Seacliff
An Immersive Fusion of Local Limestone and Coastal Ecology
Perched on a dramatic cliff above the Pacific, this Santa Barbara garden merges Mediterranean elegance and coastal sage scrub wildness. Drawing inspiration from the region’s sun-washed hillsides and timeless agrarian traditions, the design achieves a sense of place that is both cultivated and connected to its natural surroundings.
Material Cohesion Through Limestone Artistry
Central to the landscape’s unity is the purposeful use of locally quarried limestone in a variety of forms, each chosen to enhance tactile and visual cohesion throughout the site. Underfoot, limestone pavers lead the way through sun-dappled courtyards and terraces. Majestic boulders, threaded with crystalline veins, anchor key spaces and serve as sculptural focal points. Crushed limestone rock and cobbles subtly define walking paths and garden edges, while rugged wall stone lends structure and timelessness to the pool terrace. This material narrative threads every corner of the project together, creating a harmonious dialogue between built elements and the coastal geology.
Reimagining the Coastal Meadow
Artemisia californica
Bouteloua gracilis
Carex praegracilis
Ceanothus ‘Frosty Blue’
Ceanothus ‘Joyce Coulter’
Corethrogyne ‘Silver Carpet’
Dudleya britonii
Erigeron glaucus
Eriogonum crocatum
Eriogonum giganteum
Eriophyllum staechadifolium
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’
Leymus condensatus ‘Canyon Prince’
Lupinus macrocarpus
Phlomis lanata
Peritoma arborea
Romneya coulteri
Rosmarinus ‘Tuscan Blue’
Salvia ‘Pozo Blue’
Sisyrinchium bellum
Solanum xantii
Carex praegracilis
Eschscholzia californica ‘Purple Gleam’
The planting palette celebrates the native flora of Santa Barbara’s iconic coastal sage scrub ecosystem. Arranged in informal drifts, local species such as Artemisia californica, Salvia leucophylla, and Eriogonum crocatum flow seamlessly across the site, their textures and hues shifting with the sun and sea breeze. This planting approach intentionally blurs the boundaries between practical spaces—parking areas, walkways, and the driveway itself seem to dissolve into undulating meadows, softening the landscape’s edges and inviting exploration. The use of gravel mulch creates the perfect foil and germination for robust, seasonal wildflower displays lasting early spring through summer.
