Photo of a traditional water fountain landscape in Seattle.

by Karen Aitken
Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean backyard decomposed granite landscaping in San Francisco.

Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in New York

Photo of a large traditional full sun backyard landscaping in Houston for summer.

Swiss chard amongst some annuals makes for a striking mix of color and texture.
Design ideas for a large farmhouse full sun backyard landscaping in DC Metro.

Ann Betten
Design ideas for a large traditional backyard brick landscaping in Baltimore.

Ann Betten
Inspiration for a large traditional backyard brick landscaping in Baltimore.

Ann Betten
Photo of a traditional landscaping in Baltimore.

Semi-circle of linden trees planted with surrounding garden beds of shade loving hostas, ferns and Solomon's seal. Where the lindens end the walking garden begins and the plantings transition to part-shade astilbe, purple coral bells, hosta, bleeding hearts and foxglove (Digitalis)

The new Ipe deck steps down to the gravel pathway, which leads past the re-built fountain toward the deck and hammock in the background. Fountains such as this create a dramatic effect without using a large amount of water. Under the gravel is a reservoir that constantly recycles the water back to the fountain. Photos-Chris Jacobson, GardenArt Group

A large white outdoor sunroom with glass panes surrounded by lush greenery.
Mid-sized elegant gray floor sunroom photo in Chicago with a glass ceiling

Trendy concrete patio photo in Los Angeles with no cover

Photo of a traditional landscaping in New York.

Inspiration for a landscaping in Albuquerque.

Design ideas for a transitional backyard gravel landscaping in San Francisco.

Plastic benches held up by concrete block make a simple benching system. Wire closet shelving adds extra room for plants. 3/8" pea stone floor with drainage pipe beneath keeps the floor dry. Photo by Bob Trainor

Situated in Kenwood, Maryland just outside of Washington, D.C., this whole-house renovation reinterprets a 1950s split-level into a rustic French country house. Published 3 times, The French country house plans for this renovation inform and guide the remodel. Short double-hung existing windows of various sizes on a 1950s brick front wall (see below) were replaced by straightforward openings along the front facade. By replacing them with a series of similar openings, the end result is a principled, simple elegance inspired by French country style homes. The rustic application of field stone arches and rough stucco are both inviting and enchanting, echoing French country interior design. Elements of French country home decor complement the home. The traditional French country home design has been widely published, including features in Renovation Style and Maryland Life magazines, among others. One singular continuous walkway runs the entire length of the main front under each of the French doors, and a courtyard created by stucco walls and stone piers create an inner sanctum in the front yard. In the back of the property, added French gates lead to a newly constructed pavilion.

The client wanted an inviting entryway and courtyard area added to their home. They also wanted to reuse existing specimen plants from their former landscape such as the Hinoki Cypress, Japanese Laceleaf Maple, Montgomery Blue Spruce and several other plants. The welcoming front walk was designed to flow between the plants harmoniously.

A new garden layout was established around existing mature trees to create a series of linked garden rooms ranging from formal to informal. A new lawn was created in front of the house. The garden still needs time to develop but is a great testament to what can be achieved with a very small budget and a lot of hard work