A Napa Valley Resort Theme Integrated into a Suburban Back Yard

By Bruce Fordyce

In the front year, Solena Landscape designed a low planter wall that spans both sides of the front walk way and is anchored by four stucco columns. Colored and washed concrete, a garden gate, a flagstone pathway and bullnose steps completed the look. They used Ming Valley slate with natural grout and smooth stucco to match the house. Mexican feather grass, Blue Fescue, Burgundy fountain Grass, iceberg roses and gazanias make up the plant selections, and the trees are European White Birch, designed to provide a New England vibe.

This Huntington Beach, California home challenged Solena Landscape owner/designer Mitch Kalamian to create a useful outdoor space in a narrow setting. Like many contemporary large-floor plan suburban track homes, the back yard area offered Kalamian a mere 1,000 square feet to ply his magic. To increase the challenge, the homeowner had many specific goals for the space, including a swimming pool, outdoor fireplace, wine bar and a spa.

Solena Landscape excavated the pool to six feet deep, and then ran plumbing and electrical. ''We ran a sub panel for the pool, spa and all other outdoor elements, so we didn't tax the house system. We always use the best, Pentair pool products. We had three pumps, one ran the spa and its jets, the others the pool and water features,'' explained Kalamian.

 


The wine bar is supported by a heavy timber beam anchored with a stone column. The wine bar is topped by a custom arbor, home to the Napa Valley native grape vines planted at the base of the structure.

When deciding what features would best fit their family and their lifestyle, the homeowners considered an ''Endless Pool System'' with a current to swim against. Because the backyard has limited space and a narrow configuration, the endless pool was the perfect solution. Another element the homeowners insisted on was an outdoor fireplace. Mitch Kalamian, owner and head designer of Solena Landscape met with the homeowners to discuss their needs and wants, and to get a feel for the theme of their home.

A Napa Valley Theme

Kalamian designed the backyard to incorporate the homeowners' love of the Napa Valley wine country area of California. He used Tuscan-themed elements, European-style slate and grape vines and Rosemary in the plant palette.

The Napa Valley Retreat theme included a Tuscany-style fireplace, which integrated old shutters from a local scrap yard.

The homeowner's original plan was to design the yard around their existing aboveground spa; however, Solena Landscape was able to incorporate an in-ground spa that integrated into the overall design much better. After the installation of the coordinating waterline tile and slate was complete, a pebble texture pool finish was added.

Extending The Theme Out Front

Kalamian went back to the drawing board to create a landscape for the front yard that was an extension of the back yard Wine Country theme. They installed a low planter wall that spans both sides of the front walk way. They are anchored in four additional stucco columns, which tied in design-wise with the existing columns on the front porch. Kalamian specified Ming Valley slate with natural grout and smooth stucco to match the house. The green and gold shades he used complimented the color of the house. A flagstone pathway and bull nose steps completed the look.

One of the ''must-haves'' for the space was an ''Endless Pool System.'' This precision-engineered pool allows one to swim or exercise in place against a smooth, fully adjustable current, at the swimmer's own pace. It gets its power and heat from an 1/8th-horsepower electric circulating pump, a 4 kW electric heater, and a 5 hp hydraulic power unit. Due to the limited space, this was perfect solution for the limited-space back yard.

Enjoying the Napa Valley theme

''We had different crews at different times,'' explained Kalamian, ''the hardscape crew was first, then our softscape crew and then our carpentry crew. A total of 15 Solena members worked on this project. All work was done in-house by our crews, and I supervised every project.'' The complete project took about 3 1/2 months to complete, including the front yard hardscape and landscaping. A journey into the back yard of the home makes one feel like they are in an upscale resort nestled somewhere in the Napa Valley; and, it's sure to provide endless hours of enjoyment.