– NATURAL POOLS AND WATER FEATURES FOR A TRANQUIL OUTDOOR SANCTUARY –
Creating a tranquil outdoor sanctuary is a goal for many homeowners seeking a peaceful retreat within their property. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by incorporating natural pools and water features that blend seamlessly into the landscape. By choosing water elements that complement your home’s natural materials and design, you can transform your outdoor space into a serene oasis.
The Allure of Natural Pools
Natural pools are a stunning alternative to traditional swimming pools. Designed to mimic the look and feel of a natural pond, these pools rely on plant-based filtration systems instead of chemicals, making them an eco-friendly choice. Aquatic plants like water lilies and reeds not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also help maintain water clarity and balance. Natural pools often incorporate boulders, gravel, and native plants, creating a harmonious connection with the surrounding environment.
When considering a natural pool, evaluate the size and shape that will best suit your space. Freeform designs tend to blend organically with gardens, while more geometric shapes can provide a modern contrast. To ensure your pool complements your home, use local stone or materials that match your outdoor design palette.
Water Gardens: A Living Work of Art
Water gardens are another beautiful way to integrate water into your landscape. These shallow pools often feature aquatic plants, fish, and flowing water, bringing movement and life to your garden. By incorporating native plants and decorative stones, you can create a habitat for local wildlife like birds, frogs, and butterflies.
To enhance the ambiance, consider adding a small waterfall or stream. The gentle sound of trickling water has a calming effect, masking neighborhood noise and creating a meditative atmosphere. A well-placed bench or seating area nearby invites relaxation and encourages moments of mindfulness.
Stone Fountains: Minimalist and Timeless
For those with limited space or seeking a low-maintenance option, stone fountains provide a classic touch. Available in various styles, from rustic to contemporary, these fountains can act as a focal point in a garden, courtyard, or patio. Natural stone materials like granite, limestone, or slate effortlessly blend with the landscape, adding texture and visual interest.
A tiered fountain or a minimalist bubbling sphere can enhance the zen-like ambiance of your space. Consider positioning your fountain near a seating area or garden path, allowing the soothing sound of flowing water to guide and relax visitors.
Harmonizing Water Features with Your Home’s Design
To achieve a cohesive look, it’s essential to select water features that complement your home’s architectural style and natural surroundings. For a modern organic home, opt for water elements with clean lines and understated elegance. Use natural materials such as stone, wood, and clay to maintain a sense of authenticity.
Maintaining Your Outdoor Sanctuary
While natural pools and water features are designed to be low-maintenance, regular upkeep ensures their longevity and beauty. For natural pools, maintaining a healthy balance of plants and microorganisms will keep the water clear. Periodic removal of debris and occasional water testing may be necessary.
Fountains and water gardens require routine cleaning to prevent algae growth and ensure water circulation. Installing a filtration system or adding beneficial bacteria can help keep the water clean and vibrant.
Embrace the beauty of nature by designing an outdoor retreat that soothes the senses and invites relaxation. With thoughtful planning and the right water feature, your outdoor space can become a sanctuary that nurtures both body and mind.
– Herb Club LA: Accessible Herbalism for Reconnecting with the Land –
Sarah Bobadilla, Partner Agent
When I first met Andrea Jimenez, the founder of Herb Club LA, I got the butterflies. It was that particular feeling of excitement that arises when meeting someone who not only truly madly deeply cares about their thing, but is also genuinely committed to sharing that thing with others. Multiply that by hundreds of people, and you have what it feels like to be a part of the Herb Club LA community.
Founded in 2022 with the hope to empower locals and re-establish a wider connection to reciprocity with the land, Herb Club LA began as a series of “Herb Walks” throughout LA’s myriad havens for native plants: Solstice Canyon in Malibu, Gabrielino Trail in Altadena, Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, and Griffith Park to name just a few. With a focus on Traditional Native American and Ecological knowledge, ethnobotany, and bioregional herbalism, Herb Walks are open to beginner herbalists, botanists, and just about anyone interested in reconnecting with the land.
In addition to Herb Walks, Herb Club LA hosts a number of special monthly events from outdoor tea meditations, kids summer programs, fire cider workshops, salve-making workshops, and medicine-making workshops to herbal dinner parties and pop-ups and more (Andrea and I once collabed on a menu of mushroom tacos with locally foraged sage and esquite with herbal salts!)
On this beautiful LA day, Herb Club LA is hosting a guided nature walk and picnic-style brunch at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena with locally gathered plants crafted by chef Camila Casanas in collaboration with Regarding Her for Women’s History Month.
Now more than ever, Herb Club LA is a true salve for our city. And who better to honor during Women’s History Month than Mother Nature herself? Get connected at @herbclub_la on Instagram to stay in touch and never miss one of their incredible events.
Upcoming Herb Club LA Events
Sunday, March 23rd – Join Herb Club LA at Oblivion Market for a special Fire Relief Apothecary Pop-Up, offering free herbs for those affected by the fires and small-batch tinctures crafted for lung support and nervous system resilience. Free for all ages.
Saturday, March 29th – Whether you’re an avid hiker or just love spending time outdoors, knowing how to work with local plants for first aid is an invaluable skill. Join Herb Club LA for a hands-on workshop to explore readily available medicinal plants in parks and trails around Los Angeles. Take home your own handcrafted wound balm for future adventures. All ages welcome and dogs on a leash are welcome. Sliding scale tickets available.
