Outdoor Kitchen Island Transforms Residence Our clients wanted to create an outdoor dining/cooking experience in their backyard that would be a destination for large parties & family gatherings. Our clients definitely did not want a “cookie-cutter” outdoor kitchen island! They envisioned a spacious bar top that would allow for guests to relax on bar stools & give plenty of countertop space for serving & preparing food. They also wanted a variety of cooking utilities including

Our clients loved their sprawling ranch estate for lots of reasons: a cooler coastal climate, beautiful views, & quiet evenings away from the city. A number of years ago, we were privileged to help them redesign the landscape surrounding the property’s main residence. We installed thousands of square feet of lush synthetic turf, dozens of beautiful Oak trees & created a series of meandering walkways around the property for daily exercise & walking their many dogs. One area of

Our clients were desperately wanting more from their backyard. They did not have enough space to entertain, the plants/trees were either overgrown or struggling to grow, & the yard simply lacked any sort of dominant theme or sense of design. Specifically, they dreamed of an outdoor kitchen space that could accommodate large family gatherings, a fire pit for the cold winter evenings, a dramatic change to the property’s hardscape, & a major update to the general garden design.

Patio Transforms With Broken Concrete Our clients contacted us with a very specific request: they wanted to update the look of their patio/courtyard garden. Their biggest complaint? The whole patio was covered with a very dated tile that was definitely beginning to show its age. They wanted an alternative that would make this private patio space feel welcoming all over again. As designers & contractors with experience in dozens of different hardscape methods/finishes, we walk

Our clients had a gorgeous, Spanish style home nestled in an older neighborhood of Bakersfield but they had one major problem: they hated their front yard. The original front yard was a chaotic hodgepodge of underdeveloped turf grass, overdeveloped weeds & dated concrete. They envisioned a landscape that would complement the stunning architectural style of the home & would be sustainable for our changing environment. In particular, they did not want turf grass to be the focal

Our clients had a very ambitious idea when they first approached our designers: they wanted their very own private park created for their large extended family. They had a multi-acre sprawling property in the mountains of Tehachapi, CA & were desperately wanting a space that complimented the natural surroundings but also gave them a one-of-a-kind environment for family gatherings. They loved the idea of creating a true park environment, complete with lush grass, play space fo

With summer stepping on our heels, and with the intensity of Bakersfield summers, it’s only fit we talk about the best shade-giving trees for this area. Monji Landscape Companies has come up with a list of the Top 6 shade-giving tree varieties that flourish in this town. All the trees about to be mentioned not only over great protection from the sun during the summer, but they also look great in any landscape environment during the whole year. Kicking things off in the #6 po

Our client had recently purchased a home in an older area of Bakersfield & was desperately wanting to give the entire property a makeover. Our client knew that she wanted an outdoor living space for family gatherings, a low-maintenance garden, & plenty of areas to relax after a long day. We began the transformation by gutting a large majority of the existing landscape. We made sure to leave the property’s existing trees because they were well-established & added tons of natur

Our clients' contacted us in desperate need of adding "drama" to their front landscape. They felt like their front yard lack any sort of major interest & was mostly just a large stretch of turf grass. Our clients dreamed of having a meandering walkway from their sidewalk to their main entry. They also wanted to incorporate natural stone into the design, either on the walkway or in some other form. Finally, our clients made it clear to our designers that they would be much hap

Water Wise Ranch Transformation Our clients in Tehachapi, CA, owned a sprawling ranch property with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. They had always been unhappy with their yard & wanted a landscape design that would more beautifully complement the property’s surrounding environment. They also wanted a landscape design to create a grander entry to the estate’s main drive approach. We began with a dramatic transformation to the drive approach utilizing a stunning

With the right plants, materials, and design you can create a beautiful Mediterranean garden in your own back yard. Here are a few key elements of any good Mediterranean garden: Use warm, bright colors. Cream-colored stone, white walls, and terra cotta pots are all great examples of Mediterranean colors. Keep the design simple and functional. All gardens should create a sense of calm, not chaos. Keep it water friendly. Most Mediterranean regions have warm climates, and the n

Creating a layered garden is one of the secrets to successful backyard landscaping. Just like layering paint on canvas, layering different plants in your garden will create a stunning and interesting work of art. There are several different characteristics of a plant that need to be considered when creating layered backyard landscaping. These include but are not limited to: color, texture, and size. Color Backyard landscaping should always include a variety of colors to pro

CREATING A PEACEFUL VIEW As part of Memorial Hospital’s extensive renovation to their campus, they also wanted to update their chapel’s garden space. Previously, it had simply been a collection of large flower pots. However, the space was very unique. It was an atrium space & was the primary view from the hospital’s chapel. We knew this space had an opportunity to be something great. Our garden design centered on creating a peaceful & serene view for the chapel. Integral to t

Our clients struggled with their main courtyard for years. Previously, it had been dominated by a large, rarely used swimming pool. The swimming pool confined the space & made it difficult to get the most out of the large courtyard. Our clients wanted the space completely redesigned, even if it meant getting rid of the pool. They wanted a space that would offer an open floor plan & give them room to entertain their large family. We completely removed the swimming pool & began

Our clients had just purchased their home & the landscape was in dire need of help. The home had sat on the market for an extended period & unfortunately not much had survived the neglect. They were ready for a dramatic change. They wanted a drought tolerant landscape that would provide them with an extended living space to enjoy the garden. They also wanted to clearly divide the public area of their garden from the more private patio space. We began by completely wiping the

FROM CONCRETE TO HEALING GARDEN Our work with Mercy Hospital & Dignity Health has allowed us to create many stunning healing gardens throughout the Central Valley. Each project has presented its own challenges but one that was truly unique was our project neighboring the maternity ward at Mercy Southwest. When we first walked the property with the donors & hospital representatives, it was clear that we were going to have lots of work to do! The space was a sterile, cold, mass

CLIENT TRADES SEASONAL ANNUALS FOR DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTINGS Recently, one of our clients brought a very common dilemma to one of our designers. They were tired of year, after year investing in seasonal annuals in their garden. Also, they wanted to begin converting their landscape to more drought tolerant plants. We knew exactly what to do. We began by converting the troublesome planter to drip irrigation so that the new plantings would receive more efficient watering. Next,

A UNIQUE, LOW WATER WALKING PARK Recently, we had the privilege of being selected to design & construct a brand-new walking park for Mercy Hospital’s South West Campus. The project was funded by the generous donations of the Friends of Mercy Foundation. Working with our clients, they expressed a desire to have a park that was distinct to Mercy Hospital & the greater Central Valley. They wanted an environment where employees would enjoy walking & exercising. Also, it was very

SYNTHETIC TURF MAKES FOR A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN Our clients were tired of the seemingly constant lawn maintenance that their yard demanded. Also, with the new water shortage throughout the state, they had become more conscious of how thirsty a lawn can be in the landscape. They desired a dramatic change to their yard. They wanted a garden design that would use dramatically less water & yet still provide them with a beautiful space for outdoor entertaining & relaxing. In order to

It is a widely held misconception that the rear landscape is for entertaining and enjoyment while the front landscape is merely for show. This is totally false! The front landscape offers a great opportunity for you to expand the entertainment space of your property. More and more, a trend developing in landscape design is to take full-advantage of this beautiful space within you property for much more than merely lawn and a few trees. This is exactly the approach we, at Bake