Thoughtful planning created a multitude of functional spaces for relaxed outdoor living at this Palo Alto home.

The dining patio is sited in the shade of adjacent trees, with a redwood pergola to create enclosure.

A grove of ‘Pink Lady’ apples hides an at-grade deck perfect for intimate conversation (or a nap).

For evening entertaining, a fire pit surrounded by stone seat walls hosts gatherings of any size.

To reduce the owner’s maintenance burden, the home’s front lawn was converted to a stunning mix of native and Mediterranean plants.

Beneath a native Valley Oak, an infiltration basin collects runoff from the home’s downspouts and allows it to percolate back to groundwater.