Dramatic plant textures, modern hardscaping and sharp angles enhanced this mid-century modern bungalow. Soft plants were chosen to contrast with the sharp angles of the pathways and hard edges of the MCM home, while providing all-season interest. Horizontal privacy screens wrap the front porch and create intimate garden spaces – some visible only from the street and some visible only from inside the home. The front yard is relatively small in size, but full of colorful texture.

image: Travis Rhoads Photography
Design ideas for a small contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard gravel landscaping in San Francisco with a fire pit.

Shirak Agresta; Sidney Michael; Annette Gutierrez; Becky Bourdeau
Inspiration for a small modern drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel water fountain landscape in Los Angeles.

Ravenscourt Landscaping & Design LLC
Inspiration for a small rustic shade backyard gravel landscaping in Houston.

The large alcove houses a giant AC unit which was visible from the street. This gate that leads nowhere allows access for servicing or removal of the unit. The bioswale is constructed of a Geo Grid to allow a dolly to remove AC unit if and when it fails. The beautiful rain chain filters rain water from the roof into the bioswale so the water remains in the garden and not down into the storm drain.

Landscape and design by Jpm Landscape
Photo of a small traditional front yard gravel landscaping in San Francisco.

The goal of this landscape design and build project was to create a simple patio using peastone with a granite cobble edging. The patio sits adjacent to the residence and is bordered by lawn, vegetable garden beds, and a cairn rock water feature. Designed and built by Skyline Landscapes, LLC.

Inspiration for a small contemporary full sun and desert courtyard gravel landscaping in Los Angeles for summer.

This shade arbor, located in The Woodlands, TX north of Houston, spans the entire length of the back yard. It combines a number of elements with custom structures that were constructed to emulate specific aspects of a Zen garden. The homeowner wanted a low-maintenance garden whose beauty could withstand the tough seasonal weather that strikes the area at various times of the year. He also desired a mood-altering aesthetic that would relax the senses and calm the mind. Most importantly, he wanted this meditative environment completely shielded from the outside world so he could find serenity in total privacy. The most unique design element in this entire project is the roof of the shade arbor itself. It features a “negative space” leaf pattern that was designed in a software suite and cut out of the metal with a water jet cutter. Each form in the pattern is loosely suggestive of either a leaf, or a cluster of leaves. These small, negative spaces cut from the metal are the source of the structure’ powerful visual and emotional impact. During the day, sunlight shines down and highlights columns, furniture, plantings, and gravel with a blend of dappling and shade that make you feel like you are sitting under the branches of a tree. At night, the effects are even more brilliant. Skillfully concealed lights mounted on the trusses reflect off the steel in places, while in other places they penetrate the negative spaces, cascading brilliant patterns of ambient light down on vegetation, hardscape, and water alike. The shade arbor shelters two gravel patios that are almost identical in space. The patio closest to the living room features a mini outdoor dining room, replete with tables and chairs. The patio is ornamented with a blend of ornamental grass, a small human figurine sculpture, and mid-level impact ground cover. Gravel was chosen as the preferred hardscape material because of its Zen-like connotations. It is also remarkably soft to walk on, helping to set the mood for a relaxed afternoon in the dappled shade of gently filtered sunlight. The second patio, spaced 15 feet away from the first, resides adjacent to the home at the opposite end of the shade arbor. Like its twin, it is also ornamented with ground cover borders, ornamental grasses, and a large urn identical to the first. Seating here is even more private and contemplative. Instead of a table and chairs, there is a large decorative concrete bench cut in the shape of a giant four-leaf clover. Spanning the distance between these two patios, a bluestone walkway connects the two spaces. Along the way, its borders are punctuated in places by low-level ornamental grasses, a large flowering bush, another sculpture in the form of human faces, and foxtail ferns that spring up from a spread of river rock that punctuates the ends of the walkway. The meditative quality of the shade arbor is reinforced by two special features. The first of these is a disappearing fountain that flows from the top of a large vertical stone embedded like a monolith in the other edges of the river rock. The drains and pumps to this fountain are carefully concealed underneath the covering of smooth stones, and the sound of the water is only barely perceptible, as if it is trying to force you to let go of your thoughts to hear it. A large piece of core-10 steel, which is deliberately intended to rust quickly, rises up like an arced wall from behind the fountain stone. The dark color of the metal helps the casual viewer catch just a glimpse of light reflecting off the slow trickle of water that runs down the side of the stone into the river rock bed. To complete the quiet moment that the shade arbor is intended to invoke, a thick wall of cypress trees rises up on all sides of the yard, completely shutting out the disturbances of the world with a comforting wall of living greenery that comforts the thoughts and emotions.

Photo of a small tropical partial sun front yard gravel water fountain landscape in Miami.

Ian Moore
Inspiration for a small modern partial sun backyard gravel formal garden in San Francisco for summer.

This large expanse of lawn needed a major make over. Designer added many color full water wise shrubs, ornamental grasses and perennials. Took out 85% of existing lawn and added a new patio, steps, garden with grow boxes and strategic screens too. Designed for maximum enjoyment and preserving/enhancing their views while saving much water and maintenance. Rick Laughlin, APLD

This is an example of a small modern full sun backyard gravel formal garden in San Francisco for spring.

Small, formal patio space set between a sunroom and an outdoor porch. This image shows a section of the parterre.
This is an example of a small traditional partial sun side yard gravel landscaping in New York.

A fountain of strawberries nestles above the herbs, freeing them from disease as they hang over the rim of the pot. Cathy Edger, Edger Landscape Design

Emily J. Hara
Patio - small eclectic gravel patio idea in Los Angeles with no cover

The Pattie Group
Design ideas for a small traditional partial sun backyard gravel garden path in Cleveland for summer.

Jennifer Toole
Photo of a small contemporary full sun backyard gravel landscaping in Los Angeles for summer.

This private patio was built with steel screens and an outdoor fireplace. It is enclosed with stone seat walls and accented with lighting to make this patio enjoyable any time of day.