The pool house on the property of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ducato of Atherton, California | architect Thomas D. Church

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ducato of Atherton, California, have tastes that are shared by the majority of Americans. They spend as much time as they can out-of-doors. They like to swim in their pool, cook their own meals at a barbecue. They want their garden to be as private and livable as their house. The logical landscape architect to carry out all this was Thomas D. Church, a man who long ago broke with traditional garden design and unimaginative solutions. His approach to the garden parallels that of a modern architect planning a house. Mr. Church's first question is "What does this garden do for me-or for you?" The Ducatos' garden is a good illustration of this philosophy. Its meandering green areas punctuated by unusual trees (ginkgos, tree ferns, a mugho pine) lead to the pool area. Easy-to- grow flowers emphasize the pink and black color scheme of the pavilion, which was designed by architect Germano Milono on wide, "floating" lines. A cozy fireplace corner, deep modern chairs and sofas covered in denim, and a home-built barbecue make the large lanai inviting, livable. Here Mrs. Ducato cooks delicious meals, and here, even when they have no guests, the family often spends the entire day reading by the fire or listening to music.

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source: House and Garden Magazine | February 1952