Before the studio — another Eichler in the founder’s history.

Eichler 1: our first, but not our last. We were the first renters after the original owners — an OG kitchen, some questionable landscaping choices (12 giant Eucalyptus towering over the side of the house), but they didn’t know what we know now.

Existing highlights included an Albizia julibrissin ‘Silk Tree’ in the back, and a gorgeous old olive. This was my first time as an adult living in a house instead of an apartment, and tending to the yard — enjoying it from those floor-to-ceiling (single-paned) windows — was a quiet revelation. The foundation and window beds proved to be the most fun: I played with containers and daydreamed about what I’d do to the yard if it were mine. I include this entry because it was my very first taste of landscaping. Limited by renter status and a full-time job running a social media agency at the time, the seed was still planted.

LOCATION: Sunnvayle, California, Zone 9b