If a home is located in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone in Southern California, and remodeling or installing more than 3,000 square feet of new landscaping, it is likely that the plants will need to be compliant with fuel modification standards to ensure that each individual plant does not put off too much gas which in turn could spread fire at an accelerated rate. MC Design partnered with Seed Group LA to devise a fuel modification plan that was aesthetically pleasing, and then worked with L.M. Landscape, Inc. to install the garden.

Lagoon-side property in the Bel Marin Keys, Novato, CA. Entertaining and enjoying the views were a primary design goal for this project. The project includes a large camaru deck with built-in seating. The concrete steps and pavers lead down to the water's edge. I included a sunken patio on one side and a beautiful Buddha statue on the other, surrounded by succulents and other low-water, contemporary plantings. I also used Dymondia ground cover to create a natural pathways within the garden. Featured plants: Achillea 'Coronation Gold (Yarrow), Euphorbia 'Blackbird', Lavenders, Lion's Tail and Penstemon heterophyllus. Photo: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design. Design Eileen Kelly

Patio kitchen - large mediterranean backyard patio kitchen idea in Miami

This modern European style patio displays our cream lueders limestone flooring arranged in an un systematic course, while the décor compliments this with a amalgamation of beige, brown, and cast iron fixtures that bring the whole space into perfect unity. Our limestone arches and pillars display soft, cool tones that go well with the neutral wooden beams that generates a simplistic charm.

Photography: Tria Giovan Production: Frank Craige Construction: David Mitchell, Casa Highland Architecture: Michael Imber and Brandon Moss Publication: Southern Living Magazine

Pool fountain - large mediterranean courtyard tile and rectangular lap pool fountain idea in Phoenix

Tuscan patio photo in Dallas

Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard gravel garden path in San Luis Obispo for spring.

Inspiration for a mediterranean pool remodel in Other

This Mediterranean style landscape compliments the style of the home. The fountain in the motor court creates white noise that is reflected from the stucco walls of the house, covering any noise from the adjacent street. The infinity pool reflects the water of the bay. Fire bowls on either side of the pool provide ambience at night. Landscape lighting around the entire property enhances the fountain and palms and lights the way along the brick walkways. Emerald Coast Real Estate Photography

Example of a tuscan rectangular hot tub design in Houston

Tuscan backyard custom-shaped lap hot tub photo in Jacksonville

Tuscan concrete porch photo in Orange County with a roof extension

Inspiration for a mediterranean courtyard water fountain landscape in San Francisco.

This is an example of a large mediterranean full sun courtyard gravel landscaping in DC Metro.

The dream for this family was somehow fitting a custom pool, spa, fireplace, larger patio areas, an outdoor kitchen, a large serving bar, formal gardens, and also some grass for the kids to play on all in a very small back yard! It was a challenge but all was accomplished with beautiful results. In fact, this project is featured in the 2009 Fall issue of Luxury Pools Magazine

While the Southern California drought is keeping homeowners water usage to a minimum, there are an abundance of plants that thrive on minimal water. A combination of drip irrigation systems and drought tolerant plants can keep your exterior spaces green and beautiful as well as water efficient. This image features our design a few months down the road. With the addition of a few spring flowers, this front yard is officially ready for the Spring and Summer season.

Here, the tropical plantings within the summer containers create a feeling of being on holiday just steps off the back door. Photo By: Jeff Kain
Design ideas for a mid-sized mediterranean shade backyard stone landscaping in Chicago for summer.

This Houston outdoor kitchen and entertaining area offers a modern take on Mediterranean style. Designed and built by Outdoor Homescapes of Houston, this fully loaded family and entertaining space echoes the stucco, travertine tile patio and Mediterranean style of the existing home while exuding a more modern, transitional style. “This was a high-profile client – both VPs of different oil and gas companies who entertain affluent guests on a regular basis – so they wanted to make sure they had high-end appliances and all the latest amenities they could order,” says Lisha Maxey, senior designer for Outdoor Homescapes and owner of LGH Design Services in Houston. “They also have two kids, ages 7 and 10, and wanted a family gathering space that better accompanied their new, luxurious pool.” What really sets apart this outside kitchen design idea, however, is the way the elements are used throughout the space. “Usually, outdoor kitchen designs for a backyard are grouped into one island or cabinet,” explains Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. “But here, the patio, roof and fireplace were all in place, separated by stucco columns, and the outdoor kitchen elements had to work around them.” A 14-foot-long cooking island houses a built-in Fire Magic grill with a Magic View Window (allows the chef to check on food without lifting the lid and losing valuable heat). The island, the countertop of which is "Carnaval" granite from Lackstone, also features a Fire Magic power burner, warming drawer and trash drawer. On one side of the fireplace, forming an “L” with the cooking island, sits a built-in Primo ceramic grill. On the other side of the fireplace is a 3-foot-long cabinet housing a bar with a wine cooler, ice maker and upper cabinet. And finally, just outside the patio door is a 7-foot-long cabinet with a modern Kohler sink with a high-arc Moen faucet (sink and faucet from Faucets Direct), a trash drawer and another upper cabinet. Outdoor Homescapes of Houston, by the way, outfitted both cabinets with glass inserts, custom pulls and three-way sensor lighting. “At the beginning, this was basically a blank space with a fireplace in the middle,” says Maxey. So Outdoor Homescapes upgraded the fireplace with Austin Stack Stone in white (No. 401) from Colorstonescreenshot vickers mosaic tile rectangle. "The stone added that pop,” notes Maxey. The fireplace’s espresso-colored, distressed wood mantel (from Mantels.com) and upper wood cabinets were both stained with the Minwax color Jacobean. The ceiling fans were also updated with ones featuring similarly espresso-colored, wooden fan blades, to match. The table in the middle - a cast-iron, Mediterranean style gem with hand-forged scrollwork designs from Patio 1 in Houston – seats 10. “We wanted this kind of Mediterranean feel,” says Maxey. “We wanted rustic, but the appliance package was so new, with all its stainless steel, so we kept a the cabinets and the columns stucco instead of stone for a more clean, modern look and then did the custom tile backsplash and mosaic in more of a rustic, Mediterranean look." The backsplash is a 1-inch travertine tile background with 4-inch square metallic insets, both from Floor & Decor. The tile for the 18-by-24-inch rectangle mosaic came from Great Britain Tile Co. and included a Dianno Reale tumbled border and background. The bronze, diamond-shaped insets are tumbled Dark Emperdor tile and the scrolls are tumbled Noce tile. The client, who admits they have high standards, was more than pleased with the project – especially browsing through Outdoor Homescapes’ vast library of patio kitchen design ideas, the 3D virtual video tour that let them preview the project from every angle before construction. They also liked the personalized design consultation. "OH provides a very neat service where one of their designers will either shop/buy for you or shop with you for the more detailed pieces that will finish your home," reads the client's review on Houzz. "This was a very positive, personalized feature ... Lisha helped narrow down an enormous marketplace of materials and finishes to a few we could choose from."