Virginia Paca Architecture and Garden Design

04/07/2022

The best cutting board ever! Aged heartwood beautifully crafted by local Oxford, Maryland woodworker. Sold at Treasure Chest in Oxford.

09/19/2019

09/19/2019

Maxwell harvesting his potatoes

05/01/2016

Garden Conservancy "Open Days" 2016
The Lomita Garden
It's that time of year again, when all over the United States private gardens are open to the public. A master schedule can be found at https://www.gardenconservancy.org/open-days/2016_od_ . If you happen to be in Pasadena on May 1st, you can visit one of my recently completed gardens. This rambling, estate garden was originally designed with spacious lawns, a boulder-lined stream that flowed across the front yard to pond, lush plantings and a grotto-type pool with four waterfalls. The design challenge was to transform the property into a more drought-tolerant landscape while maintaining its privacy and rustic, woodland ambiance. It was relatively easy to reduce the area of lawn by over one-third and the remaining lawn was replanted with a warm-weather sod. A new, more cohesive design in the woodland under-story replaced many original plants with more drought tolerant alternatives. Rustic stone raised-beds line the driveway, providing the owners with fresh vegetables and herbs for cooking and grilling. The tropical ambiance of the pool grotto garden has been brought back to life and a new, informal wisteria garden welcomes family, friends and visitors to this lovely home.
Photography - Virginia Paca


Virginia Paca - Licensed Architect
Residential Architecture and Garden Design

www.virginiapaca.com

http://virginiapaca.tumblr.com

626 441 3340

https://www.gardenconservancy.org/open-days/garden-directory/lomita-garden

This is the first time this private, estate garden has been included in the Open Days program. The house and garden are designed to take full advantage of the mild, Mediterranean climate where outdoor entertaining can be a year-round activity. The recently updated woodland gardens include heritage o…

04/11/2016

03/18/2016

Mediterranean Spring

I spent several weeks on the south coast of France exactly one year ago, and although I wasn't touring gardens, it was impossible not to draw inspiration and delight from the surrounding beauty. I love the vibrancy and the variety of this landscape where plants thrive in the most unexpected places. Please click the tumbler link below for a spring bouquet of flowers from the South of France.

http://virginiapaca.tumblr.com

11/12/2014

The Gardener
There is a garden tucked away in the hills above the Mediterranean Sea in the south of France where I found this tribute to Mario Lavagna. I was touched to know that his efforts to build and care for this exquisite garden were held in such high regard by the owners.

This Thanksgiving I'm grateful to the people who mow our lawns, trim our trees, plant new plants, and carefully tend our gardens.

06/01/2014

Succulent Planters for California Cottage Gardens

Succulent planters provide beauty, color and complexity in drought tolerant gardens. These planters are in full western sun, yet thrive with minimal drip irrigation. Check out virginiapaca.tumblr.com for an illustrated step-by step guide to making your own succulent planter.

05/01/2014

Rips Family Garden

04/01/2014

MID-CENTURY MODERN LIVING
This classic ranch-style house was designed by architect Harold Zook in 1950 for the parents of the current owners. Virtually untouched, it is a snapshot from an era of shuffleboard courts and hidden cabinets for the latest 'hifi' equipment. The original kitchen, however, was small and closed-off from the rest of the house, making it difficult to entertain guests while cooking.

The new design creates an open flow between the kitchen and family room, encouraging friends to have a glass of wine and mingle while drinks and meals are being prepared.

03/06/2014

GATEWAYS

A beautiful gateway stirs our imagination. It serves a simple function, yet can become a mysterious portal sparking the viewer’s curiosity as to what lies beyond.

This gateway is one of two entrances to an enchanting, tropical pool garden, complete with waterfalls and a spa....it needed to be special. It provides the required pool separation, while allowing the viewer glimpses of the lush garden on the other side. The gateways are tucked in
among a landscape of semi-tropical plants enhancing pool garden vistas.

The heavy beams of the trellis reflect the architecture of the house, while the smooth finish and stained fretwork add delicacy and a human scale. The iron handle turns with the crisp precision of perfectly crafted carpentry as the gate silently opens, allowing entry into a private Shangri La.

This garden is under construction but additional photos may be found at
http://virginiapaca.tumblr.com

12/07/2013

Home for the Holidays
No matter how small or cramped, family and guests always gravitate to the heart of the house, and this is especially true during the holidays.

This residential remodel was designed with a large, extended family in mind. The new kitchen flows into an informal dining area and family room, and on to outdoor dining and barbecue areas. The full-height refrigerator and freezer and the microwave are located at the ends of the kitchen where they are easy to access by children and guests without disturbing the cook.A spacious island allows everyone to participate in holiday cooking projects.
Enjoy the photo album below