Maybeck preferred that homes be oriented toward gardens rather than roads. Many of his designs had homes completely surrounded by gardens.

He also felt it was often unnecessary to use a solid fence to distinguish public from private. Carefully planted trees and bushes could just as easiy, and far more elegantly, make the distinction. These same plants could also be used to provide planned views to and from a residence.

The transition from public way to private residence should be accomplished through carefully planned entry sequences in which public and private seem to meet harmoniously, yet remain distinguishable from one another.

Maybeck was very fond of the porch as a means of helping make the transition from the public outside and the private inside. His porch designs were large and welcoming. They were elaborately detailed, most notably in the way he layered wood members of the roof.