On first viewing, this pleasant older home in Los Gatos seemed completely unrelated to its site.

The addition of the picket fence, entry arbor and covered swing are classic design solutions to some very practical problems.

The fence keeps kids and toys off the street, while visually integrating the house into the streetscape. The arbor draws attention to the front door, while the covered swing provides opportunities for interacting with the neighbors.

In the rear of the house (next page), an outdoor entertaining area off the kitchen is shaded by several varieties of Japanese Maple, while the colored poles in the background announce the entrance to the kids’ play area.