The 12:12 roof pitch allowed for an expansive ceiling height and incorporating this fun space called The Perch. Four stories up, it overlooks the library in the loft, the conversation pit on the main floor, and has a bird's eye view out the circular window on the front of the cabin.

The passageway between the patio and the swimming pool is kept private with sliding barn doors.
Example of an eclectic patio design in Seattle

Years ago, Exterior Worlds was contacted by a couple by the names of Rick and Susan Ashcroft. They asked if we could do something about the lagoon-style swimming pool that had been built behind their house in the late1940s. This style had been very popular at that time, and it is still a favored by some of the world’s more lavish resorts. However, ever since the day they had purchased their home, the Ashcroft’s had always been agitated by the ostentatiousness of the whole thing, and had finally decided to have it redesigned as a natural swimming pool. They wanted their back yard to retain the feeling of a tropical locale, but lose the touristic element in favor of that of a cozier, more private corner of paradise. We agreed with their sentiments wholeheartedly. Just a cursory glance at the property confirmed that a natural swimming pool design was a much better fit for the grade of the landscape and the surrounding opportunities for vegetation and lighting. The Ashcroft residence was located on the side of a hill that sloped down toward a ravine, and the house itself house was built 40 feet back from the road. The steep grade of the land posed construction challenges to any type of water feature, but there was a way to build a natural swimming pool here that would achieve the aesthetic the Ashcroft’s were seeking and create a lasting element that required only limited and very intermittent periods of maintenance. We began by stripping the pool down to its shell and building a retaining wall that offset the grade of the land. We shaped the surrounding earth around it into a much deeper basin that would allow water to collect naturally like it does at the base of a cliff. A series of interlocking pavers was laid around the perimeter to create a flat surface that extended from the back of the home to the retaining wall. This is a standard aesthetic used in most natural swimming pools, but it also served a special, practical purpose in this instance. Since this area was subject to heavy land erosion from runoff rainwater, pavers provided a very efficient way of reconstructing key elements of the structure every 5-10 years. The natural swimming pool now appeared as an inviting portal into a remote hill country getaway, just a stone’s throw away from the back of the house. We made it easier to reach by building two series of stone steps that led down to either side of the water’s edge. We were careful to avoid making them look too much like stairs. Instead, we designed them to closely mimic the layers of rock that often jut from the sides of mountains and dormant volcanoes on islands all over the Pacific. To further develop this theme, we placed a large flat stone to serve as a diving area, and we created a waterfall on either side of it by laying down stones in a manner that created varying speeds of water. Our construction methods here were very unique in comparison to those of our competitors. We took almost a month to consciously and deliberately lay each stone by hand. While this may seem painstakingly detailed to some, the rewards were astonishing, because our natural swimming pool mimicked Nature in such a way that it lacked almost all evidence of human engineering, and looked virtually identical to something you would stumble upon in the jungle of a tropical paradise. If you are interested in any high-quality landscape services, Exterior Worlds has been providing the high-end residential landscape services and garden design services discussed above for the Houston and the surrounding areas including memorial villages (Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hunter Creek Village), Tanglewood, River Oaks, West University and the greater Houston (Hou), area since 1987. Contact us at 713-827-2255 For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

Timber Ties, Gravel
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic backyard landscaping in San Francisco.

No end to our creativity. David F Morello
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic front yard stone flower bed in Houston for summer.

Emily Followill
Large eclectic screened-in back porch photo in Atlanta with decking and a roof extension

re-used broken concrete in flagstone path, re-purposed corrugated metal on fence
Photo of a small eclectic full sun side yard stone garden path in Salt Lake City.

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Photo of an eclectic landscaping in New York.

Deck - eclectic deck idea in Chicago

This creative homeowner designed a stunning dry creek bed to serve as a border between a whimsical garden and the plush lawn. She selected an impressive sandstone bridge which leads to a cozy seating area, guarded by her cherished giraffe, Gigi. Come by to see our range of river rock and boulders at 5726 Market Street in Wilmington, NC.

Mid-sized eclectic backyard patio photo in Portland Maine

Photos by Linda Oyama Bryan
This is an example of a small eclectic front yard stone retaining wall landscape in Chicago.

In this Marin County garden Cleveland Sage blooms in the late spring and prefers little to no summer water. Here, it is used with other California native plants to provide a low screen in a planting mound. Cathy Edger, Edger Landscape Design

Lounge, daybed, pergola, firepit. Backyard transformed from vacant lot to entertainment central.
Photo of a mid-sized eclectic drought-tolerant, privacy and partial sun stone landscaping in Los Angeles for spring.

This photo shows a series of rain gardens with connecting dry streams where a client previously had erosion and washing problems. The rain gardens help to slow the water temporarily and allow the rain water to soak in, but they do not allow standing water.

This gorgeous, walkable grass alternative is literally watered ONCE A MONTH folks!!! In the summertime! This is true water conservation! Large, historic home from the 1930's overlooking downtown Santa Cruz. My clients are self-described "plantaholics" and tend to buy many plants, only to have them die. They have an extensive gardening area and low water budget. Our main goal was to make the overall design cohesive between various areas of the garden while utilizing interesting and unusual plant selections - a very fun project for me! We removed over 3,000 square feet of traditional grass and replaced it with several lawn alternatives. The first is a walkable groundcover that uses a fraction of the water of regular grass (and can be seen here in several seasons, one of which has tiny flowers); The second is a California native grass that grows long (or can be kept short) and can tolerate some shade. Both of these are excellent choices for clients with children or dogs who want a green patch without using excessive water. My clients love plants from Australia and South Africa so plants from the Proteacea and other Southern Hemisphere beauties are used predominantly throughout the project. Clean, flowing water is so important for wildlife and the beautiful stone fountain is a constant gathering spot for birds and other animals. My clients are beyond thrilled with their gorgeous, nature-filled garden and ever-expanding plant knowledge.

Photo of an eclectic landscaping in San Francisco.

This is an example of a large eclectic drought-tolerant and full sun backyard river rock landscaping in San Francisco.

A Holocene year for tulips in Houston. Bulbs from Holland the Netherlands Variety, 'Worlds Favorite' March 3 2022
Inspiration for an eclectic landscaping in Houston.