Serpentine dry stacked granite walls celebrate regional materials while transforming this sloping yard into a multilevel extension of home. It features a secluded fire pit that looks out over a striking view of the stormwater pond below and mountains in the distance, activated by the occasional glimpse of local wildlife populations including bald eagles and deer. Two cedar pergolas act as an outdoor extension of home and provide afternoon shade both inside the house and out. Photography: Louie Jeon Photography

Ward Jewell, AIA was asked to design a comfortable one-story stone and wood pool house that was "barn-like" in keeping with the owner’s gentleman farmer concept. Thus, Mr. Jewell was inspired to create an elegant New England Stone Farm House designed to provide an exceptional environment for them to live, entertain, cook and swim in the large reflection lap pool. Mr. Jewell envisioned a dramatic vaulted great room with hand selected 200 year old reclaimed wood beams and 10 foot tall pocketing French doors that would connect the house to a pool, deck areas, loggia and lush garden spaces, thus bringing the outdoors in. A large cupola “lantern clerestory” in the main vaulted ceiling casts a natural warm light over the graceful room below. The rustic walk-in stone fireplace provides a central focal point for the inviting living room lounge. Important to the functionality of the pool house are a chef’s working farm kitchen with open cabinetry, free-standing stove and a soapstone topped central island with bar height seating. Grey washed barn doors glide open to reveal a vaulted and beamed quilting room with full bath and a vaulted and beamed library/guest room with full bath that bookend the main space. The private garden expanded and evolved over time. After purchasing two adjacent lots, the owners decided to redesign the garden and unify it by eliminating the tennis court, relocating the pool and building an inspired "barn". The concept behind the garden’s new design came from Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello with its wandering paths, orchards, and experimental vegetable garden. As a result this small organic farm, was born. Today the farm produces more than fifty varieties of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers; many of which are rare and hard to find locally. The farm also grows a wide variety of fruits including plums, pluots, nectarines, apricots, apples, figs, peaches, guavas, avocados (Haas, Fuerte and Reed), olives, pomegranates, persimmons, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and ten different types of citrus. The remaining areas consist of drought-tolerant sweeps of rosemary, lavender, rockrose, and sage all of which attract butterflies and dueling hummingbirds. Photo Credit: Laura Hull Photography. Interior Design: Jeffrey Hitchcock. Landscape Design: Laurie Lewis Design. General Contractor: Martin Perry Premier General Contractors

Succulents, grasses and low-water shrubs with vivid foliage give this coastal garden a rich, textured look with minimal maintenance. Exterior colors and furniture selection by Julie McMahon. Photos by Daniel Bosler

Front yard with decomposed granite paths with stone bench and rock water feature
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic drought-tolerant, rock and full sun front yard decomposed granite and wood fence landscaping in Los Angeles for spring.

Credit: Ron Rosenzweig
Kitchen - mid-sized coastal u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Miami with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, blue backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, an island and stainless steel appliances

Ward Jewell, AIA was asked to design a comfortable one-story stone and wood pool house that was "barn-like" in keeping with the owner’s gentleman farmer concept. Thus, Mr. Jewell was inspired to create an elegant New England Stone Farm House designed to provide an exceptional environment for them to live, entertain, cook and swim in the large reflection lap pool. Mr. Jewell envisioned a dramatic vaulted great room with hand selected 200 year old reclaimed wood beams and 10 foot tall pocketing French doors that would connect the house to a pool, deck areas, loggia and lush garden spaces, thus bringing the outdoors in. A large cupola “lantern clerestory” in the main vaulted ceiling casts a natural warm light over the graceful room below. The rustic walk-in stone fireplace provides a central focal point for the inviting living room lounge. Important to the functionality of the pool house are a chef’s working farm kitchen with open cabinetry, free-standing stove and a soapstone topped central island with bar height seating. Grey washed barn doors glide open to reveal a vaulted and beamed quilting room with full bath and a vaulted and beamed library/guest room with full bath that bookend the main space. The private garden expanded and evolved over time. After purchasing two adjacent lots, the owners decided to redesign the garden and unify it by eliminating the tennis court, relocating the pool and building an inspired "barn". The concept behind the garden’s new design came from Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello with its wandering paths, orchards, and experimental vegetable garden. As a result this small organic farm, was born. Today the farm produces more than fifty varieties of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers; many of which are rare and hard to find locally. The farm also grows a wide variety of fruits including plums, pluots, nectarines, apricots, apples, figs, peaches, guavas, avocados (Haas, Fuerte and Reed), olives, pomegranates, persimmons, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and ten different types of citrus. The remaining areas consist of drought-tolerant sweeps of rosemary, lavender, rockrose, and sage all of which attract butterflies and dueling hummingbirds. Photo Credit: Laura Hull Photography. Interior Design: Jeffrey Hitchcock. Landscape Design: Laurie Lewis Design. General Contractor: Martin Perry Premier General Contractors

Another view of the upper patio with Sonoma fieldstone and blue stone circular bench that serves as a retaining wall and provides ample seating for visitors. The majestic oak tree is a primary focal point in this setting and frames the distance hillsides and a bay view. Decomposed granite patio and pathways. Design and Photo: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design http://www.digyourgarden.com

A plain rectangular-shaped back yard in Fairfax, CA was transformed by including curvaceous pathway of decomposed granite (DG) patios and garden beds. The plant palette includes a variety of colorful drought-tolerant plants that offer both flower and leaf colors and textures throughout every season. Photo and Design ©Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Amy Williams Photo
Kitchen - mid-sized transitional l-shaped porcelain tile and gray floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Decomposed Granite path between Giant Sequoias leads to repurposed, reshaped and stained rear concrete slab. Micro-climate appropriate plants complete the picture. Photo by Ketti Kupper.

Design ideas for a transitional drought-tolerant backyard decomposed granite and wood fence retaining wall landscape in San Francisco.

Decomposed Granite path.Micro-climate appropriate plants include the stunning Euphorbia cotinifolia next to the garage. Photo by Ketti Kupper.
Photo of a small contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard garden path in Los Angeles.

The bluestone path is striking against the mixed plantings.
This is an example of a large farmhouse front yard stone garden path in San Francisco.

Eichler in Marinwood - At the larger scale of the property existed a desire to soften and deepen the engagement between the house and the street frontage. As such, the landscaping palette consists of textures chosen for subtlety and granularity. Spaces are layered by way of planting, diaphanous fencing and lighting. The interior engages the front of the house by the insertion of a floor to ceiling glazing at the dining room. Jog-in path from street to house maintains a sense of privacy and sequential unveiling of interior/private spaces. This non-atrium model is invested with the best aspects of the iconic eichler configuration without compromise to the sense of order and orientation. photo: scott hargis

A flagstone and decomposed granite (DG) walkway is bordered by different colors and sizes of rocks. There's also an area with DG, a small boulder, palms and drought-resistant plants.

Photo By: Jude Parkinson-Morgan
Example of a mid-sized trendy backyard patio design in San Francisco

Use stabilized decomposed granite (DG), succulents, drought-tolerant plants & large rocks or small boulders for a desert landscape look.
Design ideas for a transitional landscaping in Los Angeles.

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

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