Bloom Room is a boutique landscape architecture studio located in Santa Barbara, California. The practice aims to inspire clients to embrace their outdoor spaces as sanctuaries of beauty, connection, and ecological purpose. Bloom Room invites people to see their gardens as more than just landscapes, but living extensions of their home.
About
A Vision, Taking Root
Alix Kidwell, PLA, is a licensed landscape architect in the state of California (CA #6752) and the founder of Bloom Room. She believes that outdoor spaces should serve as both a refuge and a resource—harmonizing human experience with ecological balance. Born and raised in California, she draws much inspiration from the state's rich natural beauty, which she celebrates in her designs.
A graduate of the Landscape Architecture program at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Alix honed her expertise in conscious design, drawing inspiration from natural ecosystems, culture, art, and music. During her studies, she received the Award of Excellence in Community Service and an Award of Merit from the American Society of Landscape Architecture.
With a decade of experience spanning three award-winning design firms across the state, Alix has explored design at every scale, from intimate private gardens and luxury estates to wineries, resorts, tech campuses, and public parks. She holds a passion and skill for creating immersive, illustrative graphics that assist clients in envisioning the possibilities for a space.
Alix designs with intention, ensuring each space is not only visually stunning but also purpose-driven—whether for connection, play, rest, healing, or habitat. She values a collaborative process, working closely with clients, consultants, and builders to create landscapes that are both thoughtful and enduring.
When she's not designing outdoor spaces, Alix is out exploring them. In her free time, she gathers inspiration from backpacking adventures, scuba diving trips, traveling the globe, and volunteering at the beloved Lotusland.
Where it all began…
I was introduced to landscape architecture through Richard Murray, the first landscape architect I ever knew.
After the fall of Saigon—years before I was born—my grandparents and their five children fled Vietnam. They spent months in a refugee camp in Arkansas before a family in Carmel, California, welcomed them into their home. Richard, the father of that family, was and still is a landscape architect. The Murrays not only helped my family adjust to a new life in the U.S. but also became a lasting part of our lives.
As a child, I had the pleasure of playing in one of Richard’s most cherished designs—Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey, California. He shared his work with me, encouraging me to trust my instincts and design with meaning. His passion, kindness, and generosity continue to inspire me, and I hope to bring that same thoughtfulness and care to my own work and the people around me.
