Pool Cabana and Backyard Makeover

Our Client, Tomas Costanza, called us in to do a landscaping and Pool Cabana makeover that had to be completed in less than a week. Most of the landscape was barren, so we knew we had a big job ahead of us. We also needed to conceal the back of his neighbor's fence which created an uneven and unfinished look. The pool cabana was a fun and interesting challenge that could create a focal point and unify the design of the backyard. We teamed up with Landscaper/Gardener Lora Hall to come up with the garden plan and to supervise the plantings and maintenance. We had a fabulous team who worked very hard to pull it all together. Steve Lanasa and I designed a wavy bamboo reed fence to create a spectacular pattern that vines can cascade around. Sue Nice helped me select the fabrics and custom created all of the drapes, hangings, and pillows. I wanted to create a tropical hotel feel with a touch of Mod and Moroccan. The last touch on the pool cabana will be lighting and accessories. We will hang a 70's orange resin lamp and 2 small colorful Moroccan lanterns that will create patterns on the walls at night. Tomas is very pleased with the result and looks forward to a Spring and Summer by the pool.

Mid-Century Motifs

These wonderful photos of Mid-Century homes with interesting decorative elements are located in the neighborhood of View Park in South Los Angeles. I live in the adjacent Leimert Park area and take my walks here about three times a week. View Park and its sister neighborhoods, Baldwin Hills and Windsor Hills, are home to a huge concentration of original and notable homes built from the 1920's-1970's. There are excellent examples of International Style, Streamline Moderne, Ranch, Mid-Century, Spanish Revival, and Normandy style structures. I have been shooting pics of great architectural elements and clever color schemes and would like to share some with you. These mid-century modern homes display so many of the details that make houses of this period so special. Decorative brick screens and geometric wood cut-outs create interest on designs that would be more generic without them. I am very inspired by some of the garage door designs. The lovely landscaping also enhances the overall curb appeal. Some of these houses, like the orange and white one, are very Asian-influenced. These fabulous homes are just a small sampling of the Mid-Century treasures this neighborhood has to offer.