish Moss, Baby's Tears, Dead Nettle, Black Mondo Grass

- Mexican Pebbles, River Rock, Pea Gravel, Decomposed Granite

Anne And Eddie Mckechnie

MarinDreamHouse provides you with an excellent guide to Marin County real estate and Marin County realtors. We are dedicated to helping consumers understand the market, at a local level.

Rate this Article: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)
Print Email Re-Publish

Add new Comment



Captcha

  • Latest Landscaping Articles
  • More from Anne And Eddie Mckechnie

Transform Your Yard With Several Handy Landscape Supplies

By: Christopher S. Norwood | 26/12/2009
Take a good look around your yard and chances are there is something you'd like to change about it. Maybe you are not sure what or how to go about it, but you know that something needs to be changed. Becoming familiar with a few landscape supplies can help you to transform your backyard into a paradise.

Tiki Bar, Tiki Bars and Tiki Bar Ideas

By: Ted Doughty | 23/12/2009
Tiki Bar, Tiki Bars and Tiki Bar Ideas Tiki Bars are drinking establishments with a distinctive, kitschy South Pacific theme for their decor and drinks menus. They specialize in tropical cocktails and often also serve food with a tropical flavor.

Tiki Thatch, Tiki Thatching, Tiki Roof Thatch

By: Ted Doughty | 23/12/2009
Are you looking for an easy and affordable way to make your tiki bar look authentic? Tired of pulling off a tropical appearance that just doesn't make the grade? Roll up those shirt sleeves and get prepared to install a roll or two of tiki thatch. The straw, heather, and palm leaf combination gives your newest outdoor addition a true island appeal. Tiki thatch acts as insulation on hot summer days and traps heat during the winter months.

Bamboo Pole, Bamboo Poles, Bamboo Sticks, Bamboo For Sale

By: Ted Doughty | 23/12/2009
Bamboo poles are an attractive addition to your indoor and outdoor entertainment areas. Domestically grown or imported, they can be finished in a kiln and polished to show the natural beauty of the material. A member of the grass family, bamboo grows rapidly which makes it plentiful in areas where climate and soil conditions are ideal.

Grass Umbrellas and Sea Grass Umbrellas

By: Ted Doughty | 23/12/2009
Throwing a party in the near future and not sure what type of decor you want to purchase? Why not take the natural beauty from your backyard and combine it with a few store-bought items to create an island affair worth remembering? It won't take your friends or neighbors long to catch onto the fact that you were born to entertain. In fact, purchasing grass umbrellas will help you set the theme in decorating your backyard paradise.

Bamboo Fences, Bamboo Fence and Bamboo Fencing

By: Ted Doughty | 23/12/2009
Bamboo fences are as unique in design as they are daring. Created from the shoots of one of the world's fastest growing grasses, these home improvement items are increasingly gaining popularity with people who want to keep their home looking peaceful and up-to-date.

Tropical Umbrellas and Tropical Backyard Umbrellas

By: Ted Doughty | 23/12/2009
Almost every resort across the globe uses tropical umbrellas to enhance the appearance of their beach and pool area. Ranging in size and pattern, these colorful accessories are practical because of the shade that they provide and attractive because of their bold and user-friendly design.

Tiki Bar and Tiki Hut Building Supplies - Also Complete Information on Thatch Roofing & Bamboo Poles

By: Ted Doughty | 23/12/2009
The image of the care-free tropical island has been with us since long before the 1930's. During most of the early 20th century, American kids actually read books, and grew up on 18th and 19th century adventure stories by the likes of Jules Verne, many of which featured tropical islands as their settings. Even Robinson Crusoe used to be considered a children's book, not fodder for college courses.

Why and How to Carefully Avoid Needless, Unnecessary Descriptive Words in a Listing

By: Anne And Eddie Mckechnie | 20/03/2009 | Real Estate
While the expressions of your verbiage are no doubt impressive, they may not grace your scintillating copy with the inspiring passion that you hope to incite in the hearts of their viewers.

Landscaping Ideas for California Modern Homes

By: Anne And Eddie Mckechnie | 17/01/2008 | Landscaping
Joseph Eichler has made history, re-defining the American dream home and pioneering the California modern design. Today, there are countless ideas and approaches to landscaping, and the warm California climate provides limitless possibilities for your California modern home.

Now That's a Home With a View!

By: Anne And Eddie Mckechnie | 21/12/2007 | Remodeling
What better way to view the night sky than with a telescope. It's common to see them set up in front of windows or outside on the deck, but lately homeowners have been taking start gazing to the next level by adding private observatories to their homes.

Curb your Home's Winter Blues!

By: Anne And Eddie Mckechnie | 08/11/2007 | Real Estate
While selling your home in winter has some very definite advantages, it also brings its own unique challenge.

Protect your Assets: It's Time to Winterize

By: Anne And Eddie Mckechnie | 17/10/2007 | Real Estate
As winter approaches, homeowners need to consider the updates and repairs that will keep their home warm and cozy during not just this cold season, but for many to come. Neglected leaks or other repairs can cause gradual disasters, so don't leave them for another winter.

How to Organize your Real Estate Blog

By: Anne And Eddie Mckechnie | 21/09/2007 | Real Estate
Bloggers like to tinker and constantly update things, which is part of what makes them so fun to watch. If you follow a blog you've probably noticed its look changing over time, and the writer's voice evolving as particular stories and catchphrases shape his or her language. Real estate, in particular, is a well-blogged subject, where new sites appear and old ones change every day.

Custom Homes in Tucson

By: Anne And Eddie Mckechnie | 16/07/2007 | Real Estate
There are few places in America where one will find such a great selection of brand-new custom designed homes that seem to fit seamlessly into the natural landscape. Tucson is one of these special places. One of the first things that people may notice about the custom homes in Tucson is the different style of architecture utilized in many of them.

Some Ideas on Home Flipping

By: Anne And Eddie Mckechnie | 16/07/2007 | Real Estate
Home flipping is clearly the nation's new real estate sweetheart. Across the country people are trying and succeeding at flipping homes and properties for profit. If you have ever wondered about the basics of home flipping then you can relax because the process is not that difficult and can be achieved by the average Joe with a bit of time, planning, and intelligent investment.

Submit Your Articles Free: Signup
Article Categories




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.66, 1, w3)