The typical California yard is tiny in comparison to anywhere else in the country. So tiny is the yard that most people can barely fit a full length SUV from their garage to the sidewalk without a significant part hanging over the front walkway. With tiny spaces to use, there is some obsession with using columns in places that money could be saved, and more tasteful things such as walkways could be built. In the example above, I like to refer to this as the courthouse stairs. Most entry doors are no more than 4' wide, yet someone found the need to construct a staircase wide enough for a congressman to perform unspeakable acts. The use of rubble faux stone and used brick is far too busy to think with a full brain.
The picture to the left shows yet another configuration of columns and stairs, in yet another 20' wide space. Apparently the builder wanted to accent the cap, so he chose a dark stucco to do so giving the appearance the striping on a ships gunwalls. To the left of the stairs, not shown is a walkway leading from the driveway. Better use of this space would have been to have one or the other, and loose at least one set of columns, preferably both sets. The random stone on the stairs works well. so what does the builder do? Adds a stone tile with a 45° pattern giving the appearance of another weekend project thought out after the fact.
Straight from the basement shops that sell all that crap you get for such a deal, are these stairs and columns, complete with Salteo tiles. Not only are these tile poor in quality, ( the average Mexican Salteo lasts about 3 years in the sun before popping apart) they are very slippery when wet and can cause accidents. The hodge podge on the riser gives the appearance that someone ran out fo tile and just used whatever box they got their hands on to finish the job. The front yard width is even less than the others pictured offering a very cluttered look at this home. I don't know if it the Spanish influence in the area, or if there are simply, too many choices, and too many undescisive people, but there are some serious after thoughts going on around these parts.
A well planned landscape has a vision, a purpose, and continuity. It makes the best use of the space available, and it does not clutter. It also fits into a budget. Imagine all the more fun stuff you would be able to install in the back yard, if, the money used to build the stuff you did not need, or that you could find at every neighbors house along the block, did not get built. You can make the front of your home look so much more inviting at a fraction of the cost by not copying the neighbors. You can also keep yourself out of jail. That's right, keep out of Jail. Let me explain....You just come to what you thought was your home after a great dinner and good bottle of wine. You fumble for the keys as you walk up the walk and place them in the door....Somehow, the lock does not turn. Next thing you know, the police are there and you get charged with breaking and entering.... As you wait for King Stahlman to come bail you out, it dawns on you....That custom landscape your contractor just created, looked so much like the neighbors, it cost you a night in the slammer!
At Naturescape Landscape Company, the work we install is YOUR dream, not the neighbors, so,
when you come home, your key will be in YOUR door!
Until next time, have a great day!
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