Downtown · Happy Valley · Burton Valley · Springhill · Reliez Valley
Schedule a Discovery ConsultationIn Lafayette, the backyard is where a big part of the year happens. Warm, dry summers, ridgelines on every side and a downtown full of restaurants make this a town that likes being outdoors.
We design and build complete outdoor living spaces for Lafayette homeowners, from Happy Valley and Burton Valley to the streets near downtown and the reservoir. Design, engineering coordination and construction stay with one team from the first conversation to the final walkthrough.
Lafayette Reservoir on the Lafayette-Orinda border. Photo: Hno3, public domain
Ask a Lafayette local where they go to clear their head and many will say the reservoir. EBMUD finished the dam in 1933 as a standby water supply and opened it to the public for recreation in 1966. Today the paved Lakeside Trail loops 2.7 miles around the water, and the tougher Rim Trail climbs 4.5 miles through the hills above it.
Downtown is the retail hub of Lamorinda, a cluster of restaurants and shops along Highway 24 with its own BART station. To the north, Briones Regional Park reaches into the city, and the Lafayette Ridge Trail starts near Springhill Elementary. With great schools in the Acalanes Union High School District, it is easy to see why families stay for decades and keep investing in their homes.
Most of present-day Lafayette was once Rancho Acalanes, granted to Candelario Valencia in 1834. Elam Brown bought the rancho in 1848 and built a mill in 1853, and for a time the settlement went by names like Brown's Corner and Brown's Mill. When Benjamin Shreve asked for the name Centerville, it was already taken, so he suggested La Fayette instead.
The post office opened in 1857, and the single-word spelling became official in 1932. Lafayette grew from an agricultural village into a commuter town in the mid-1900s and incorporated in 1968.
A lot of Lafayette homes have good bones and dated yards. Our favorite projects here start with a full master plan, so every phase, whether built at once or over a few seasons, adds up to one finished design.
Answer five quick questions and see the features and projects built for the way you live.
Heat. Lafayette summers are warm and dry and can top 100°F. The record high is 115°F. We plan shade, planting and irrigation with that in mind.
Slopes. Lafayette sits among ridges, and homes on hillside streets often need retaining walls and drainage before anything else. Walls over certain heights typically need engineering and permits through the City of Lafayette, and we coordinate that during planning.
Fire hazard. Hillside areas near Briones and other open space may fall within state-mapped fire hazard severity zones, which can mean added requirements for materials and defensible space. We confirm with the city and current maps for your address.
Review. Hillside and HOA properties can have additional design review. We build that time into the schedule.
Every project begins with a discovery consultation. We learn about your home, your goals and how you want to live outside, then recommend the right next step.
Schedule a Discovery ConsultationYes. Sloped lots usually become terraces held by retaining walls, connected with steps and paths. It takes more engineering, but it often produces the most dramatic yards.
We lean on drought-tolerant and Mediterranean-climate plants, placed by sun exposure and supported by efficient irrigation. We tailor the palette to your lot and how much maintenance you want.
Taller walls and walls that hold up a slope or a structure typically need engineering and a permit. We identify what your design needs and coordinate it during planning.
Often, yes. Cantilever pergolas keep posts out of the sightline, and careful placement can shade the patio while leaving the ridgeline open.
Yes. We design and build for homeowners throughout Lafayette, including both areas.
Yes. We design the whole property first, then sequence construction so each phase works on its own and nothing has to be torn out later.
We walk the property with you, talk through how you want to live outside and discuss scope and investment openly. You can book a consultation or take our style quiz first.
