The Haunted Cottage
The Haunted Cottage is a cedar shingled California Bungalow from the 20's. The project got its title because when we were living up the street the kids were convinced the house was haunted. The cottage's somber colors, arched windows and doors and soaring gables contribute to the spooky feel. Three large Liquidambar trees in the front yard give color and skeletal silhouettes in the fall and winter. In back there is a two-story Victorian playhouse that is probably nearly as old as the house.
One of the owners is a talented and enthusiastic gardener, so though we recommended a plant list as part of the design the emphasis was on defining and structuring space, working out drainage issues and integrating the built spaces into the existing planting and grading. Claire, my life and sometimes work partner, collaborated with me through the design process.
In front, we tore out an odd mortared brick path and reused that and other brick found on site to create a beautiful path around the knotted roots of the Liquidambar. The main path mimics the arches in the architecture and focuses the approach on the gnarled trunks of the trees. The brickwork was set in sand to allow for shifting in the soil that will occur over time around these trees.
In the backyard were many trees, both large and smaller fruiting varieties. There was also an existing fishpond in the center of the yard, the Victorian playhouse and a small shed. The clients had a large pile of broken concrete and piles of stones. The broken concrete was used to create a circular patio for entertaining.
