In one of Southern California's most beloved foothill communities, our in-house landscape architects, designers, and builders create outdoor spaces that harmonize with Altadena's climate, terrain, mature trees, and your personal style - from backyard renovations and patios to outdoor kitchens, pools, planting, and complete landscape design-build projects.
Since 1999 - Licensed & insured - 20,000+ projects completed across Southern California
Altadena Rebuilding Support
Altadena is a community we're proud to work in, and the impact of the Eaton Fire on so many families and properties here has been on our minds since it happened. Rebuilding a home is never just about the structure. The yard, the trees, and the outdoor spaces are part of what makes a property feel whole again, and this has always been a community that rebuilds with resilience.
We're offering special rates for properties affected by the fires. Every situation is different, so please call us to learn more.
Altadena Homeowner Stories
Why Pacific Outdoor Living
Altadena landscapes deserve more than generic improvement. They need a plan that respects the site, mature nature, biodiversity, and the practical realities of construction.
Our dedicated permitting department helps manage city requirements, submittals, and permit coordination when your project needs approvals. Because we work with city officials, planning departments, and building departments across Southern California, we know how to make the permitting path clearer and easier before construction begins.
We source through long-standing supplier relationships and pass our wholesale material discounts through to you instead of treating them as an upsell. You get the material deals we get, and you can visit our showroom to pick materials in person, compare finishes, and actually feel them before final selections are made.
Design, materials, budget, scheduling, permits, planting, and construction stay connected from first measurements to final walkthrough, so one team handles the project from start to finish. We do not hand your project off to outside subcontractors; our in-house team of trained workers brings years of experience to the build.
Bring your outdoor vision to life sooner with flexible monthly payment options designed around your budget. We partner with Wells Fargo Bank and Lyon Financial to make quality outdoor living accessible to everyone. Get approved quickly, choose from convenient monthly installments, and enjoy a revolving line of credit you can use whenever you need it. Quality design and build shouldn't come with financial stress.
Designing for Altadena
Altadena foothill lots often combine grade changes, mature trees, view corridors, older hardscape, and runoff management needs. With warm, dry summers and mild, wetter winters, a successful outdoor plan should balance beauty, shade, drainage, water-wise planting, and year-round outdoor living.
That can mean regrading for proper drainage, choosing fire-conscious, drought-tolerant, and native planting, replacing aging hardscape with materials built for foothill conditions, or creating a backyard retreat with a pergola, fire pit, water feature, outdoor kitchen, and comfortable gathering space.
Designing for Altadena
Altadena's Mediterranean climate, San Gabriel Mountain foothill setting, and established garden character make climate-appropriate planting and thoughtful hardscape essential. We design for beauty, water conservation, comfort, and long-term function.
Grade changes and runoff management are common on foothill lots. We plan grading, drainage, irrigation zoning, patios, pathways, and retaining walls together so water is managed and outdoor rooms feel connected.
California poppy, lavender, agave, kangaroo paw, sages, buckwheats, manzanita, toyon, and ornamental grasses can bring color, texture, pollinator value, and lower water use when matched to sun, soil, slope, and maintenance goals.
Root conflicts with existing trees are a common issue in established Altadena yards. Our Site Analysis maps root zones and canopy before hardscape, grading, seating areas, and outdoor rooms are finalized.
Mediterranean-inspired gardens, native planting, contemporary landscapes, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, pergolas, and water features can all work beautifully in Altadena when they are customized to your property, budget, and lifestyle.
Local Case Study
A foothill property where the driveway, entry, and elevation changes had to be replanned around existing trees and grading rather than starting from a blank slate - the kind of constraint common to Altadena's hillside lots.
The base plan mapped the full driveway, flagstone entry, fence lines, elevation changes, and existing planting before any design work began, identifying utility placements like electrical panels, irrigation valves, and hose bibs so the new hardscape could work around what was already there.
The homeowner and designer settled on an ashlar paver pattern for the driveway and entry, paired with low-maintenance plantings, dark mulch, and step lighting, resulting in a refined entry that respects the property's mature trees and elevation changes instead of removing them.
