DuRoss Taylor Garden

In the late 90’s Angela DuRoss commissioned Stephen with his first landscape design project. They have remained friends over the past three decades, and have collaborated on reimagining the garden a few times in between. For this current transformation we designed new driveways and pathways to connect their two houses, and we refashioned the courtyard with a central seating area using wire-cut brick, weathering steel, and basalt pavers. The central garden, with its vibrant palette of yellow and chartreuse plants, infuses the space with brightness and texture, evolving through the seasons to maintain visual intrigue. Design challenges, such as low light levels and the need to make intimate spaces feel expansive, were deftly overcome, resulting in a garden that speaks to the imagination and refined tastes of its owners.

We chose Accoya wood for the fencing because of its remarkable durability in this tough marine environment of Manhattan Beach. We introduced a jalousie feature to the fence to allow more light into the side-yard.

The front garden, situated along the walk-street, serves as an eclectic display of plants from Australia, Chile, and the Mediterranean. This curated collection adds visual interest and helps to define different types of seating arrnagments. Dense, layered planting along the walk-street provides a natural screen, creating intimate spaces for dining and lounging that feel private and welcoming.