By Ciro Simone Irmici · May 13, 2026 ·Updated: May 13, 2026

Discover Gordana Golubovic's luxurious LA backyard, a modern Spanish Colonial oasis showcasing how thoughtful design can create a private, sustainable urban haven.

Key Takeaways

• Gordana Golubovic’s LA backyard is a luxurious, secluded Spanish Colonial-style garden.
• The garden exemplifies how classic design can be modernized for urban living without a traditional pool.
• It inspires rethinking 'luxury' in terms of thoughtful, water-wise design rather than grand scale.
• The design promotes creating intimate, private green spaces as vital urban sanctuaries.
• Sustainable principles can be integrated into high-end garden aesthetics, even in drought-prone regions.

LA Oasis: Modern Spanish Colonial Design for Sustainable Living

Even for those of us who cherish our hometowns and coastlines, the allure of a beautifully crafted outdoor sanctuary can make us question everything. This week, we're drawn to Los Angeles, where costume designer Gordana Golubovic’s 'luxe, secluded' Spanish Colonial-style backyard has captured attention, proving that even a dream garden doesn't necessarily need a pool to be utterly captivating.

TL;DR: Key Facts

• Costume designer Gordana Golubovic's backyard in Los Angeles is highlighted for its luxurious and secluded Spanish Colonial-style design.
• The garden is presented as an inspiring urban oasis, challenging traditional notions of backyard grandeur.
• It exemplifies how classic architectural and landscape styles can be adapted for modern living, particularly in urban environments.
• The design demonstrates the appeal of meticulously crafted outdoor spaces, even without conventional large water features.

What Happened

Gardenista recently featured an exclusive look into the private world of costume designer Gordana Golubovic’s Los Angeles backyard. Described as a 'luxe, secluded' space, this modern interpretation of Spanish Colonial garden design has garnered significant admiration. The article's author, an admitted East Coaster, expressed a rare pang of West Coast envy, specifically pointing out how Golubovic's meticulously designed oasis makes them 'question their pool-less life'—a testament to the garden's exceptional appeal without relying on a typical large swimming pool as its focal point.

This garden visit spotlights a growing trend in urban landscaping: the creation of highly personalized, intimate outdoor 'rooms' that serve as true extensions of the home. Golubovic's backyard, while luxurious, seems to achieve its allure through thoughtful design, curated plantings, and an emphasis on seclusion and atmosphere. It suggests a garden that prioritizes comfort, beauty, and a deep sense of place, rather than just expansive features, offering a compelling vision for modern urban living.

Why It Matters

This feature on Gordana Golubovic’s Los Angeles garden is more than just a peek into a celebrity’s beautiful backyard; it's a powerful illustration of how sustainable principles can be interwoven with high-end, aesthetic design. In a region like Southern California, where water conservation is paramount, the Spanish Colonial style, when modernized, often naturally lends itself to water-wise landscaping. Think of shaded courtyards, terra cotta, and native or Mediterranean-adapted plants that thrive in arid conditions. A 'luxe' garden in this context can mean sophisticated, drought-tolerant plantings, efficient irrigation systems, and the creation of microclimates that reduce the need for excessive watering, rather than just opulent water features.

Furthermore, the emphasis on 'secluded' and 'modern' design speaks to the growing need for urban sanctuaries. In bustling cities, our outdoor spaces become vital havens for well-being, providing a connection to nature, privacy, and a quiet retreat from the daily grind. The Spanish Colonial style, with its enclosed courtyards and architectural elements, inherently promotes this sense of intimacy and escape. By adapting this historical style, homeowners can create functional, beautiful, and ecologically responsible spaces that enhance quality of life while respecting local environmental needs.

This garden serves as inspiration for GreenNest Living readers by demonstrating that sustainability doesn't mean sacrificing beauty or comfort. It encourages us to rethink what 'luxury' means in a garden context—shifting from sheer scale or resource-intensive features to thoughtful design, local resilience, and a deeper integration with the surrounding environment. It's about designing spaces that are not only stunning but also smart, serving both the homeowner and the planet.

What You Can Do

• Embrace Drought-Tolerant Plants: Research native and Mediterranean-adapted plants that thrive in your climate. They often require less water and maintenance once established.
• Create Shade and Seclusion: Use pergolas, arbors, privacy screens, or strategically placed trees and shrubs to define outdoor 'rooms' and offer relief from the sun, reducing water evaporation.
• Incorporate Permeable Hardscaping: Opt for gravel, decomposed granite, or permeable pavers over solid concrete to allow rainwater to infiltrate the soil, recharging groundwater.
• Design for Microclimates: Utilize existing structures, shade trees, and water features (even small, recirculating ones) to create cooler, more humid pockets within your garden.
• Focus on Outdoor 'Rooms': Think about how you want to use different areas of your garden. Define spaces for dining, lounging, or quiet contemplation with appropriate furnishings and plantings.
• Consider Smart Irrigation: Install drip irrigation or smart controllers that adapt to weather conditions, ensuring your plants get only the water they need, when they need it.

Ciro's Take

As an environmental advocate and a lover of green spaces, I find designs like Gordana Golubovic's LA garden profoundly inspiring. It's easy to dismiss 'luxury' gardens as inherently unsustainable, but this example reminds us that true elegance can, and should, be rooted in mindful design. Creating a secluded oasis in an urban environment isn't just about personal indulgence; it's about reclaiming a piece of nature, fostering biodiversity, and finding peace amidst the urban sprawl. When we design with climate, water, and local ecosystems in mind, we're not just building a garden; we're cultivating a deeper connection to our planet, one thoughtful courtyard and drought-tolerant planting at a time. This is the future of GreenNest Living.

FAQs

Q: What are the key characteristics of a modern Spanish Colonial garden style?

A: Modern Spanish Colonial gardens typically feature enclosed courtyards, stucco walls, terra cotta tiles, wrought iron accents, and often include fountains or small water features. Plantings lean towards drought-tolerant species like bougainvillea, lavender, olive trees, and citrus, creating a lush yet resilient aesthetic, often with a strong emphasis on privacy and outdoor living spaces.

Q: How can a luxurious garden also be sustainable, especially regarding water use?

A: A luxurious sustainable garden achieves its grandeur through thoughtful design, not excessive resource consumption. This means prioritizing native and adapted drought-tolerant plants, utilizing efficient irrigation systems (like drip irrigation), incorporating permeable hardscaping, creating shade to reduce evaporation, and designing with local climate challenges in mind to minimize water, energy, and maintenance demands.

Q: Are drought-tolerant plants limited in their aesthetic appeal?

A: Absolutely not! The diversity of drought-tolerant plants is vast, offering an incredible range of textures, colors, and forms. From succulent gardens to fields of ornamental grasses, Mediterranean herbs, and vibrant flowering shrubs, these plants can create stunning, dynamic landscapes that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible, proving that eco-conscious choices do not compromise on design.

Sources

This article is based on reporting by Gardenista.

Original source

Gardenista