Burlingame Residence

After twenty years in the house, the owners' ask was five words: make it feel like Napa.

The side court, which doubles as a bocce court — decomposed granite running between the house and a post-and-wire grape trellis to a gate at the far end — The side court doubles as a bocce court: decomposed granite under a post-and-wire grape trellis.

The project

Wine country, translated into materials.

The owners had been in the house more than twenty years, and this was to be the last remodel. Their ask was five words — make it feel like Napa — and they meant the feeling, not a theme.

Anchoring that aesthetic meant deciding what Napa is actually made of: decomposed granite underfoot, a post-and-wire grape trellis over the side court, olives and espaliered citrus flattened against the fences, travertine on the entry walk, stacked stone at the fire pit.

The same palette carries front to back, so the small lot reads as one property — one that still seats ten for dinner, grows vegetables, and finds room for a bocce court. I was the project designer, while at David Thorne Landscape Architect.

Before photo — the same front from the sidewalk: a blue bungalow behind a clipped hedge, a tired lawn and a plain concrete walk under the oak — Before — a clipped hedge, a tired lawn and a plain walk under the oak

After photo — the same front from the sidewalk: the house now gray, a new lawn edged with white roses and hydrangeas, a travertine walk and a young olive screen — After — the same front: a new lawn edged in white roses and hydrangeas, with a young olive screen

The fire-pit corner — two lounge chairs against the stacked-stone privacy wall, with espaliered citrus and raised herb beds behind — The fire-pit corner against the stacked-stone wall, espaliered citrus behind.

Project credits

Design team — David Thorne Landscape ArchitectDavid Thorne (principal, RLA #2274), Sharon DeBell (project designer), Joe Cafuir

BuilderAllwood Construction

Completed2016

PhotographySharon DeBell

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