Rewriting the Client's Checklist

Michael Bernier Describes the Rationale Behind This $100,000 California Zen Paradise

If you attended SYNKD Live 2024, you might have heard Michael Bernier, founder of Michael Bernier Design and Think Outside Landscape Design Academy, speak about the significance of design in landscaping. An advocate for pushing the envelope, Michael views quality design as the pulley system raising the bar for the industry as a whole. A case study for his stance, this tranquil Los Angeles bungalow exemplifies the web of influences that make for outstanding results. Understanding the client’s personality, Michael explains, was a critical first step for this project.

“He was this wild kind of guy, a real artist with trippy artwork everywhere in his home,” says Michael. “Everything about him was outside of the box. Had I not walked through the house, I would not have seen that. The client was also tattooed from head to toe. He had a shaved head and piercings. He wore a punk rock band t-shirt.

"There are clues I picked up on
that told me I can push this."

When the client initially reached out, he merely asked for a pathway leading from the patio to the pool and a solution for the grass that would lessen the burden of cleaning muddy dog paw prints off his floor. At this precursory visit, Michael learned about the client’s approach to creativity in his profession as a Hollywood film trailer editor. When asked about hobbies, the client revealed that his partner enjoyed cooking, a small detail that later blossomed into a full outdoor kitchen, complete with a barbecue and fridge.

“Going into that initial meeting—this is something I warn other contractors and designers about, too—I didn’t want to be an order taker,” says Michael. “Of course, you should listen to what the client wants, but I caution against writing it down as a to-do list. You have to read between the lines.”

"If you think about it, these people call us
because we are professionals. We should be
able to create a vision that goes beyond
anything that they can imagine."

After gathering insights from the client and the site itself, Michael solidified his goals for the project the old-fashioned way—with pencil and paper.

“There is a visceral sort of intelligence that works between the mind and the hand,” says Michael. “For that reason, I always sketch out my thoughts. I refrain from jumping on the computer until I have some promising ideas.”

From there, Michael created a clear visual for the client, using software he mastered during his graphic design years. Besides the outdoor kitchen, Michael ultimately received the green light for adding permeable hardscaping, pool access points, a cumaru hardwood deck, a zen rock garden, Mediterranean water-wise plantings and a custom redwood wall with inset planters to the list.

“A space will tell you what it needs,” says Michael. “When I first stepped into this outdoor space, I tried to find the ‘why’ behind it all. Because if I understood the ‘why,’ I could find the ‘how.’”

Identifying the logic behind each component of the untouched backyard led Michael to unexpected conceptual conclusions. Timber bamboo, not a plant Michael would select himself due to its unruly nature, was deemed stayworthy once its purpose on the property became apparent. Like a natural privacy screen, the bamboo shoots align to block the view of the seven-story apartment complex beyond.

Following that same principle, the redwood wall hides a carport that would have otherwise clashed with the new style. A peculiar half-hexagon patio, installed once upon a time by others, became a distinct design element Michael emphasized by angling railroad ties in the rock garden, drawing the eye toward the pool.

“I try to use what is already there as often as I can,” says Michael. “That includes hardscape materials and plant life, especially trees. I hate ripping out trees. The big mulberry tree in the photos, we knew that was not going anywhere. First of all, it was beautiful, and it created a great canopy. Visually, that was the anchor of the whole space.”

Illuminating that tree canopy and using light to highlight subtle creative touches was likely the most gratifying part of the process for Michael. From the babbling rock fountain to the unique light fixture above the dining table, light in this project not only carries out safety and security objectives, but gives the entertaining space an enchanting air.

“When everything, including the lighting, is done in cohesion, it creates this sense of awe, and you just want to exhale,” says Michael. “I believe less is more in all parts of landscape design. Some people are inclined to put up as many lights as possible, but it’s not about making the night feel like the day. It’s about giving the yard a comfortable evening ambiance.”

The ingenuity behind this project is in its holistic design process, addressing every transition like a seamless film edit and letting personality and site quirks shine through. The cow skulls, added later by the client, look at home in this environment, demonstrating how on-target the design truly is. The client was given precisely what he craved for this landscape—far beyond what he thought possible before meeting Michael.

GET IN TOUCH WITH...

Michael Bernier
Founder of Michael Bernier Design
Phone: (310) 634–1700
Email: info@michaelbernierdesign.com
www.michaelbernierdesign.com