"From barren rooftop to urban paradise! Check out our stunning Brooklyn rooftop transformation – a sleek and modern green oasis complete with a cozy fireplace, tranquil waterfall, multiple seating areas, and a fully equipped kitchen.

"From barren rooftop to urban paradise! Check out our stunning Brooklyn rooftop transformation – a sleek and modern green oasis complete with a cozy fireplace, tranquil waterfall, multiple seating areas, and a fully equipped kitchen.

"From barren rooftop to urban paradise! Check out our stunning Brooklyn rooftop transformation – a sleek and modern green oasis complete with a cozy fireplace, tranquil waterfall, multiple seating areas, and a fully equipped kitchen.

An eclectic Living room came to life by using repetitive half-moon & rounded shapes in both furniture and accessories. Jewel tones were used throughout the Living/Dining space to create a flow that is inviting and elegant at the same time. Different metals, such as gold and copper, along with various shades of wood provide warmth and balance, but the centerpiece is the room divider/banquette that was designed and executed by Mint Decor Inc.

"From barren rooftop to urban paradise! Check out our stunning Brooklyn rooftop transformation – a sleek and modern green oasis complete with a cozy fireplace, tranquil waterfall, multiple seating areas, and a fully equipped kitchen.

"From barren rooftop to urban paradise! Check out our stunning Brooklyn rooftop transformation – a sleek and modern green oasis complete with a cozy fireplace, tranquil waterfall, multiple seating areas, and a fully equipped kitchen.

A self proclaimed entertainer - and with designs like these, she should be - Mrs. Steinhorn focused all of her attention on creating a space for guests and family members to gather comfortably. With the help of Brian and Bob of Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling, the once barren walls took on the shapes of designer cabinetry accented with gorgeous updated counter tops and a back splash tile to draw the eye in. The space was enlarged to allow more access for dinner parties and cooking area as well. Brigitte says she’s thrown “countless parties and events since the loss took place, it’s been phenomenal.” Photo: Doug Mathurin

"From barren rooftop to urban paradise! Check out our stunning Brooklyn rooftop transformation – a sleek and modern green oasis complete with a cozy fireplace, tranquil waterfall, multiple seating areas, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Glamourous white on white kitchen with bling from the Bubble Ball Lightology pendants and the mirrors behind the X mullions. White Marble floor tile and a marble remnant behind the cooktop add that extra touch. The Island is a contrasting gray color called Zinc by Dura Supreme Cabinetry. This is one light and bright kitchen!

This is the view from the kitchen to the nook.
Mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Charlotte with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

"From barren rooftop to urban paradise! Check out our stunning Brooklyn rooftop transformation – a sleek and modern green oasis complete with a cozy fireplace, tranquil waterfall, multiple seating areas, and a fully equipped kitchen.

"From barren rooftop to urban paradise! Check out our stunning Brooklyn rooftop transformation – a sleek and modern green oasis complete with a cozy fireplace, tranquil waterfall, multiple seating areas, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Originally this side patio was simply a barren cement patch that was cold and uninviting (this is the BEFORE picture). It has a basic stone and concrete patio floor, with concrete brick walls. There was some natural bamboo behind the wall, but otherwise no plants. The house sits down in to the property, and to get to the front door you have to descend a steep set of stairs. This patio area is one of the first things people see as they descend the stairs to the front door, so we wanted to make it as inviting and cozy as possible. Plus, with all the natural tree coverage, it's a perfect place during hot days to curl up with a book or glass of wine under the shade. Not wanting to spend money on a massive renovation, the goal was to create a cozy niche for both entertaining guests and personal relaxation, reminiscent of an India-meets-Bali exotic retreat. We created something that was organic and natural looking, in harmony with the relaxed environment of Laguna Beach. To keep it budget friendly - and better for the environment - we also opted for recycled and pre-owned items we found on Craiglist and eBay. I chose to first mask the barren concrete walls with an carved wood screen from India, to add depth and interest. I placed two large daybeds with heavily padded cushions in an “L” shape to entice people to curl up and sink in. Rather than opting for a regular square patio table, I found a one-of-a-kind custom oak tree slab table (a fantastic Craiglist find!) that added a beautiful organic feel. The Moroccan lamp I brought back from one of my trips to Marrakech, and it added the perfect personal touch, in addition to personal sacred objects such as an antique Kwan Yin statue (great eBay find), crystals, and shells found at the beach. Finally, various plants were added — including both a satsuma orange tree and grapefruit tree that add lovely bursts of color when in season. And makes for a great quick snack when lounging about!

