If I Only Had a View

A room with a view. That’s what every homeowner wants of his or her bedroom. That’s especially true for one of San Francisco Designer, Richard Robertson, whose narrow side yard used to feature nothing more than flat walls and unsightly garbage cans. Now the transformed passageway is home to flowering, shade-loving plants that greet the homeowner each morning. New french doors access a manageable 9-inch wide planting bed and treillage filled with cineraria, fuchsia, and jasmine. “By opening up the master bedroom along it’s exterior wall, the room feels enhanced with more color, space, and light,” says architect mark English.

The gate (top left) that faces the street is a clever adaptation of an old glazed door that was salvaged by the homeowner. A lattice design similar to the treillage was attached to the framing of the glass door, providing some security while letting in light. A double-peaked cap above the door gives a hint of the Victorian gables in the neighborhood, but with a contemporary flair. The brick passageway (bottom left) provides a private garden entrance to the home.