Hulya Kolabas
Photo of a small contemporary shade backyard stone garden path in New York for spring.

This property has a wonderful juxtaposition of modern and traditional elements, which are unified by a natural planting scheme. Although the house is traditional, the client desired some contemporary elements, enabling us to introduce rusted steel fences and arbors, black granite for the barbeque counter, and black African slate for the main terrace. An existing brick retaining wall was saved and forms the backdrop for a long fountain with two stone water sources. Almost an acre in size, the property has several destinations. A winding set of steps takes the visitor up the hill to a redwood hot tub, set in a deck amongst walls and stone pillars, overlooking the property. Another winding path takes the visitor to the arbor at the end of the property, furnished with Emu chaises, with relaxing views back to the house, and easy access to the adjacent vegetable garden. Photos: Simmonds & Associates, Inc.

GR - Modern Hillside

Nick Lee Architecture

Photo of a contemporary backyard outdoor sport court in San Francisco.

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Benches, Fence,Fire Pit, Pocket Garden and Deck - Back Yard

Bosler Earth Design

My clients wanted their backyard to act as an extension of the home, and with busy modern schedules, the ambience at night is as important as during the day. Even so the space was tiny, they wanted to be able to entertain and invite the full symphony, lounge, enjoy smores, screen movies on their garage wall. Due to the limited space the plants were limited to pocket gardens .Natural wood was used to warm the space and cover the unsightly neighbor's wall while concrete stepping steps keep the space contemporary. Daniel Bosler Photography

Idyllic Modern

David Thorne Landscape Architect

Marion Brenner Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary drought-tolerant and full sun front yard landscaping in San Francisco.

Fire Features

Paragon Supply, Inc.

Traditional Style Fire Feature - the Prescott Fire Pit - using Techo-Bloc's Prescott wall & Piedimonte cap.
Design ideas for a large contemporary backyard stone landscaping in New York with a fire pit.

Serene space

Cool Designs for Landscapes

This client was looking for the feel of Ojai and Santa Barbara in her Mission Viejo backyard. These photos are taken a week after installation, but once those Olive trees grow, there will be a beautiful transition to the conversation space of the garden. The panel was custom made out of metal and the raised vegetable garden is behind it.

North Bay

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

New Canaan Carriage House

Spring Lake Garden Design

Fieldstone steps to the back yard are accented with hostas, ferns, and various boxwood cultivars.
Design ideas for a contemporary shade hillside stone garden path in New York.

Josephine Remodel

WA Design Architects

wa design
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary partial sun backyard gravel landscaping in San Francisco for spring.

Modern Seating

ADLA Studio

Inspiration for a large contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard gravel retaining wall landscape in Austin.

Boreum Hill Brownstone Garden

New Eco Landscapes

Photos by Anthony Chrisafulli
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary full sun backyard stone retaining wall landscape in New York for summer.

Menlo Park

Garden Nest Residential Landscape

Photo By: Jude Parkinson-Morgan
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard gravel water fountain landscape in San Francisco.

House in Gladwyne

Purdy O'Gwynn Architects

Halkin/Mason Photography
This is an example of a large contemporary partial sun courtyard stone formal garden in Philadelphia for summer.

Malvern House

V Three Architecture

Photo of a contemporary front yard garden path in Melbourne.

Synthetic Turf Driveway

Earth Design Synthetic Turf

Design ideas for a contemporary front yard concrete paver driveway in Los Angeles.

Living Walls

Urban Landscape

http://onpagevisibility.com
This is an example of a contemporary courtyard landscaping in Los Angeles.

Contemporary Landscaping Ideas

Whether it's a manicured front lawn, stone-paved pathway or intricate landscape design, contemporary landscapes benefit from the same attention to detail that the interior of your home does. Well-executed landscaping ideas can upgrade your home's entire aesthetic, and the right plants, flowers and shrubbery can greatly enhance your curb appeal by adding color, texture and even fragrance to your yard. Before starting on your new landscape design, survey your area and make some notes; you cannot concretely consider certain landscapes decorating ideas unless you identify what kind of climate you are living in, how much you are willing to spend and how much space you have to work with. Additionally, as you browse several contemporary landscape ideas and landscape pictures and make notes about the designs and landscapes that really jump out at you, keep in mind what level of ongoing maintenance is actually feasible. If you love working with plants, a large rose or vegetable garden is the perfect use of land; if you live in a hot or dry area, consider drought-tolerant landscape ideas. If you have younger kids, consider what they would enjoy as well, such as a large grassy area or a playground, swing set or pool. Think about what your family would use the most, as well as what would help boost your resale value in the long run. Lastly, when it comes to landscapes, be sure to consider different front and backyard ideas, as they are separate entities that serve two very different purposes.

What plants should I add to my contemporary landscape?

When browsing landscape photos, think about curb appeal above all else; contemporary landscape designs are your chance to make a great first impression. A flower garden is a great option, but if ongoing care is a concern, you can simplify the process by opting for low-maintenance succulents, bushes or hedges instead. If you don't have a green thumb, consider simple and easy-to-implement landscape design ideas, such as grass, gravel pathways, water features, statues, wood fences or stone walls.

What features should I have in my contemporary garden or backyard?

While landscapes are seen as a primarily aesthetic component, there are additions you can incorporate in your contemporary landscape design to make it as functional as possible. The garden can be designed for entertaining and playtime with seating, dining areas, play spaces and sunny relaxation spots. A vegetable or flower garden is a common yard staple, especially if you add an interesting element like a pergola, arbor, walkway or fence. If you’re looking for lively landscape decorating ideas, consider adding fun accessories like bird baths and feeders. For the ultimate party house, incorporate a pool and patio, or consider a deck with a fire pit, outdoor fireplace, barbecue and/or outdoor kitchen. If you're an active, sports-loving family, add a basketball or volleyball court, or set up a bocce ball or croquet area. And don't forget about furniture! A bench in a garden makes a great reading or meditation spot, while a weatherproof chaise lounge, sofa and chair are nice for soaking up those sunny days. Browse more popular ideas on Houzz