LandMechanics Uses Italianate Styling to Upgrade This Orange County Home

By Amy Conrad

The front patio area was upgraded with wrought iron fencing, which leads into the backyard. A 20-foot-tall crape myrtle was moved from the front yard to accommodate the extension of the driveway. In addition, three full-sized 30-foot-tall canary palms and four full-sized 20-foot-tall olive trees were planted in the front and back yards. Land Mechanics moved and planted the trees using a large crane, moving more than 250 yards of soil in the process.

Designed and built by Land Mechanics, Inc. in Orange, California, this half-acre Italianate-styled landscape adds old-world elegance to this Southern California home.

This landscape project is located in the City of Villa Park in Orange County, California. The landscape was designed to complement the newly remodeled home, and utilizes a Mediterranean plant palette and Italian-inspired architecture. There was no part of the landscape environment that was not carefully redesigned and upgraded.

Built with natural stone bases, this custom 9-foot-tall, 6-foot-wide, 12-foot-long rose arbor structure features amemone clemenis vines over powder-coated wrought iron with stainless steel cable and custom hanging lighting fixtures. Photos courtesy of LandMechanics, Inc.

Complete with an outdoor kitchen, this entertainment area includes a built-in barbeque with side burners, two refrigerators, an icemaker, trash receptacles custom drawers and granite countertops.

The Outside Features

The largest outside feature is a 20 by 60-foot patio, which includes a detached solid-structure roof with steel pre-cast columns, accented with imported pots that house irrigation and drainage systems, compliment the structure. The freestanding 20x20-foot gazebo was upgraded with a complete outdoor kitchen, including a built-in barbeque with side burners, two refrigerators, an icemaker, trash receptacles, custom drawers and granite countertops.

The freestanding 20x20-foot gazebo entertainment area (left) features in-ceiling can lights and an electric heater.

The entire old patio structure was torn down and replaced by a 20 by 60 patio, which included in-ceiling can lights and ceiling fans. The floor was covered in natural-colored stone.

The Pool

While a standard cement-lined swimming pool can be fun, it is nothing compared to the enjoyment that comes from a rockslide pool. Land Mechanics tore out the existing pool and spa and replaced it with a custom rock pool with integrated slide. The pool, as well as the pad for the fire bowls, was made with pre-cast concrete. And the newly raised spa features a natural spillway. Natural stone replaces the boring concrete, and for ease of operation, an integrated wireless Jandy control system was included. This Jandy unit remotely controls the pool, the gazebo DVD player, cable TV and the outdoor lighting systems. The contractor installed 75 custom-manufactured low-voltage, solid brass fixtures to light up the back yard.

Land Mechanics upgraded the pool by building rock formations and an integrated rockslide. They installed Natural Dakota stone around the pool, as well as on the newly-raised spa that features a natural spillway. The pool, as well as the pad for the fire bowls, was made with precision block and stone veneer that matched the surrounding stone paving.

The original pool was utilitarian. But look at the transformation to come.

Landscaping

Built with stone bases, this custom 9-foot tall, 6-foot wide by 6-foot long free-standing rose arbor structure features flowering vines hanging down from above. The contractor integrated custom hanging lighting fixtures, and carefully used the vines themselves to hide the electrical wiring. To complement the rose arbor, a flower garden was built next to the arbor; the garden was sunk 12 inches lower than the rest of the yard. It's bordered with a low wall, natural stone cap and veneer that run the circumference of the garden.

Wired into the property is a Jandy system that remotely controls the pool, waterfall, spa, slide, heaters, landscape and can lights mounted in the fans. All the low-voltage, solid-brass lighting comes from 75 custom manufactured fixtures.

Workers build a rebar cage, which will support the future cast-concrete mold structure. The new pool and upgraded spa received all new plumbing as well.

Out Front

Land Mechanics completely replaced the driveway concrete with new colored natural stone paving. The driveway itself was extended by eight feet on one side, so the homeowners could have easier access into the newly remodeled garage. The driveway stone paving upgrade complements the front yard look and theme. The front patio area, complete with wrought iron fencing, features a Mediterranean plant palette and Italianate styling

The Fireplace was constructed of precision block, atop six six-inch seeded aggregate, which was used throughout all of the stone paved areas. Additionally, 200 feet of gas line was laid to feed the fire bowls and fireplace.

The completed fireplace was then covered in stone veneer that matched the surrounding stone paving.

Challenges Faced

Among the challenges of the project was to work around a general contractor who was adding a second story to the existing house. ''We had to work on one side of the yard, while also trying to find the space to bring in cranes to move and install large specimen trees,'' explained owner Bryon Meyer. ''We worked first on the right side of the yard,'' ''then moved to the left side after a lot of demolition.''