Mill Valley, CA
Christine Krause Design Studio was engaged by the client to reimagine and enhance several underutilized areas of the property, creating a more connected, functional, and visually cohesive landscape. The scope of work focused on integrating a series of new circulation paths, sitting areas, and thoughtful planting zones that reflect the property’s natural setting while improving everyday livability.
We took a clean yet natural approach, emphasizing drought-tolerant plantings and a strong structural layout to support the client’s desire for simplicity, ease of maintenance, and year-round beauty. Planting beds were designed with massings of resilient, pollinator-friendly material that offer softness, color, and seasonal variation without being fussy or overcomplicated.
The new layout includes a shaded sitting area tucked into the northern corner of the property near the stream. Careful consideration was given to weight-bearing constraints, and the placement of the seating area now offers a quiet retreat with dappled light and a natural sense of enclosure.
A new gravel path connects this streamside nook to the southern end of the backyard, encouraging movement and continuity across the site. Along the way, fencing and layered plantings were added to soften the property lines and create more defined garden “rooms” without feeling enclosed.
Foundation plantings and new beds along the north side of the house now bring the architecture into dialogue with the surrounding landscape. A new landing off the French doors at the front of the house provides a gracious threshold, while the redesigned front walkway offers more intuitive access to the driveway and a welcoming entry experience.
Plantings throughout the front yard were selected to blend structure with softness—favoring flowering shrubs, grasses, and a handful of specimen perennials that anchor the space and provide visual rhythm. Integrated lighting highlights these key features, illuminating paths and focal areas in a subtle, intentional way.
The planting style is restrained but layered, prioritizing drought resistance, seasonal interest, and habitat value. A mix of pollinator-attracting perennials, evergreen structure, and textural grasses lends depth and movement throughout the property while remaining in harmony with the home and its setting.
