Virginia's philosophy for successful residential design is built on the following principles:
- Clients current and future needs must be thoroughly understood and integrated into the design program.
- Communication and transparency among the Owner, Contractor and Architect are essential from design programming through construction.
- Environmental elements in city codes such as water and energy conservation, green products, and landscaping must be integrated into the design process from the beginning.
- It is the house and gardens that owner's live in, not the blueprints, and the final project must meet or exceed their expectations of excellence.
In order to provide personal attention during design and construction, Virginia prefers to work on properties in Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, La Canada and adjacent areas. A prior Planning Commissioner and Design Review Board member, she understands zoning code restrictions and what is needed for successful presentations to city review agencies.
Virginia is very much a hands-on architect, regularly visiting her job sites during construction. She will often work directly with craftsmen to fine tune a detail. In landscape projects she will always go that extra mile to find the perfect plant material and will pull out her own clippers to prune an errant branch. Her gardens are regularly featured in the Garden Conservancy’s “Open Days’ program in Pasadena.
Virginia is an organic vegetable gardener and often incorporates edible gardens in her client's projects. Her springer spaniel, Wags, has taught her how to design landscapes that are dog-friendly.
Virginia also lectures on residential architecture and garden design.
“The secret of life is enjoying the passing of time” — James Taylor.
