Hollywood Hills Redwood Pergola

For a pair of Southern California homeowners, the perfect home did not start out that way. Purchased in 2013 in the heart of the Hollywood Hills, the Rancho-style home was originally built in 1925. By the time the current owners purchased the home, it needed a lot of work. Focusing initially on the interiors, the family spent a year renovating the space. Starting in 2017, after the interior renovations were done, the homeowners turned their focus to the courtyard area and the large Douglas-fir pergola, which supported a pair of massive, 60-year old trumpet vines. Redwood was chosen for the new pergola due to its natural resistance to termites and decay.

Preserving the health of the 60-year old trumpet vines was of utmost importance to the homeowners. Redwood was selected for the pergola due to its natural resistance to termites and decay.
Preserving the health of the 60-year old trumpet vines was of utmost importance to the homeowners. Redwood was selected for the pergola due to its natural resistance to termites and decay.
Redwood construction heart grade 3"x12", 8"x8" and 8"x12" redwood timbers – some that were cut to lengths of 20 feet to custom-fit the space  – were installed where the previous Douglas-fir pergola had been.
Redwood construction heart grade 3"x12", 8"x8" and 8"x12" redwood timbers – some that were cut to lengths of 20 feet to custom-fit the space – were installed where the previous Douglas-fir pergola had been.
The entire courtyard is shaded by the massive redwood timber pergola and the 60-year old trumpet vines. Decorated with several seating areas and plush furnishings, the space is nothing short of idyllic.
The entire courtyard is shaded by the massive redwood timber pergola and the 60-year old trumpet vines. Decorated with several seating areas and plush furnishings, the space is nothing short of idyllic.
Before work on the new outdoor structure could begin, contractors had to build temporary scaffolding to suspend the trumpet vines over the space to give enough clearance for the installation crew to construct the new redwood timber pergola underneath. Once the vines were safely moved to their temporary home, the construction team opened exterior walls to bolt the metal braces and timbers into place to form the pergola. Contractors also reinstalled the outdoor lighting that was hardwired into the home, replaced the columns that the pergola rested on, and repaired the exterior stucco where holes had been made for the brackets.
Before work on the new outdoor structure could begin, contractors had to build temporary scaffolding to suspend the trumpet vines over the space to give enough clearance for the installation crew to construct the new redwood timber pergola underneath. Once the vines were safely moved to their temporary home, the construction team opened exterior walls to bolt the metal braces and timbers into place to form the pergola. Contractors also reinstalled the outdoor lighting that was hardwired into the home, replaced the columns that the pergola rested on, and repaired the exterior stucco where holes had been made for the brackets.
The homeowners chose to let the redwood remain unfinished; an important consideration for preserving the health of the trumpet vines.
The homeowners chose to let the redwood remain unfinished; an important consideration for preserving the health of the trumpet vines.
Outdoor lighting, hardwired into the home, perfectly completes the space.
Outdoor lighting, hardwired into the home, perfectly completes the space.
The homeowners have a classic home outfitted with stunning redwood timbers that reinforce the distinct Hollywood Hills style of the home. They were able to preserve and better a unique piece of their home’s history and charm by using a naturally sustainable material to support the vintage trumpet vines for decades to come.
The homeowners have a classic home outfitted with stunning redwood timbers that reinforce the distinct Hollywood Hills style of the home. They were able to preserve and better a unique piece of their home’s history and charm by using a naturally sustainable material to support the vintage trumpet vines for decades to come.