11 minute read
THE OUTSIDERS
Outdoor living is an art form perfected in Orange County. Get ready to extend summer with tips, tricks, and transformations to inspire our best lives right in our own backyards.
By Alexandria Abramian, Kedric Francis, and Annette Reeves
Garden Guru Chef Cathy Pavlos has long served as an outdoor inspiration for diners. Her focus on fresh produce has informed her cooking at Provenance, as has her background in design. Her first career was as an architect, and her husband Elliott retired after a successful career in that field. The outdoor spaces and lush gardens have always been highlights of a meal at Provenance, made even more so by today’s focus on dining outdoors. A summer visit to the Pavlos residence in Westcliff (for decades the home of designer Betsy Van’t Hof ) reveals gorgeous gardens and green outdoor spaces. The backyard is planted in a Nantucket-inspired style, with flowers, herbs, and veggies growing together in lovely and beneficial combinations. A central courtyard is a verdant space filled with veggies that Pavlos served to her loyal culinary clientele. Alas, the past tense— Provenance has served its last Picnic in the Garden. Pavlos made the difficult decision to close the restaurant just as this issue went to print. We wish her what she gave Orange County: only the best.
Burning Question
What happens when an architect/artist sets her sights on the everyday fire pit? Sandra Vlock’s Fireballs provide a compelling response, turning up the temperature on both form and function. “Repurposing these vintage steel mooring buoys as fire vessels gave me a blank canvas; functional fine art that you live with,” says Vlock. “The natural allure of fire brings us together. I imagined the potential of this now ubiquitous outdoor living amenity to become something more than functional.” Visually compelling both with flames and without, Fireballs are made of sustainable steel plate, designed to weather and be extremely durable in coastal environments. “Because the imagery is literally cut away (like a big paper doll) you can see through the ball. It’s this transparency that makes the piece so dynamic,” says the artist of the pieces that come in 28”, 40”, and 58” diameters. studiovlock.com
AQUA ENTRANCE
Intriguing water features are signature Paul McClean design details, such as the meandering stair entryway in a Temple Hills home that steps down from the street to preserve the neighbors’ Laguna Beach views. Floating concrete pads cross over the water, leading to an intimate kitchen garden and courtyard. The subtle opening water scene offers an overture to the stunning ocean and city vistas captured in the McClean dream team design. mccleandesign.com
OUTDOOR OVATION
Blue Door Magazine has featured many magnificent homes with exceptional outdoor spaces—this is coastal Orange County, after all. Still, it’s hard not to name the hilltop estate designed by famed Laguna Beach architect Mark Singer as the best of a beautiful bunch. Gravel, concrete block, lavender, and sage are key elements of the minimalist landscape design. There are two pools, one each for the two houses on the compound, which are now separate properties. From the highest point in Arch Beach Heights, the entire Laguna Beach coast and beyond to the horizon is revealed. In the other direction, the Santa Ana Mountains rise in the distance, with the open space of wilderness parks preserving the vistas in perpetuity. Perfection? It’s pretty close. Listed by Mike Johnson of Compass. mikejohnsongroup.com, 949.206.3735.
Canyon Country
Corona del Mar is a dream town for those who love the idea of la ville de quart d’heure—a city where most daily needs (home, work, restaurants, shops, healthcare, etc.) are within a 15-minute journey on foot or by bike. It’s an especially attractive concept these days when we are working from and sticking close to home. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have open space and the city, too. See Mas de Soleil, a property recently listed and quickly sold by Casey Lesher, for proof. The midcentury 3-bedroom set on Morning Canyon in Corona Highlands feels like it could be in France. The 12,460-square-foot lot features expansive grounds, with terraces, patios—one featuring a stone pizza oven, fountains, fruit trees, and organic gardens growing grapes and other goodies. caseylesher.com
Great Park
Gardening Nurseries can be both functional and inspiratonal outdoor spaces. We may think we’re just popping in for a new pot and some poppies, only to stay for hours and gain an entirely new aesthetic for our gardens and grounds. The expansive and uncrowded setting of The Nursery by Southwinds is a new favorite to wander, seeking ideas and inspiration. A unique feature of the hidden gem adjacent to the Orange County Great Park in Irvine is its turn-key tableaus. The intriguingly designed backyard vignettes that include plantings, art, and furniture set amid the meandering pathways, luxurious water features, stunning sculptures, and gorgeous greenery at the nursery. thenurserybysouthwinds.com
Next Big Thing: Petite Pools
“With this home located just blocks from the beach, we wanted to create a unique outdoor space that would give that California living vibe,” says interior designer Lindye Galloway. “Houses in this area are traditionally more tall than wide (This one is four stories!), so an intimate pool was the best option while making it suitable for everyday use. We were inspired by boutique hotels that would enhance the intimate feel, so we added layers of curtains, furniture, and poufs to make this pool the perfect entertaining spot.” lindyegalloway.com
Photo by Chad Mellon
Curb Appeal
Sure, a big backyard is impressive, but the action is up front in this Emerald Bay beauty. When Mary and Bruce McDonald built their house 20 years ago, they decided the triangular lot lent itself to having the house and its wings hug the back setback, with a large yard in front. The 80-year-old olive tree is the centerpiece of the upfront area, which is raised for added privacy. The sounds of the street and the sea—the duo can hear waves crashing and sea lions barking— make this aesthetically-inspired outdoor space the perfect place to enjoy that unique EBay experience.
