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Abe Residence: A Moss-Beach, CA Residential Makeover
Karin Abe, hired me to design and oversee the installation of the new front gardens for a newer home she had purchased in Moss Beach, California. The existing home lacked character and had a long history of neglect.
We brought in Fernando Ballarena, and his crew to do the installation and to build the undulating stone retaining walls that would become a dominant element throughout the property. These walls terminate in a playful spiral, centering a large fountain that would become another focal point on the property.
We created a warm, welcoming entry by designing a new flagstone path leading up through the front steps to an enormous two-thousand pound, rough edged slab of flagstone that we placed for the landing.
The west side of the property was raised literally four feet, and planted with a lawn and a group of Italian cypresses anchored by several large "sitting stones." The fence and gate were planted with scarlet passion-flower vine, prolific bloomers that would eventually cover the low fence and blend into the rock wall supporting its base.
Clearly the before-and-after images of this home are stunning with almost magical results. During the course of the project, I didn't realize that I had managed to bring together two wonderful people. Karin and Fernando were married a year later.
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