Anne Hathaway Has Perfected the One Garden Feature That Screams Summer in California – Its Design Dates Back 3,500 Years

A covered arbor or pergola that offers privacy, shade, and fragrance is a captivating project for many of us as we head into the 2026 spring and summer seasons. Actress Anne Hathaway and her husband, jewelry designer Adam Shulman, clearly share this sentiment. The couple's outdoor living room, designed by the renowned Pamela Shamshiri of Studio Shamshiri, represents the quintessential patio garden dream.

I have adored pergolas since childhood; they always felt magical when adorned with scented blooms or twinkling lights – almost as if I had been transported to an enchanted forest. Decades later, I value them just as much for their practical ability to provide shade and serve as an effective garden privacy idea. I'm not alone in my admiration. This feature has roots in the Ancient Egyptian high courts, dating back over 3500 years – and, today, they epitomize summer in California.

Whether dealing with an overlooked urban plot or a sprawling country estate, we all seek intimacy and intrigue. Using a pergola for privacy is a straightforward way to create an enclosed, fragrant sanctuary. I love this wooden pergola (available at Amazon) to get Anne's look instantly.

Shop the Anne Hathaway-Inspired Edit

Dining and entertaining under a lush canopy should not be reserved solely for holidays. You can easily cultivate that relaxed, vacation lifestyle at home with a wooden pergola similar to the one on Anne Hathaway's patio.

Before starting your project, garden designer Charlotte Rowe advises, ‘Only have a pergola or an arbor if you think you absolutely need one. I say this because people often think that they will give you shelter from the rain when, in fact, they really don’t, and they are more useful for providing shade from the sun.’

The ideal placement for a pergola depends on your garden layout and your specific goals.

Garden designer Katrina Kieffer-Wells suggests they work beautifully in both sun and shade, depending on your primary usage times. ‘If you have a south-facing garden, a partially enclosed pergola can create a tranquil retreat and offer respite on a hot summer’s day,’ she notes. ‘In shade gardens, they can make a cozy night-time feature with the addition of ambient lights and hanging drapes.’

A pergola is a fantastic tool for introducing drama and, with the right seasonal planting, can transform a garden path or seating area. Greenery also helps the structure blend naturally into the landscape.

Andrew Downey, Agriframes managing director, recommends, ‘start by planning the basic shape you want as soon as you plant your climber – flowers are produced more abundantly on horizontal stems rather than vertical ones, so tie stems along the cross bars of your pergola as soon as you can and keep tying them throughout the season to create a really good framework. Don’t forget to bring stems to the inside of the frame as well as to cover it so that you can enjoy flowers and fragrance as you walk underneath.’

As the days grow longer and the 2026 gardening season hits its stride, now is the perfect moment to start sketching out your own timber retreat.

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