How a house becomes a new owner's home

Every home has a personality that reflects its owner. As a case in point, I found it interesting to watch the changes to this house near the Fallbrook Golf Course. I know the place well, as it was our home until about l0 years ago — and it recently changed owners when the couple who purchased it from us moved back to the East Coast.

In 1992 we brought our own taste into play with a new mailbox at the entry, courtyard walls and a detached garage and potting shed complex on the uphill side of the double garage. Later changes were modifications of our landscaping to include flower gardens in raised planter beds. We enjoyed the citrus and avocado trees on the hillside, as well as peach, apple and other fruit trees downhill toward the road.

Now, a new look to the place is evolving that fits the lifestyle of the new owners and makes a lot of sense as well. For easy maintenance and low water usage much of the lawn area has been removed in favor of gravel and stone surfaces, the courtyard wall has been extended all along the street side of the house, and succulent plants are being placed or potted to encircle the living areas.

Yet to come is a new patio area uphill from the house, where the owners can enjoy phone-free quiet time with nice views across the golf course. Grapevines are planned to add summertime beauty downhill from the house. New iron fencing is in place to seek coyote-free security for the homeowners’ small dogs to run free everywhere on the property.

This house has a nice floor plan in a choice setting, and once again it appears to ideally fit the tastes of its owners… right down to the detached garage, which has now been converted into an artist’s studio. It is a pleasant, new personality and the owners love this home that fits them so well.