Colorado Vista Landscape Design, Inc.
Photo of a mid-sized craftsman drought-tolerant and full sun hillside stone retaining wall landscape in Denver.

Sunday, May 31, 3:30-5:00pm | Hollywood Hills Hollywood Hillside Residence by Judy Kameon of Elysian Landscapes Nestled in one of L.A.’s iconic canyons, a barren one-acre plot was transformed into a lush landscape - embracing the indoor/outdoor experience established by the architecture while preserving the panoramic vistas. A series of linked garden spaces were created for daily use and entertaining and plant materials used strategically to screen out the neighbors, but not the views. One of the many challenges at the site was integrating two structurally required retaining walls into the design to accommodate the 30-foot elevation change on the steep hillside. An intimate nook with cascading vines creatively masks one wall, while the other area was transformed into an elegant outdoor dining patio that includes a new spa, an L-shaped pool, and a variety of intimate spaces to lounge in and relax. The dramatic palette of silver, burgundy, blue and green subtropical succulents and Mediterranean perennials, along with the enticing scent of lavender, thyme and rosemary, are layered throughout the property to create a private urban oasis. Photo copyright Erik Otsea

This unique 2.75 acre property, located on the Roosevelt Channel on Captiva Island, was transformed from a barren construction site into a tropical garden that would rival some botanical gardens. The homeowners are garden enthusiasts and collaborated closely with Bob Walsh and the landscape team to create a variety of lush landscape gardens including; a Tropical Flowering Tree Garden, Moonlight & Scent Garden, Citrus & Edible Garden, Specimen Palm Gardens, Tropical Shade Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, and Waterfall Gardens with lagoon pools for Koi fish. Outdoor living was of primary consideration as well. The Seminole Indian Chickee Hut overlooks a private Island Beach with hammocks to offer a retreat for entertaining and relaxation while a 42 foot circular Stone Labyrinth is a place for meditation and contemplation. Moon and accent landscape lighting allow the numerous pathways and gardens to be enjoyed well beyond sunset.

The landscape around this Mediterranean style home was transformed from barren and unusable to a warm and inviting outdoor space, cohesive with the existing architecture and aesthetic of the property. The front yard renovation included the construction of stucco landscape walls to create a front courtyard, with a dimensional cut flagstone patio with ground cover joints, a stucco fire pit, a "floating" composite bench, an urn converted into a recirculating water feature, landscape lighting, drought-tolerant planting, and Palomino gravel. Another stucco wall with a powder-coated steel gate was built at the entry to the backyard, connecting to a stucco column and steel fence along the property line. The backyard was developed into an outdoor living space with custom concrete flat work, dimensional cut flagstone pavers, a bocce ball court, horizontal board screening panels, and Mediterranean-style tile and stucco water feature, a second gas fire pit, capped seat walls, an outdoor shower screen, raised garden beds, a trash can enclosure, trellis, climate-appropriate plantings, low voltage lighting, mulch, and more!

Photography by Joe Dodd
Photo of a contemporary backyard landscaping in San Francisco.

Check out the spectacular views on this Brooklyn rooftop garden! Our design included a total makeover of a previously barren space, including replacing the dingy looking concrete pavers with ipe wood deck tiles. We also designed a custom L-shaped ipe bench with seats that lift up for storage and planters filled with soft grasses built into the back of the bench. The lush looking plantings in this garden are in a mix of ipe and fiberglass pots and include Tardiva hydrangeas, white multi-stem birch trees, Mexican feather grasses, boxwoods, angelonia, purple coneflower, and a weeping redbud tree. The planters are illuminated with LED low-voltage up-lights for a dramatic nighttime effect.