Inside Nicole Salceda's California Wine Country-Inspired Backyard Sanctuary

Inspired by California wine county, Eye For Pretty's Nicole Salceda creates a sanctuary in her backyard.

Nicole Salceda in her newly designed backyard

Seeking inspiration in Napa and Sonoma isn’t anything new. But Bay Area designer Nicole Salceda, founder of Eye for Pretty (eyeforpretty.com), used wine country as a backyard template. Her goals? “To create an outdoor sanctuary that felt like our favorite boutique hotels in wine country,” she says. “I wanted to maximize the layout to incorporate different spaces for entertaining, playing, swimming and relaxation.”

The landscaping team created areas for small gatherings.

Salceda collaborated on the project with Yardzen (yardzen.com), which offers custom landscape design for projects of all sizes. The landscaping team helped Salceda visualize every angle of the space. “I sent [the team] my inspiration and layout ideas, and they put it together in colored renderings. They were also helpful when I needed to make tweaks and modifications.”

Gorgeous flora frames the home’s pool

Entertaining defines the yard. “From the outdoor kitchen island to the large deck with ample seating to the beautiful outdoor fireplace and large sectional area, every space is inviting and perfect for large or small groups,” says Salceda. “It’s also spread out, so we can have our kids and their friends over at the redwood fire pit while the adults hang out at the main fireplace.”

The landscaping provides a lush backdrop for the spacious deck.

The landscaping team planted pittosporum silver sheen (hedges on the fence), iceberg roses, olive bushes, fountain grasses, feather grass and fruitless olive trees. “Living in the Bay Area means the outdoor season is most of the year,” says Salceda, whose new backyard has hosted swim and birthday parties, barbecues and countless cozy nights by the fire. “There isn’t a time when we’re not using the backyard. It’s an extension of our home and gives us a reason to get outdoors and enjoy the gorgeous views of Mount Diablo throughout the year.”