We made a very quick visit to Ojai over the weekend. It’s a small town about an hour and a half north of L.A. Even though I was only there for about 24 hours I saw so many things that sparked inspiration for me for different aspect of my home and work. Much of the architecture in Ojai is Spanish-style, and the town has a very boho-flavor. Since my home is also Spanish-style I always pay close attention to neat architectural details to glean ideas for our home and yard.
Our home is still enclosed by a chain-link fence. We plan to change that and some other aspects of our yard this year, and so I loved looking at all of these arched walls, patterned steps and cool doorways to think about adopting some ideas for our yard update and chain-link replacement.
I loved this yard so much. The idea of separating the home from the street with a low, winding wall with cacti, euphorbia, agave and aloe really got my wheels churning since up until now I was imagining a wall similar to this but like 5 ft. tall. This is so much more inviting but the plants help deter unwanted folks (and animals) from crossing over into the house–and plus they’re just so beautiful. Also, loving the teal trim on that French door and how it recalls the teal colors in the plants. So pretty, huh?
Also, there is this one wall right off the main drag with five of these fan aloes in bloom. They are a favorite plant of mine and add so much life to the street! I definitely want to plant some on our yard along our wall, too.
Hope you all had a nice Holiday weekend!
Cindy DuLong says
Ahh! I was just there as well! I love the Ojai Valley Inn’s stair tiles xx
Kristina Bing says
Love all the colors found in Ojai, super inspiring.
Christine Catleugh says
Great pics. Thanks for the colourful inspiration in rainy Vancouver!
Rusty says
Hey Justina! :)
Dunno if you know about architecture in general (?), but our home is also Spanish style; technically, Spanish influence, Arts and Crafts, Pre-California Bungalow…in Australia! Go figure! We have four arches at the front of our house, with bull-nosed bricks (curved edges instead of square) and all the lower window trims have the same, with tuck-pointing. It was built in the mid 1920s by a builder who also built a William Hardy-Wilson home nearby (there are only a few in Australia and that owner was some man-of-high-society from England dude of the day) and he clearly stole a few of the one-of archictect’s ideas.
Our friends cannot believe it, but we kept the original kitchen because we lurve it so much and primarily restored the house, with the only room requiring renovation, being the bathroom – it didn’t even have a toilet!! The loo was outside! No dodgy extensions have ever been done and the only change is enclosure of a back verandah – the rest of the changes consist of an array of five out-buildings in the backyard. We’re so happy here and are only the third owners ever! I l.o.v.e. watching what you do to your house, coz each little tweak would go so well in ours! Yaay for Spanish influence – a rarity on Australia for sure! :)
Rusty says
Gaaah! I just saw the red Kangaroo Paws!! Those are from Perth, Western Australia, where I live! Wot the?!?
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Anne says
waouh would love to visit one day! Can’t wait to see what this will inspire you to do in your yard.
Caitlin says
Ojai is my favorite little town. My uncle lives there and he is my dentist right downtown. The most charming little Spanish town with with inspiration all throughout.
aprilneverends says
Ojai is wonderful..great photos thank you. I’m looking for inspiration like this-landscaping still awaits..
PS there’s my bathroom floor tiles lol..on the very first pic..
Ours might be a tad darker?
Chose them, between other things, for texture..very non slippery
Mo Blair says
That short wall is a stellar design feature. It creates a barrier, but is not foreboding! Great pics from my favorite CA town! Carry on…you do such great work!
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