Amid the rolling hills of southern Tuscany, nestled between ancient olive groves and sun-drenched vineyards, stands a villa that seems to blend seamlessly with the golden landscape. This is no ordinary estate—it is a living embodiment of refinement, where timeless architecture finds its natural complement in an exquisitely curated garden. Every stone, shrub, and scent in this outdoor haven has been thoughtfully placed to create a harmony that speaks not only to the senses but also to the soul.
The garden is the work of celebrated landscape designer Tommaso del Buono, whose career spans decades of practice between London and his native Italy. Having trained at the University of Greenwich and worked alongside the renowned Arabella Lennox-Boyd, Tommaso eventually returned to Florence to focus on projects that reconnect him with the Mediterranean spirit. One of his most compelling achievements is this private estate near Capalbio, a hilltop town that gazes toward the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is here that his design philosophy—contemporary yet timeless, minimal yet warm—truly comes alive.
This is a garden not made for show, but for living. Tommaso approached it as a home, not a stage. Every area of the landscape was designed to support a certain rhythm of life: open spaces for gathering, shaded corners for solitude, a kitchen garden for fresh seasonal meals, and a firepit for storytelling under the stars. The result is a space that resonates with anyone who values privacy, ecological responsibility, and a high-end outdoor lifestyle—a rare combination that adds both emotional and real estate value to the property.
Instead of imposing a rigid structure, Tommaso chose to read the land and respond to its contours. The villa sits on a gentle slope, and the garden flows naturally from its foundation. Wide grassy steps descend from the front terrace, inviting the eye—and the body—into the valley beyond. In this space, less is more. The front garden features drought-tolerant evergreens like Westringia fruticosa and Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus, interwoven with soft mounds of Nepeta and classic roses. The palette is subdued, yet the scent lingers in the air, like lavender on a summer breeze 🌿.
To one side of the house lies a gravel garden—a silvery, textural space that feels like an antechamber to the soul of the villa. Stepping stones lead visitors through a resilient tapestry of low-maintenance plants that require no irrigation—a wise approach for luxury homeowners in a warming climate. Here, species like Helichrysum italicum, Pistacia lentiscus, and Myrtus communis form a sculptural backdrop, while the graceful sway of Mexican sage (Salvia leucantha) adds a seasonal crescendo in late summer. This part of the garden is not only visually striking but also a powerful example of eco-conscious landscaping that pairs beauty with environmental intelligence.
These choices are deliberate and forward-thinking. For today's luxury homeowners, sustainability is no longer a trend—it’s a necessity. Water-efficient landscaping and native plant palettes are becoming essential features of premium real estate developments, particularly in regions facing climate volatility. As such, this garden embodies the principles of sustainable luxury and modern garden design: low water consumption, minimal maintenance, and year-round aesthetic value ☀️.
Yet for all his strategic planning, Tommaso never loses sight of poetry. Just beyond the gravel garden lies a firepit space designed for star-gazing and intimate evenings. Rather than start from scratch, he retained clusters of existing pampas grass to enclose the area. “I’ve learned to love pampas grass,” he says with a grin. “When paired thoughtfully with perennials and naturalistic elements, they can be quite beautiful.” Indeed, their feathery plumes, when caught by the breeze, lend movement and texture that elevate this simple circle into an emotionally charged retreat.
This is where the garden reveals its truest luxury—not in opulence, but in memory. Picture a warm August evening, the fire softly crackling, friends gathered close, children wrapped in throws as dusk settles over the hills. The garden is no longer a backdrop but an active participant in the life of the home. It creates space not just for relaxation but for connection, something that can’t be bought or built in a weekend 🔥.
The swimming pool area, by contrast, is sleek and architectural, defined by its restraint. Venetian trachyte stone lines both the pool’s edge and the adjoining lawn. On one side, Tommaso has planted a rhythmic row of prickly pears (Opuntia), their geometric forms casting abstract shadows over the water. It's an unexpected but brilliant gesture—modernist in its clarity, yet deeply rooted in the Mediterranean context. Meanwhile, the bold blue blooms of Agapanthus africanus form a soft frame, offering both evergreen foliage and dramatic seasonal color.
What’s most remarkable about this garden is its deep understanding of time—not just in terms of hours, but seasons and years. Knowing that the homeowners spend most of their time here in August, Tommaso curated a planting scheme that reaches its peak during that month. Silver-frosted foliage glows in the low light, and late-blooming perennials ensure the garden is alive with movement, scent, and color exactly when it matters most.
This is not a static garden. It breathes. It responds to family rhythms, to seasonal change, to the needs of the land itself. It is the kind of landscape that makes luxury feel effortless and timeless. More importantly, it exemplifies the new paradigm of high-end garden design—where form follows feeling, and where beauty serves the life lived within it.
For homeowners in Provence, Napa Valley, or the English countryside seeking to enhance their estates, this project offers more than inspiration—it presents a vision for premium landscaping that is both emotionally resonant and ecologically responsible. With elements like drought-resistant planting, integrated outdoor living areas, and minimal-maintenance design, this Tuscan garden sets a new standard for how we experience luxury outdoors.
As the day fades and golden light filters through the canopy of plane trees, the garden glows. The silver leaves shimmer, the agaves cast long shadows, and somewhere, a glass clinks in celebration. You may not be able to tell where the house ends and the garden begins—and perhaps that’s the point.🌸