Long Beach Patio Zen Retreat

This project started with one of the largest balconies in the building and a clear goal: turn a long, underused concrete patio into a personal sanctuary. Facing a shared courtyard visible to neighbors and passersby, the design needed to feel intentional and cohesive with the natural surroundings -- not like an afterthought tacked onto an apartment. We anchored the space with a custom freestanding cedar wall that brought warmth and structure to the back wall, then built a zen garden in front of it complete with white gravel, a stone water feature, and a mix of sculptural plants that thrived in the space's hours of direct sunlight. Bamboo was planted to create a natural privacy screen that blended seamlessly with the greenery of the courtyard below, while a raised herb garden added both beauty and function.

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The goal was for this space to work at every hour and for every mood, a place to host dinner, unwind after a long day, or settle into a quiet meditation. To make that possible after sunset, we installed Philips Hue outdoor light strips under the furniture and uplighting throughout the plant beds, giving the space a warm, layered glow that transforms entirely at night. The result is a full outdoor living space that doesn't feel like a rental compromise – it feels like an escape.