Los Angeles wooden arbor, pergola, patio cover, fence, deck, driveway gate, entry gate, garden gate, tree house and play house designer and builder.

Peter A. Kirsch-Korff

Wood Arbors, Decks, Fences & Gates - Builder


Los Angeles      Pasadena      Hollywood      La Canada      Malibu


 Medieval Spanish Style Wooden Driveway Gates with a Distressed Finish - Pasadena (near Los Angeles) 
Medieval Spanish Style Wooden Driveway Gates with a Distressed Finish - Pasadena (near Los Angeles)      Los Angeles Trellis Arbor      Garden Dining Pavilion      Greene & Greene Inspired Screen Door

                       

Client & Research Inspired Designs

Many of the projects I build are client inspired. We often start with something that has caught your eye and work on finding the right combination of functionality, architectural style and beauty. Anything can provide a starting point -- magazine clippings, vacation photos, napkin sketches, or inspiring neighborhood themes and designs.

At the other end of the spectrum, I can also work with clients who want to leave the design entirely in my hands. Usually I can draw inspiration from the architecture of your home and the words you choose to describe the final look. Some clients just leave it at -- "I love your work. Surprise me."

Really, the range of what I can build is limited only by your budget and imagination. So if you have always dreamed of dining by lantern light in a medieval garden arbor or want to create a historical play fort for the kids -- I would be happy to realize your vision.

I can help with ...

  • site selection and material recommendations
  • feedback on functionality and "buildability" for an existing design
  • design tips for ensuring a long life
  • suggestions for how to realize or enhance a garden theme
  • practical ideas for how to achieve a specific style (see my architectural style guide for more details)
  • a ballpark quote or a detailed written estimate

 

 

Examples of Garden Architecture Inspired By Clients & Research

 

Medieval Spanish Style Wood Driveway Gates

This client was restoring a Spanish bungalow and wanted very special driveway gates. I found a photo of a beautiful set of gates that were part of a medieval church in Valencia, Spain. That photo became the inspiration for these gates, which were scaled-down to fit.

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Medieval Spanish Style Wooden Driveway Gates with a Distressed Finish - Pasadena (near Los Angeles)

 

 

Architectural Wood Trellis

This trellis system was designed from a rough client sketch and a magazine photo of the oval accents .

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Architectural Style Wood Trellis Arbor - Pasadena, California

 

 

Outdoor Garden Wood Pavilion

This design was created when the client quickly drew a sketch on a nearby napkin at a local fast food restaurant.

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Outdoor Garden Wood Pavilion - South Pasadena (Los Angeles Area)

 

 

Finding Inspiration Touring The Gamble House

This client wanted something special for a Craftsman bungalow. So I took a tour of The Gamble House in Pasadena for inspiration. I took this photograph of their "cloud lift" motif screen door and used it as a starting point to design an updated and improved version. And yes, that is my tape measure on the right side of the photograph.

 

Greene & Greene Inspired Screen Door

Here is the completed screen door, installed and stained, ready for use.

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Greene & Greene Inspired Mahogany Screen Door - Los Angeles

 

 

Additional Resources and Related Links

In addition to the related links in my design guides, you might be interested in these resources for inspiration and ideas for garden architecture and theme gardens.

 

Here is a list of some of the books I recommend (links may earn a commission).

 

 

Backyard Idea Book by Lee Anne White / Tauton Home

Great book with lots of color photos of decks, arbors, fences, outdoor kitchens and garden retreats.  LA Public Library book

 

IdeaWise: Yards & Gardens: Inspiration & Information by Nancy Baldrica

This book provides inspiration and hundreds of ideas for creating an attractive and practical garden. It includes over 100 photos and specific pages on patios, decks, porches, garden retreats, arbors and pergolas, hot tubs and more.    LA Public Library book

 

 

Theme Gardens (Sunset Series) by Hazel White, Janet Sanchez and the editors of Sunset Books

A great guide for finding inspiration and ideas for creating specific garden styles, including Mediterranean, Japanese, Formal, Tropical, Cottage, and eclectic.    LA Public Library book

 

 

Pure Style Outdoors by Jane Cumberbatch

A great guide for exploring color, texture and mood in the garden. Features hundreds of photos for inspiration and finding out what delights you.    LA Public Library book

 

 

Gardens Of The Spirit: Create Your Own Sacred Spaces by Roni Jay

This book provides inspiration and ideas for creating Taoist, Zen, Islamic, Medieval, Italian Renaissance, English Knot and Healing gardens.   LA Public Library book

 

 

The Artful Garden: Creative Inspiration for Landscape Design by Sweden and Christopher

This book provides practical insight and advice for how to use art, from jazz to painting, to inspire your garden architecture and landscaping.

 

 

Outer Spaces by Diarmuid Gavin

This book offers insight into how the inspiration for 25 gardens were transformed into plans and planting guides and then realized in physical form.   LA Public Library book

 

 

Design Your Garden: 10 Steps to Design Revolution in Your Garden by Diarmuid Gavin

This book offers ideas, advice and inspiration for designing a garden that expresses your unique style and tastes.   LA Public Library book

 

 

Patio: Garden Design & Inspiration  by Jamie Durie

Another inspirational garden and patio design book that offers a more asian focus on design and elements.

 

 

Taunton's Deck & Patio Idea Book

This book has lots of ideas and photos of decks, arbors, pergolas and patio covers.  LA Public Library book

 

 

Hardscaping : High Style, Low Maintenance Outdoor Spaces by Haig Seferian

This book provides inspiration, ideas and hundreds of photos of beautiful gardens and garden architecture.     LA Public Library book

 

 

 

The Complete Guide to Creative Landscaping by Black & Decker

This comprehensive books contains a chapter on design concepts (purpose, simplicity, unity, balance, movement, interest, and harmony) as well as an overview of traditional styles.  LA Public Library book

 

 

On Garden Style by Bunny Williams

This book has chapters on finding your personal style and putting your dream to work -- along with over 150 photos and sketches of gardens, courtyards, garden architecture and accents.    LA Public Library book

 

 

Architecture in the Garden by James van Sweden, Tom Christopher & Penelope Hobhouse

This book offers a landscape artist's insights into garden design and how to marry house and garden.

 

 

Permission is granted to anyone who wants to
use my work for inspiration outside of the LA area.


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Pasadena Mangaris TM deck before patio cover
Modern Horizontal Wood Fence - Los Angeles, CA
Asian Gate - Los Angeles Gate Builder
Wooden Treehouse with Club House - Malibu
Pool Equipment Enclosure - Beverly Hills, CA

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Serving the Los Angeles area communities of Altadena, Arcadia, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Brentwood, Chino Hills, Claremont, Diamond Bar, Encino, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hancock Park, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Malibu, Monrovia, Northridge, North Hills, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Pomona, Porter Ranch, Rancho Cucumonga, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, South Pasadena, Studio City, Van Nuys, West Hills, West Hollywood, Westwood, and West Los Angeles.

California Licensed Contractor #701028