Higher Ground: 6 Spectacular Landscapes
From Hollywood to Grecian shores, these landscapes have a field day with color, style and unparalleled views
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
We have toured some stunning landscapes here at Houzz over the past few years. From a garden on a Greek island to a bocce ball court overlooking the Pacific Ocean, from a small front yard in the Hollywood Hills to a grand estate in the Berkshires, all of these landscapes wow. Each has a special relationship to the home, the property and the greater context. Get ideas for planting season from six special properties.
| |
| This stunning Greek garden on the island of Paros was designed to look as if it had always been there. |
| |
| Purple, blue, pink and white flowers, including the tall African lily and pink society garlic are spread between the house and the ocean edge of the property. |
| |
| There's nothing like saving the best for last; here is the view from the house across the gardens to the Aegean Sea. See the rest of this landscape |
| |
| At Edith Wharton's former home, The Mount, there are many different moods created by the landscapes. The closer they are to the house, the more formal they are. |
A stone staircase surrounded by ferns takes visitors from the wooded entry to the more formal gardens.
| |
| A long axis lined in linden trees connects the two formal gardens. |
| |
| The secret garden has a more rustic aesthetic than its counterpart. It's sunken, uses boulders and keeps a white and green color palette. See more of The Mount's landscape | Tour inside The Mount |
| This breathtaking property on California's central coast takes full advantage of views of Morrow Bay. It straddles the line between manicured and untamed, with native plants and careful color selection connecting built pieces to the unbuilt landscape. |
A system of meandering paths connects the house to the estuary literally and figuratively (in its colors and sinuousness), and the design provides spots to sit in solitude and enjoy the view.
| |
| Blogger and home accessories designer Cococozy has added lots of square feet to her living space by creating many areas to relax, do yoga, dine, visit, blog, read and nap in the front yard of her Hollywood Hills cottage. |
Thick cushions, colorful throw pillows and a sophisticated rug bring indoor design comfort out to the deck.
A large dining table is a favorite spot for friends to gather on warm nights.
See the rest of this cozy front yard
See the rest of this cozy front yard
| |
| These two cabins were designed to work with the slope of a wooded Mill Valley, California, site. |
| |
| The two studios, built in lieu of an attached addition onto the main house, tread lightly on the land, with a rooftop providing the space to garden. Learn more about rooftop gardens and green roofs |
The experience of traveling from the main house to either cabin was carefully considered; factors included slopes, materials, width and places to stop and enjoy the view.
See more of these cabins, including some peeks inside
See more of these cabins, including some peeks inside
| This home sits atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Aptos, California. A beautifully planned entry court provides a peek at the ocean through the front door. |
| As you round the corner, you see the bocce ball court in the foreground and the ocean beyond. There is also an outdoor kitchen that includes a pizza oven. |
| This large, troughlike fountain provides a visual boundary at the edge of the cliff. See the rest of this landscape More: Browse landscape design photos Unexpected Edible Gardens Great Design Plant: Golden Creeping Jenny Magical Garden Paths |
Comments
storklady Beautiful ideabook Becky. I love your choices. They are totally different, but all beautiful. I don't know if you take requests (LOL), but we just put in a retaining wall in our back yard. It's made of stone. I might take a photo once the sun rises and attach it to another comment. But, I'm at a loss for how to landscape it. It has SUCH potential, but I'm much better indoors (regarding vision) than I am outside. So...maybe you might consider another post on retaining wall landscaping.
16 months ago · Like
Becky Harris Sure Storklady, post a pic in the comments here so I'll be sure to see it. I love a stone wall. How high is your retaining wall?
16 months ago · Like
Christy Dillard Kratzer Gorgeous! Love the succulent coming out of the stone.
16 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Feb. 20, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
