A Garden For Fog, Ferns And Firelight

An Intimate Coastal Retreat

Some gardens shift how you feel the moment you enter them. This one is calm, welcoming and quietly refined-carefully shaped to support restoration and everyday living. The space is compact, yet it offers several distinct places to gather, unwind and simply breathe.

This project was completed as a design-build collaboration with Lewis Builders. By working together from the outset, we were able to give our clients a thoughtful, streamlined experience and create a garden where beauty and function are in balance-where every element feels intentional and integrated.

FIRE TERRACE AND SAUNA

At the heart of the garden is the elevated fire terrace, complete with heated, deep-charcoal chairs arranged around a central fire feature. The heated seating allows the space to be comfortable throughout the year, even on cool coastal evenings. Adjacent to the terrace is a glass-walled sauna, positioned to look outward into the garden rather than away from it. Together, these features create a warm, sheltered place to land at the end of the day.

A custom pergola made from old-growth redwood defines the dining terrace just below. The tone and grain of the wood bring warmth and longevity to the space and work in harmony with the surrounding planting and stonework.

TREE FERNS, CANOPY AND FOCAL VIEWS

The tree ferns were existing, and they became a central design driver. Their canopy creates enclosure without heaviness and forms a meaningful framed vignette when viewed from the sauna. Soft, layered lighting highlights their textures in the evening, allowing the garden to remain visually calm but present after sunset.

An espaliered Japanese maple acts as a focal point when entering the garden and softens the edge of the sauna. Its structure adds clarity without adding height or crowding the space.

Article originally published in Cypress COAST Living Magazine