McNiel Works
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Renovation and Reimagination of Existing Landscapes
The Greater Sacramento area, from mid-19th century core to it’s modern suburbs, has many wonderful existing landscapes in need of adaptation and renovation to continue to enhance their properties. The Sacramento area has several areas were distinct historic periods are represented, both with housing and with landscape. McNiel Works understands historic context, as well as the modern needs for conservation and low maintenance. We will work with the homeowner to preserve existing elements of the mature landscape that are still viable both in terms of structure and health and for their relevance to any new design.
A Victorian/Spanish Eclectic in the Valley
This house started out as a Victorian and was remodeled in the 1930's because the owner went to Spain and fell in love with the architecture. The existing landscaping was quite old and not very extensive, with the exception of trees and a few mature shrubs. As the property consists of two lots with a driveway between, a primary design task was to integrate the two halves. Following the clients' wishes, the perimeter walls and gates were designed to celebrate the Spanish Eclectic style.
A Craftsman-era Home in the Gold Country
​The home is over 100 years old, having started out as a miner's shed. The client owned two adjacent parcels that were being combined. There was essentially no landscaping existing on the 1+ acrea property, with the exception of a few mature trees. The client desired a large entertainment space, a rose garden, a Japanese garden space between the existing outbuildings and guest cottages behind the main house, as well as a vineyard. The new landscape area was conceived to be semi-formal in style to blend in both with the architecture of the house and that of the homes in the neighborhood.
Colonial/Transitional in Loomis
​The house underwent extensive remodeling to the exterior and the clients wanted the new landscape design to work with the newer style. As the newer house design still harkened back to an older period, care was taken to fit new site furnishings, along with existing items close to the clients' hearts (magnifcent granite boulders, for instance. The lawn was reduced in size and drought-tolerant shrubs planted. The existing redwoods and other trees that were still viable remain. A new circular driveway and extra off-street parking was added, as was a focal-point fountain in the entry.