Services for Complete Outdoor Living
Our Altadena work can bring planting, hardscape, pools, ponds, patios, kitchens, lighting, and construction details into one cohesive design-build plan.
Embrace Altadena's Mediterranean climate with a garden in your front and back yards that reflects the beauty of the region. Incorporate olive trees, lavender, rosemary, and bougainvillea to create a vibrant and fragrant oasis. Complement the plantings with stone pathways, terracotta accents, and a central focal point such as a water feature or pergola, capturing the essence of a Mediterranean retreat in your backyard.
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An outdoor kitchen is a fantastic addition to your Altadena landscape, allowing you to cook, entertain, and enjoy the outdoors simultaneously. Incorporate a grill, countertops, a sink, and storage space to create a fully functional outdoor cooking area, to be enjoyed all year round.
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Celebrate the native flora of Altadena by designing a garden that showcases California's diverse plant species. This design not only complements Altadena's environment, but promotes local ecology and attracts native wildlife to your garden.
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For a sleek and modern look, opt for a contemporary landscape design. Clean lines, minimalistic plantings, and architectural elements create a sophisticated outdoor space. Incorporate drought-tolerant grasses, succulents, and artificial turf for a low-maintenance yet visually striking landscape.
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A fire pit adds warmth, ambiance, and a cozy gathering spot to your outdoor space. Whether you opt for a traditional wood-burning fire pit or a gas-powered one, it becomes a focal point for relaxation and conversation. Surround the fire pit with comfortable seating and consider incorporating built-in features like benches or stone seating walls to enhance your outdoor space's aesthetics and functionality.
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Altadena's climate lends itself well to incorporating water features into your landscape design. Install a tranquil fountain, a cascading waterfall, or a serene pond to add visual interest, soothing sounds, and a sense of tranquility to your outdoor space. Water features also attract birds and other wildlife, enhancing the natural beauty of Altadena.
ExploreOur proven design-build process turns your goals into a coordinated plan before construction begins, helping reduce uncertainty, avoid costly surprises, and keep the project moving forward.
01 This initial investment helps guarantee your project is Designed Right, Built Right, on time, and on budget. It gives our team the accurate information needed to plan confidently and avoid costly surprises later.
Learn more about Site AnalysisEnter your address to confirm service availability and find your nearest Pacific Outdoor Living service region.
Outside our standard service area? Contact us anyway. We may still be able to help or recommend a trusted partner.
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Checking your area…
Your property is within our Los Angeles service region.
Our sister company specializes in natural waterscapes, ponds, and fountains, and serves your area directly.
We may still be able to help, review your project, or connect you with a trusted referral.
Nearby Communities
Local FAQs
Altadena is within our Greater Los Angeles service region, and our in-house design-build team works throughout the area. The quickest way to confirm your exact property is to use the address checker on this page.
We begin with a Site Analysis that maps existing trees, root zones, slope, and drainage before any design decisions are made, so the plan can protect established canopy while addressing grading and runoff.
Yes. For natural pools, ponds, waterfalls, streams, and ecosystem-focused water features, we recommend working with our sister company, California Waterscapes. Visit California Waterscapes
Cost and timeline depend on the scope of your project. A patio or drainage fix is a different investment than a complete backyard remodel with a pool, kitchen, and full landscape. Our five-step, in-house design-build process is built to keep confirmed projects on schedule and on budget, and a consultation is the fastest way to get numbers specific to your property. Learn About Financing Options
LA County Fire Department
As Altadena rebuilds, the LA County Fire Department requires annual defensible space compliance for properties in fire hazard zones. Building or restoring your landscape with defensible space integrated from the start is an opportunity to create a resilient, fire-conscious outdoor environment that protects your home and honors the community's recovery.
We plan defensible space zones into your landscape design from the beginning, so rebuilding includes fire resilience by design.
Native and drought-tolerant plantings that are suited to Altadena's foothill climate while meeting defensible space requirements.
Our in-house permitting team handles all Fire Department compliance paperwork and coordinates with LA County.
Start with a conversation about your property, priorities, and the way you want to live outdoors in Altadena.
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