Santa Barbara Independent Article : Profiles in Design: Donna Lynn
California Native Plants
Ask me about creating a California native plant palette suited to the area you live in.
Landscape Plans
Unique plant palettes, precise CAD plans, landscape photo imaging, 3D rendering and web conferencing during the design development phase.
Landscape Photo Imaging
Shown below is an imaged view of a landscape design followed by a photo of the yard after installation.
Waterwise Transformation
Before Design
An unused lawn is replaced with a flagstone patio, flagstone stepping stones, low water use plants, gravel and a small vegetable garden.
After Installation
Native Carex Lawn
In the example below, a native Carex lawn has been planted with flowering shrubs and perennials.
Designing for Small Spaces
Townhouse Patio, Garden Room
Small spaces can present an interesting challenge as every square inch must be carefully considered and utilized - the end result being cozy and comfortable, outdoor garden room, living areas.
Townhouse Patio, Garden Room
Townhouse Patio, Garden Room
California Projects
"This is the second landscape that Donna has designed for us. Based upon how beautiful our last home looked after everything was planted and matured we cannot wait to get to the planting phase." - Eric, Thousand Oaks, CA
On this page, you will find selections from landscape design projects that have been implemented in the past. Please visit the Design page for rendered views of additional projects.
Mouse click or touch on Ipad, the individual photos, to view larger or as a slide show. Click or touch any place on the screen to exit.
Back Yard for Family Living and Play
Pool with hillside slide and cave-like spa
For this imaginative and colorful backyard in Westlake Village CA, every square foot was carefully utilized. We started by creating a design concept for a pool remodel and then while working with the pool contractor, chose pool decking and tiles. The pool area includes a hillside slide and a cave-like spa. Other features and areas for outdoor living include: painted walls, a fireplace, outdoor kitchen and dining area, basketball hoop, koi pond and a small fruit tree orchard. During the design process, new house paint colors were chosen to coordinate with the landscape and pool materials palette.
Serene Garden Room Retreat
Garden room setting in Santa Barbara
In addition to landscape design for this house, pool and yard, remodel project, I was involved in choosing house paint colors, pool tiles and pebble tech colors, lights on the house as well as outdoor furniture. The landscape plan included: paved areas and pathways, a fountain focal point feature, a pergola/garden room design, garden walls, plants and landscape lighting. The front yard used a Southern Hemishere palette of plants from Australia, New Zealand and so. Africa and the back, plants that would combine well with the existing mature palms and trees.
Montecito Country
Geranium maderense
The 3 1/2 acre property surrounding a New England style home was transformed into a series of country gardens with traditional as well as Mediterranean elements.
Plants
Mediterranean Container Planting
When designing a planting plan, I usually start with a plant palette based on area of origin that can be modified and added to. The result is a unique combination of plants that work together, both visually and culturally. (see the Plant Page for more information about plant palettes)
Welcoming Entrances
Goleta Valley Beautiful Award
Japanese garden design places importance on the threshold - a place or point of entering. Creating "welcoming entrances" that indicate the transition from outer world to inner or one area of the landscape to another is something that I like to consider when designing a landscape.
Garden Rooms, Nooks, Niches and Lookouts
Pergola Garden Room
Creating attractive areas within the landscape for specific purposes, that can then be personalized with fountains, pots, furniture, garden art and accents.
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