– Save The Date: Saturday, April 5th is L34’s next Gallery Art Night! –
Join us Saturday, April 5th for L34 Group’s next Gallery Art Night featuring Kyle Kinsella.
L34 Group, 5818 N Figueroa St, 90042 | 6-9pm
“Technology is the closest thing to Jesus and magic that we have.” – Scott Galloway (Pivot Podcast)
Our age of science and technology is a new age of witches and dark magic. What is artificial intelligence or an algorithm that radicalizes someone to hate but a new kind of sorcery?
These 78 paintings, a new tarot deck, are portraits of this new world—women and (mostly) men who are transforming the fields of science, finance, health care, social media, sales, marketing, entertainment, the auto industry, romance, real estate, travel, and sex. Each painting presents an avatar, a single word of conjuring. They are elemental forces of fire, snow, water, wind, and rainbows. They are tactile things like meat or hair. Archetypes from history and myth. They are seers, saints, jokers, demons, gods, humans, and frauds.
– Kyle
BIOGRAPHY
Kyle Kinsella has lived and worked in Los Angeles for 14 years. His richly colored representational paintings examine pop culture, myth, and memory. Inspired by the mythmaking city he lives in and the movies and TV he grew up on, he seeks to turn the stories we tell each other and ourselves upside down – or blow them apart.
He had solo exhibitions at The York (2017) and Smooth N’ Purdy gallery (2018) in Highland Park. He’s also participated in a number of group shows including Tropico De Nopal Gallery, Leanna Lin’s Wonderland, the 4th Crxtivity Festival, and the Made by 800 show.
You can view more of his work at kylekinsella.net or follow him on Instagram at @kyle.kinsella
And, as always, stay tuned into @L34Group for additional information about exciting upcoming Gallery Art Nights, and the local charities benefitting.
– LOVE NOTES –
We love our clients, and they love us…
❝There’s nobody better than Deirdre and Terry of L34. My husband and I always knew that when it came time to sell our Highland Park home, we’d enlist their help. That’s because they’ve long been a vibrant part of the community and know the NELA real estate market like nobody else. Not to mention their proven track record of selling homes fast and at above asking. Equally important to us was Deirdre and Terry’s reputation as highly ethical and above-board realtors. They don’t cut corners or sweep things under the rug. They have your back every step of the way and do their utmost to ensure there are no surprises between listing and closing, for seller or buyer. The level of professionalism, conscientiousness, integrity, and empathy that they (and the whole L34 family) bring to their clients cannot be beat. On top of all that, they are truly lovely people. Which is probably why they are able to transform an inherently transactional undertaking like real estate into a relationship based on genuine care, regard, and trust. Hands down, Deirdre and Terry are simply the best — do yourself a favor and get them on your team!❞
~ Cecily D, Highland Park home seller
– JUST SOLD –
485 Isabel St, Cypress Park, 90065
SOLD for $1,112,000
Duplex : Upper unit (2 bd +1 ba) delivered vacant!
3 bd + 2 ba, 2194 sq ft, built in 1906, 5693 sq ft lot, spectacular views
485isabel.com
– ON THE MARKET –
4951 Nagle Ave, Sherman Oaks, 91423
The Phoenix House – designed by MINARC, one of Forbes’ top residential architects
4 bd + 4 ba, 3100 sq ft, Built in 1956 – Reimagined in 2019, 7046 sq ft lot
Chef’s Kitchen, Pool and Sauna, Floor-to-Ceiling windows
List price $3,149,000
www.4951nagle.com
Prime Mt Washington LAND lots, 90065
APN 5466-010-006
Zoned LAR1, 6100 sq ft
List Price $150,000
APN 5466-010-002 + APN 5466-010-003
TWO contiguous lots! Zoned LAR1, 6500 total sq ft
List price $150,000
– COMING SOON –
1518 N Boylston St, Elysian Park, 90012
2 bd + 1 ba, 1328 sq ft, built in 1916, 6250 sq ft lot
Turn-of-the century bungalow, with a storied past, a luminous present.
List price $989,000
www.1518boylston.com
2436 Fairmount Ave, La Crescenta, 91214
4 bd + 3 ba, 2248 sq ft, built in 1977, 8263 sq ft
2nd flr primary suite w/ balcony, spacious open living room w/ fireplace,
plus, swimming pool and gardens!
List price $1,699,000
6209 Vidette St, Highland Park, 90042
2 bd + 1 3/4 ba, 1029 sq ft, built in 1926, 4782 sq ft lot
Updated bungalow with views and a terraced yard with a yurt
List price $999,000
– IN ESCROW –
5182 Hartwick St, Eagle Rock, 90041
3 bd + 2 ba, 1610 sq ft, large 7069 sq ft corner lot
Stunning craftsman specimen w/ bonus back house,
prime location North of Colorado Blvd!
List price $2,200,000
2112 Rome Dr, Glassell Park, 90065
2 bd + 1 ba, 1068 sq ft, built in 1923, 5699 sq ft lot
Lovely gardens, gated driveway, detached garage & bonus space w/ half-bath
List price $979,000
www.2112Rome.com
– L34 GROUP’S PREFERRED LENDER – |
Leslie J. Black, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
Branch Manager | Mortgage Advisor | NMLS #1111536
C: 562.322.0836 | lblack@fairwaymc.com
We would love to meet with you, whether you’re considering selling
your home, or looking to purchase a home, please reach out to get the conversation started!
Information always updated and available on www.L34Group.com
