Actually, designing a swale or even a rain garden is a good idea for many gardens, even quite small ones. And it really doesn't make too much difference with the dryness - or not - of the climate. Unless already existing as a low lying, water accumulating area (i.e. a bog or swamp, perhaps only seasonally), a swale will simply catch and retain rainfall and allow it to be gradually absorbed into the soil. Among the reasons for this is to avoid seasonal flooding of the landscape, to reabsorb pollutants that are present in storm run-off before they can reach streams and groundwater or simply to retain and re-use infrequent rainfall. In your case, the latter seems most appropriate although when it does rain in SoCal, that rain can come fast and furious, so the other two reasons may be equally as valid as well, at least on a now-and-again basis. A swale is just a low lying area......when rainfall does occur, the water will flow to the lowest point, the swale, so it does need to be constructed to be lower than current grade. If any slope to the yard at all, the swale should be located at the low point. If not, you need to grade your new "lasagna" planting to slope away from the structure and toward to the designated swale site. And you will need to excavate the swale to some degree, depending on the thickness you can manage with your lasagna method. I doubt constructing swales was devised with a lasagna method of bed construction in mind. It does involve some work to do it correctly. Grading and directing water runoff to the correct area is critical. And you want something that slows water penetration yet provides good drainage at the bottom of the swale, not just soil - coarse sand and river rocks or coarse drainage gravel are common. And yes, this is much more of a landscape design issue than just a soil question ;-) Do some research online to see how to construct an effective swale. Even check out rain garden sites - they are a wealth of information for this sort of activity if for a slightly different purpose. One other thing you may want to do is investigate dry stream beds as a landscape feature. Not only do these make an attractive focal point to a drought tolerant garden, they will help to direct any rainwater runoff (even irrigation run-off) to the appropriate swale location where it can be dissipated evenly through the soil profile. Where moisture accumulates surrounding the swale and along its sides is where you can locate more thirsty plants. If you don't already have a landscape designer, you might want to consider hiring one. They could be a huge help in the layout, design and construction of this kind of feature, as well as offering suitable planting suggestions.

Your kitchen is beautiful. It just needs a little fun added to it. The valance that starts from the ceiling with the stage coach ties would be a good choice. I think that picture is a great example of how you can bring colors into the room from the fabric. Also, I would suggest using the same valance in the dining area. The picture with the shorter valance looks too choppy. I would look for a print fabric that had some of the colors of the granite in it. I really like the iron art over the stove although I would prefer to see a tile BS, if funds allow it. The dining table needs a large colored art bowl. I agree with Igloo, the colbat just doesn't make it and you need to pull in the golds and rusts. Colbalt blue actually sticks out like a sore thumb but it may work if you have art or fabric with a little colbalt blue in it along with rusts and golds. I would not use any rug in an eating area unless you were using a glass table. The patio doors look fine without any treatment but a valance would add some warmth to the room and still give you full view (use one that starts from the ceiling) Don't worry about tying in the white appliances. I would just ignore them since the wood trim is painted white (that's enough white). Once you get the window treatments squared away, I would like to see some colored accessories in the glass cabs instead of plain white. JMHO

I forgot to mention I love the idea of the planters with greenery next to the door with the christmas balls. that is so cute. I swear everytime I come to this thread I smell pine. LOL I like the greenery on the handrails. I brought fake greenery like that in Michaels a couple of years ago with the white lights in it and it looked so elegant I hated to take it down!!! Caroline your husband looks sooooo cold LOL. That is something I do not miss although they say we might get hit with lots of snow this year (NC) and I am not looking forward to it AT ALL amck I would love to see your porch and front yard. chicoryflower thanks for the compliment. The front is only a small part of the property the back is REALLY beautiful. The Orig owner was a gardner but it happens that after she passed the next owners did not do much so the whole place is overgrown and out of control. it was just waiting for my TLC!! I have copied pictures that I saw in here for real life pine decorating and next year I am going to DO IT UP!! LOL. I see right now you guys are going to keep me sooo busy.

Try putting the vase with the red berries to the right of the picture on the right over the bookcase. It looks as though it's going to topple off the mantel. Please, no to the mirror and wreath, that's been so overdone. I like the left side with two frames on the bookcases, just leave them there and don't hang them up. The right side will be balanced out with one picture and the vase with the berries. Remove the clock and put the two candlesticks on the right and the one on the left, and let's see what that looks like.