Bringing Interior and Exterior Spaces Together: SSLA’s Expanded Vision

At Segal Shuart Landscape Architects, we have always believed that the most successful spaces are those that blur the lines between indoors and out. From layout and furniture selection to decorative lighting and accessories, we strive to create seamless transitions that enhance both function and beauty. Now, we’re thrilled to take this philosophy even further by expanding our services to include Interior Design.

Why Interior Design? Because great design doesn’t stop at the threshold. More than ever, our Clients are looking for holistic, thoughtfully curated spaces that reflect their lifestyles in every detail—both inside and out. By offering Interior Design services, we can now work with Clients on their projects in their entirety, ensuring a cohesive vision from the landscape to the living room.

Our approach remains rooted in purpose, sustainability, and context sensitivity. We carefully select high-end materials, furnishings, lighting, and accessories that elevate a space while maintaining a deep connection to its surroundings. Whether it’s sourcing the perfect area rug to complement an outdoor terrace or designing custom furniture that speaks to both comfort and sophistication, our goal is to bring harmony and balance to every project.

Julia Shuart, with her passion for fashion, style, and presentation, leads this expansion with a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the interplay of materials, light, and form. By integrating Interior Design with our landscape expertise, we can create meaningful connections that transform homes into truly unified spaces.

We’re excited to embark on this new chapter and continue designing with intention—inside and out. If you’re considering a project and want to explore how we can help bring your vision to life, let’s start a conversation!

The Path to New Construction

At SSLA, we have been involved in many ground-up construction projects and one thing we want clients (and building architects) to understand is that it’s never too early to involve a landscape architect. Landscape architects do not just handle planting and irrigation but make decisions regarding grade changes, drainage, underground utilities and infrastructure, and the design and placement of retaining walls, structures and pools. The earlier a landscape architect is brought on board, the more coordination can happen, which ultimately not only saves time and money, but lowers the chances of costly changes.

In this example below, we were involved from concept through construction, produced planting and irrigation documents and calculations for submittal to the City of Santa Monica Plan Check, produced pool drawings for pool contractor bidding and construction, coordinated materials with the project’s Interior Designer, and visited the site a few times during construction. The design includes beautiful limestone paving, permeable driveway pavers (which helped the project pass on-site water capture requirements), a medium-sized family pool with large spa and water feature, a multi-purpose lawn, a covered lounge space with built-in heaters, and a double-island outdoor kitchen/bar. We were involved for about a year of the overall process and our fee was about 10% of the landscape construction cost (excluding the pool).

We are happy with the resulting landscape, which is inviting, private and low maintenance. We were able to maximize space while maximizing value. As Angelenos consider building or rebuilding, we hope this example is helpful in thinking about how to approach the exterior of a new construction project and we are here to answer any questions you may have.

Hope for the Future, Need for Change

Two days before the Los Angeles Fires we hiked in Malibu. It breaks our hearts to think of all the devastation, the homes lost, the communities torn apart, and the flora and fauna (seen here) that burned. Unlike buildings, landscape is resilient and plants will rejuvinate. This gives us a lot of hope.

But as we think about rebuilding, we hope some time is taken to plan better, safer, and more sustainably. For example, underground power lines, wise street tree selection, defensible space between homes, fire-wise materials and more. After careful planning and smart building comes the need for maintenance which is critical for the safety of all neighborhoods.

It will require lots of time and patience but us SSLA native Angelenos are not going anywhere. We are committed to bringing our City back.

After the Fires

We are devastated by what the recent fires have done to our beloved communities of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. So many clients and friends have been deeply affected. We are still processing the magnitude of loss.

Please know that us designers and planners are starting to think about ways in which we can help restore the landscape and built environment, safely and beautifully. We are compiling resources, assembling teams, and thinking about how we can help rebuild with sustainability in mind. We are also looking at ways we can assist people with navigating City codes and the permit process, to provide design + build services and packages, and to streamline the process as much as possible.

We know the last week has been so hard for Angelenos, and we are thinking about those of you— friends, clients, and others—who have been directly affected. We are here for you so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. ❤️‍🩹

Pool party!

As part of a full backyard remodel in Calabasas, we’re taking an outdated and oddly shaped pool, simplifying the footprint, and integrating a spa and cover. A new pool house with a covered patio and fireplace will sit just beyond the pool, and mimic the Spanish architecture of the main house. Add to that a bocce court and a beautiful plant palette, and it’ll be something special. Clean, elegant, and under construction!

Veterans Housing opening soon at the VA

With a ribbon-cutting scheduled for February 26, 2023, VA Building 207 will soon house up to 59 homeless and at-risk veterans in a renovated building within the Veterans Affairs’ West LA Campus. The project, developed by Thomas Safran & Associates as part of a master plan initiative by the West LA Veterans Collective (WLAVC) and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, includes a range of exterior spaces such as landscaped courtyards, gardens, and a re-created Historic Walkway adjacent to the project. SSLA has provided design and construction support services to help the project come to fruition.

A Landscape Re-View

Tasked with completely updating this large hillside property near the 405 Freeway, SSLA created a layout that offered ample space for lounging, entertaining, grilling, and playing—all while accentuating the beautiful views to the west. On it’s way to completion!

Grill, Smoke, and Bake

Our client made it clear they love cooking, so SSLA designed this outdoor kitchen pavilion to include everything under the sun: grill, fridge, sink, pizza oven, smoker, storage, and a bar countertop. Dinner to be served shortly!

A Series of Rooms

Building off an existing pool and not much else, SSLA’s design for this Encino property includes a series of outdoor rooms: the kitchen pavilion, the deck lounge, and the multi-use garden. Each area has its own purpose, but transitions gracefully into the next, creating a cohesive landscape with plenty of shade, color, and personality. Bonus: We created a swale that helps infiltrate stormwater from the roof.

Ranch Living in Ojai

With the existing remodeled home as the heart, the master plan for this 2-acre property in Ojai includes a guest house, pool, vineyard, and play areas nestled within groves of new and existing trees, and situated to accentuate views of the surrounding hills.