The interior design of The Gray Malin Getaway House is almost complete, so I’m taking some time to tell you about our plans for the outside of the house! If you want to catch up on what’s been going on take a look back at Part 1 and Part 2 of the interior design and renovations.
Before I give you a full reveal of the exterior I want to share the thought behind the landscaping. Drenched in sunlight, the home sits on a quiet corner lot with a very large yard considering how close it is to the beach. With Montecito being on the California coast we knew the exterior needed as much love and thought as the interior. We removed the grass in the yard to make it more sustainable with water usage while transforming it from something more simple to a thoughtfully designed space that reflects the style and charm of Montecito.
I was lucky enough to be connected with a highly recommended landscape architect, Amy Blakemore from Greens Landscape Design. Since she’s local to the area I let her expertise drive the plans for the grounds. Her thoughtfulness really shows through in what she’s put together. One step she took to keep everything cohesive was getting all of the plants from one nursery that’s known for exceptional quality and California selection, Monrovia Plants. I took some time to chat with her about the project and inspiration behind what she’s working on to share with you all.
Gray: What do you love about Montecito that you're bringing into the landscape design at the Getaway House?
Amy: There is a timeless elegance inherent in a successful Montecito garden that provides gracious outdoor spaces for living, playing, relaxing, and celebrating. The Getaway house provides a variety of spaces to embrace the indoor/outdoor lifestyle of the area.
Gray: What's the most unexpected/unique feature in this project?
Amy: We were able to repurpose an old wall fountain at the rear of the house to a new low planter with espaliered fragrant vines. The rear wall of the fountain provided some great privacy and screening, but it needed a new look. Now it’s like an extension of the decorated interior walls- and smells great too!
Gray: From layout to plant selection – can you walk us through your process?
Amy: Function really informs the design. The layout of the space was driven by the activities the garden supports: sitting by the fire, sunbathing, relaxing with the sounds of water. And it’s important to select the right plants to provide either structure or screening, color or fragrance, especially in more enclosed areas of the garden so it can be captured and enjoyed. Montecito can grow such an amazing variety of plants, sometimes it’s hard to pick!
Gray: Where do you turn for inspiration?
Amy: I’ve had the good fortune to work with a number of amazing designers over the years — Eric Nagelmann and Sydney Baumgartner have been great and talented mentors. Lotusland and Casa del Herrero are both must see gardens in the area. The Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens are also a great place to spend an afternoon and get excited about plants.
Gray: How did you first connect with Gray?
Amy: I was referred by the general contractor as well as the interior designer, Madison Nicole for the project and I’ve so enjoyed working with someone like Gray with such creativity and vibrant style.
Gray: What aspect are you most excited about for the exterior of the Gray Malin Getaway House?
Amy: We’ve added some mature olive trees that really provide some much needed structure and presence to the garden. There’s nothing like a large field grown olive tree to break up the architecture and to add some instant romance to a space!
That’s all for now! A full reveal will be coming soon. I can’t wait to show you the finished project! It’s been such a dream getting to work on this with so many incredibly talented people. Only a few more weeks until you can book a stay at the Gray Malin Getaway House.
xx
Gray