Hope Ranch

This Hope Ranch property is a layered, elegant landscape set on approximately one acre, defined by whitewashed walls, terracotta Saltillo tones, and a relaxed Mediterranean character. When the homeowners reached out, the property already had years of work behind it — involving multiple designers, installers, and maintenance crews — but lacked cohesion, flow, and intention. Our role was to step in, consolidate the vision, and refine the space into something that felt purposeful, polished, and harmonious from front to back.

Date
Jan 2026
Location
Santa Barbara
Service
Landscape Design

The home’s architecture set a beautiful foundation, with a Saltillo-style roof and patio spaces paired with bright, light-reflective walls. In the backyard, we tied everything together using buff-colored Arizona flagstone, extending and reshaping patios that gently meander through the landscape and around the pool. These expanded outdoor living areas created clearer destinations for gathering, relaxing, and moving through the space.

One of the primary challenges was density. Many plants had been installed too closely together over time, creating visual clutter and maintenance issues. We selectively thinned and rebalanced planting throughout the property, opening sightlines and introducing more intentional ground cover so the landscape could breathe and mature naturally. Drainage and erosion concerns in the rear of the property were addressed, helping protect the site long-term while improving usability.

Functionality played a major role in the redesign. Dedicated, discreet areas were created for the homeowners’ dogs, thoughtfully placed behind the pool lounge space and screened with tall ornamental grass so they remain visually unobtrusive. Throughout the garden, we added focal elements such as custom stone birdbaths fed by a slow-drip irrigation system, keeping them gently refreshed whenever the irrigation runs.

Personal, handcrafted touches bring warmth and character to the space. Bougainvillea vines along the garage were carefully trained onto a trellis to form a heart-shaped focal point. Beneath a mature avocado tree, we reworked the surrounding area to make harvesting easier and more enjoyable. Raised garden beds, architectural hose bibs, and neatly organized utility areas were integrated seamlessly so practical elements feel intentional rather than hidden.

A circular fire feature anchors one of the gathering spaces, surrounded by layered planting that glows beautifully at night. Mature palms and trees — including a prominent fishtail palm on the south side — were trimmed, fertilized, and restored to enhance their natural form and vitality. New flagstone pathways, grouted patios, varied gravel textures, fresh mulch, and ground cover plantings create richness and contrast throughout the property.

The front entry was equally refined, introducing stronger focal planting and cleaner lines that now complement the long driveway, white walls, flagstone steps, and gated transition into the backyard. With ongoing maintenance now in place, the entire property continues to mature into a cohesive, highly detailed landscape filled with texture, variety, and intention.

An expansive Hope Ranch landscape unified through warm flagstone patios, layered planting, and handcrafted details—bringing clarity, flow, and intention to every corner of the property.

No items found.