California Yard Goes Water-Wise: Lawn Replaced with Family-Friendly Design

Like many American yards, this Menlo Park garden was once all lawn — and in dry California, that had to change. The homeowner wanted water-conscious dynamism without losing the kids' running-around space. Landscape architect Brennan Cox (Groundworks Office), a veteran of large urban projects, took on his first solo residential job.

Houzz at a Glance
Who: Woman and 3 kids
Where: Menlo Park, California
Architect: Groundworks Office
Size: Yard: 6,000 sq ft; Deck: 25 ft deep × 15 ft wide × 7 ft high
Year: 2013

Groundworks Office — Cox kept it simple: honest materials, creative design. The existing deck was functional but uninviting. California demands indoor-outdoor flow, so a new ipe deck level with the interior floor eliminated the step-down — seamless transition.

Deck extended to the fence line, delaying the visual break. Then it ran 7 feet up — the vertical portion becomes the back of a built-in cantilevered bench (7-degree angle). A vertical succulent planter mounts on an internal wall. UV-repellent fabric canopy (Serge Ferrari) slides on cables like a curtain.

Groundworks Office — Cox calls this project about "getting back to building." Construction questions solved on the fly, including a subtle curve — trying things never tried before.

Groundworks Office

Groundworks Office — Simplicity continues out front. Concrete pavers guide visitors from driveway to door. Lawn replaced with native grass blend. Dymondia margaretae between pavers.

Groundworks Office — Free-form pavers continue along side yard into backyard. Phormiums flank the side gate; irregularly spaced 1×1 ipe slats add interest. "You don't always need Carrara marble to make interesting stuff," Cox says.

Groundworks Office — Pavers enter the backyard where low-water, California-friendly plants replace lawn. A gravel court preserves open space for spontaneous play and gathering.

More: How to Replace Your Lawn With a Garden