Cooped Up
As COVID-19 fears continue with more time at home, more and more homeowners are taking on the part-time career of farmer and ranch hand. For the “serious” farmer, hand- crafted coops are on trend. Dare 2 Dream Farms in Lompoc specializes in handcrafted coops, as well as offering backyard chickens, free-range eggs, and organic produce for sale and delivery. Founded in 2009 by Jeremy and Megan Raff, Dare 2 Dream coops are made from redwood or Douglas fir, with elaborate pulley systems to open and close the coop door, and multiple add-on features. With money to spend, customers are even designing coops that match their home’s architecture. “We are so thrilled that people have found pleasure in raising chickens and are becoming more sustainable in their homes,” Megan says. “This was our dream, and it’s beautiful to see our dream come true while making people happy.” dare2dreamfarms.com Throwing Shade Indoor pool too much of a commitment? Indoor/ outdoor pools let you have it both ways, rain or shine. “Having a retractable roof makes swimming a breeze in all seasons while letting the natural sunlight still come through,” says interior designer Erica Bryen of the Dover Shores home she recently completed. ericabryendesign.com
GAME TIME
When an unused side yard turned into a garden catch-all, designer Megan Dufresne decided to activate the space for better use: Enter a bocce ball/cornhole court. “So many homes have unused side and/or hillside space that’s long and narrow,” says the designer. “Converting a side yard or terracing part of a hillside into a narrow area for an outdoor game court instantly makes a home feel more like a resort,” says Dufresne, who routinely creates courts for bocce ball, cornhole, horseshoes, and even axe throwing. “Believe it or not that medieval pastime is having a huge revival!” mcdesignshop.com
TREEHOUSE 2.0
A treehouse without the tree? That’s the idea behind this Corona del Mar playhouse designed by Shannon Wilkins. Extending the main home’s California minimalist vibe, the structure is built into the ground. “When clients have the space and needs, we are definitely recommending them,” says Wilkins. “Stylistically they go so much better the main house, and owners don’t have to sacrifice their aesthetic to create something wonderful for their children.” prairiehomestyling.com
Photo by Chad Mellon
New Wave: Surfboard Shower
Bring the beach home with an easy-to-install, hard-to-forget outdoor shower. Founded by Orange County native Hansni Thadhani, Strand Board marries ocean form with streamlined function to create a one-of-a-kind functional art. With plumbing integrated inside the board, each Strand Board is hand-shaped and hand-painted in Southern California and includes mounting hardware and faucets. Starts at $2,499. strandboards.com
Locals Only
It seems like everyone is upgrading their outdoor cooking, grilling, and entertaining game during the stay-at-home era. How to choose? If only there was a steel cabinetry line designed and made in California, with a midcentury vibe and modern materials. Love it if the cabinets were made of steel. And wouldn’t it be nice if the company was female-owned? Well, check, check, and check—Moya Living hits all those marks, and more. It was founded and owned by Moya O’Neill, who was inspired to launch her new creative career after upgrading her Laguna Beach home with steel cabinetry. Soon, she was working with Oakley and other local brands, building furniture for commercial spaces, hotels and homes. Now, architects, designers, and homeowners choose the Moya name for its brilliant look and exceptional functionality. moyaliving.com
Throwing Shade
Indoor pool too much of a commitment? Indoor/ outdoor pools let you have it both ways, rain or shine. “Having a retractable roof makes swimming a breeze in all seasons while letting the natural sunlight still come through,” says interior designer Erica Bryen of the Dover Shores home she recently completed. ericabryendesign.com
Photo by Chad Mellon
Backyard Barista
We’ve seen firepits, fairy gardens, barbecues, balcony bars, birdhouses, playhouses, and chicken coops built (or bought) by handy OC homeowners. But the most creative and quirky building project we’ve seen is the backyard barista, conceived and constructed by local builder Ed Stefanovic. He named his cozy and cool coffee shop La Vida. Want a cuppa in your own backyard? Give Ed a call! ELSbuilds@gmail.com @ELSbuilds
Aviary Architecture
We love the aesthetic of the handmade birdhouses created by Santa Cruz-based Douglas Barnhard. He uses reclaimed materials to build the tiny houses modeled after Eichlers and other contemporary homes—he makes custom furniture and breadboxes, too. sourgrassbuilt.com
Sleek Smoke
Backyard grillers are going ga-ga over Spark Grills. The innovative wood briquette barbecue system ignites with one touch, offers precise temp control up to 900 degrees, and is accessed by a mobile app. But the thing we like best about the new Boulder-based brand is the aesthetic—it’s the coolest looking grill since the classic Weber Kettle. Price is nice as well: pre-orders are open now at $799. sparkgrills.com
Beach Shack Chic
Villa Zenyara, a 40-acre estate near Coachella, may seem over-the-top at first glance—it’s centered around a private lake in the desert, after all. But the interior and exterior spaces designed by Dorothy Willetts offer the Zen-like inspiration her clients wanted. We love the sandy outdoor bar area. “I wanted it to feel beachy and fun, like a surf shack,” Willetts says. “So I added reclaimed barn wood siding from Vintag e Timberworks, selected the chandeliers because they reminded me of crab traps, and I got the idea for the swing seating from a bar that I visited in Mexico.” She says the desert resort aesthetic would translate to coastal OC. “We could section off a dedicated part of your backyard and fill it with sand dunes to create a romantic, windswept vibe to your landscape. Or let’s level it out to create your sandy beach and add in volleyball! There is always an opportunity to bring outdoor and pool amenities that you see on a hospitality level to your own home.” willettsdesign.com
