I recently dove into California Coastal: Seaside Living from Sea Ranch to San Diego by Heather Sandy Hebert and Chase Reynolds Ewald, an inspired new book that showcases diverse and exceptional coastal homes in the Golden State. Beating at the heart of each project, whether a new build or renovation, is a deep reverence and passion for the rugged and immensely varied environment. The book hits bookstores today (June 17), and I thought I would give you a sneak peak into one of the featured homes—and its picturesque garden that sits at the northern edge of Monterey Bay, in Santa Cruz, overlooking an iconic surf break.
Feldman Architecture and Commune Design were enlisted by the clients to design a house that was “contextual without overwhelming the neighborhood,” but that would also work with the California Coastal Commission guidelines. With the aid of a local geologist, the project team studied the erosion potential to determine the building setback and then finally the placement and orientation of the home. The house gently unfolds across the property, with a design that emphasizes indoor and outdoor living, and the use of natural materials.
Ground Studio Landscape Architecture was brought into the creative mix to help integrate the home into its coastal site and enhance the dramatic views. Sheltered and hugging the coast, the landscape features a quilt of coastal plantings. According to founding partner Bernard Trainor, creating a casual feel actually requires a sophisticated design sense: “Designing a garden where the land meets the sea forces you to pay close attention to the resilience of the materials and how they can stand up to those weather conditions.” He says that no precious materials were used, only those with “industrial strength” to endure the climate and the surfer wear and tear from constant back-and-forth trips beween home and beach.
Plants, too, had to be tough. “We learned that the harshness of the environment—including wind, fog, salt spray, rocky soil, and direct sunlight—is not an obstacle to overcome but an opportunity to create a garden that exists in concert with its ecology,” says David LeRoy, partner and planting design director. “We considered every aspect of the garden, from the scale of the gathering spaces to the selection of plants and materials, to allow the site’s unique context to be the star of the show.”
Below, the stunning results.
Photography courtesy of Jason Liske and Joe Fletcher.
Above: The almost-hidden garage on the right blends seamlessly with the exterior of the home, clad in salvaged Monterey cypress that was sourced by wood whisperer Evan Shively of Arborica. The wood is meant to turn gray over time and is quite resilient in the coastal climate.
Above: Tristania laurina stands tall in the courtyard with Aeonium underfoot. To the right, a peek out to the streetside garden.
Above: A true focal point in the interior courtyard is the custom tile fireplace by Stan Bitters. The outdoor sofa is by Ten10 and the lounge chairs by Garza Marfa.
Above: An avid surfer, the homeowner requested a “board room” to store all the surf equipment. The wet bar allows for post-surf conversations and entertaining.
Above: The guest bedroom has its own protected seating area, complete with a petite cypress deck and poured-in-place concrete pavers with a washed sand finish that lead to the main courtyard.
Above: A spacious ocean-facing deck spans the back of the house. Just off the kitchen is the outdoor dining area and outdoor kitchen. And just off the deck, Chondropetalum ‘El Campo’ sways effortlessly in the breeze with Arctostaphylos ‘Carmel Sur’ carpeting beneath.
Above: Opposite the outdoor kitchen is a sunken hot tub. Ground Studio purposely chose plants that would move with the wind to create natural kinetic sculptures.
Above: Naturally round Pittosporum crassifoilum ‘Nana’ and aeoniums soften the straight lines of the outdoor shower.
Above: Close to the bluff is a graveled area with multiple casual spots for socializing.
Above: “We wanted to provide a feeling of truly being within a coastal ecosystem,” says Bernard.
Above: This project was the recipient of a 2024 Northern California ASLA Merit Award.
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