A Beautiful Estate on Mt. Tam in Mill Valley
Imagine living in your dream house on Mt. Tam when one rainy winter an 80’ Redwood threatens to fall on your home. Nothing could be done to preserve it, and sadly it was removed. (The owners milled the tree to create a new deck railing, and they had several thick slabs of beautifully preserved wood held in storage.) The new open space had a completely different feel with no shade, a dysfunctional retaining wall, major drainage problems, full sun where there had been shade, and an uprooted flagstone staircase.
The problem was obvious, but the solution took some time to figure out and many many measurements for a tight space. When we began demo, the Redwood roots had overtaken the entire underground area and were actually still growing!
BEFORE
The result is a new nook with a floating Redwood bench (from the tree), a family space perfectly suited for ping-pong, and a half-moon staircase to meet the repaired and widened flagstone pathway leading to the fruit orchard. A blood red Japanese Maple anchors the corner against the house, and a fresh row of lavender invites you to sit and stay awhile.
