Hidden Backyard Gems 

With a big winter in the rearview mirror, Santa Barbara blue skies are taking advantage of longer spring days. It’s a time for rearranging the patio furniture and tightening up the greenery as family meals and weekend get-togethers move out back. At Giffin & Crane, we pride ourselves on building peace of mind, and we perform with a whole-property awareness, from curb appeal to living spaces to those backyard sanctuaries common to the sunny South Coast.

California Spanish Ranch:  After the Jesusita Fire reduced the entirety of this property to charred earth, the homeowners rebuilt in the style of a traditional California hacienda. 

Horticulturist Carol Bornstein dreamed up a drought-tolerant landscape design dominated by natives, and, soon enough, the birds — notably quail, hawks, owls, and vultures — came back in healthy numbers, along with deer, coyotes, bobcats, and foxes. For added peace of mind, the backyard features a two-inch waterline with a valve that’ll hold a firehose. Other fireproofing features include conditioned crawl spaces, tempered glass, sprinklers, spray-foam insulation, stucco siding, and intumescent exterior beams. Architecture by Hugh Twibell.