A traditional garden in the French style that contains fruits, berries, herbs, cutting, and vegetable garden.
Inspiration for a traditional backyard water fountain landscape in Chicago.

It started with vision. Then arrived fresh sight, seeing what was absent, seeing what was possible. Followed quickly by desire and creativity and know-how and communication and collaboration. When the Ramsowers first called Exterior Worlds, all they had in mind was an outdoor fountain. About working with the Ramsowers, Jeff Halper, owner of Exterior Worlds says, “The Ramsowers had great vision. While they didn’t know exactly what they wanted, they did push us to create something special for them. I get inspired by my clients who are engaged and focused on design like they were. When you get that kind of inspiration and dialogue, you end up with a project like this one.” For Exterior Worlds, our design process addressed two main features of the original space—the blank surface of the yard surrounded by looming architecture and plain fencing. With the yard, we dug out the center of it to create a one-foot drop in elevation in which to build a sunken pool. At one end, we installed a spa, lining it with a contrasting darker blue glass tile. Pedestals topped with urns anchor the pool and provide a place for spot color. Jets of water emerge from these pedestals. This moving water becomes a shield to block out urban noises and makes the scene lively. (And the children think it’s great fun to play in them.) On the side of the pool, another fountain, an illuminated basin built of limestone, brick and stainless steel, feeds the pool through three slots. The pool is counterbalanced by a large plot of grass. What is inventive about this grassy area is its sub-structure. Before putting down the grass, we installed a French drain using grid pavers that pulls water away, an action that keeps the soil from compacting and the grass from suffocating. The entire sunken area is finished off with a border of ground cover that transitions the eye to the limestone walkway and the retaining wall, where we used the same reclaimed bricks found in architectural features of the house. In the outer border along the fence line, we planted small trees that give the space scale and also hide some unsightly utility infrastructure. Boxwood and limestone gravel were embroidered into a parterre design to underscore the formal shape of the pool. Additionally, we planted a rose garden around the illuminated basin and a color garden for seasonal color at the far end of the yard across from the covered terrace. To address the issue of the house’s prominence, we added a pergola to the main wing of the house. The pergola is made of solid aluminum, chosen for its durability, and painted black. The Ramsowers had used reclaimed ornamental iron around their front yard and so we replicated its pattern in the pergola’s design. “In making this design choice and also by using the reclaimed brick in the pool area, we wanted to honor the architecture of the house,” says Halper. We continued the ornamental pattern by building an aluminum arbor and pool security fence along the covered terrace. The arbor’s supports gently curve out and away from the house. It, plus the pergola, extends the structural aspect of the house into the landscape. At the same time, it softens the hard edges of the house and unifies it with the yard. The softening effect is further enhanced by the wisteria vine that will eventually cover both the arbor and the pergola. From a practical standpoint, the pergola and arbor provide shade, especially when the vine becomes mature, a definite plus for the west-facing main house. This newly-created space is an updated vision for a traditional garden that combines classic lines with the modern sensibility of innovative materials. The family is able to sit in the house or on the covered terrace and look out over the landscaping. To enjoy its pleasing form and practical function. To appreciate its cool, soothing palette, the blues of the water flowing into the greens of the garden with a judicious use of color. And accept its invitation to step out, step down, jump in, enjoy.

Seasonal centerpiece for the holidays (c) Debra Prinzing
Inspiration for an eclectic dining room remodel in Seattle

Small bath remodel inspired by Japanese Bath houses. Wood for walls was salvaged from a dock found in the Willamette River in Portland, Or. Jeff Stern/In Situ Architecture

Mid-sized cottage master carpeted and beige floor bedroom photo in Boston with white walls

Our clients on this project were inspired by their travels to Asia and wanted to mimic this aesthetic at their DC property. We designed a water feature that effectively masks adjacent traffic noise and maintains a small footprint.

This Dutch colonial was designed for a NBA Coach and his family. It was very important that the home be warm, tailored and friendly while remaining functional to create an atmosphere for entertainment as well as resale. This was accomplished by using the same paint color throughout the 11,000 sq.ft home while each space conveyed a different feeling. We are proud to say that the house sold within 7 days on the market. Photographer: Jane Beiles

Example of a mid-sized classic kitchen pantry design in San Diego with open cabinets and white cabinets

Left to right. the Chamacyparis Torulosa Pom Pom, behind it is a Thuja Rheingold on Standard. The Tall tree is Cedar of Lebanon. the 3 balls in front are Chamacyparis Psifera gold mop. a weeping blue spruce, weeping Japanese maple Tamayukama, Miss Molly Butterfly bushes are behind the yellow balls. The green ground cover is Mazus Reptans. Whew!

Nantucket Architectural Photography
Bathroom - large coastal master white tile and ceramic tile light wood floor bathroom idea in Boston with white walls

Casey Dunn Photography
Inspiration for a large coastal u-shaped light wood floor kitchen remodel in Houston with an island, white cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, open cabinets, a farmhouse sink, white backsplash and wood backsplash

The design intent for this modest home and garden, located on a tree-lined street in Culver City, was to create a family-friendly, versatile, sustainable outdoor environment that grew with the rapidly changing needs of the owners, their three children and their close-knit community. This became the site of the "Neighborhood Film Festival" where family and friends could settle into the oversized sofa, warm themselves by the outdoor firepit/coffee table, and enjoy a movie under the stars.

True's 42" side-by-side is more than 24.44 cubic feet of stylish, stainless steel refrigeration. The True 42 is changing the way we think about luxury appliances. Clean, modern, and inspired by the artistry and work ethic of the best professional chefs, this full-sized refrigerator gives high-end residential kitchens the look, work space, and performance of the best professional kitchens around the world.

Backyard fire pit. Taken by Lara Swimmer. Landscape Design by ModernBackyard
Patio - contemporary backyard concrete paver patio idea in Seattle with a fire pit

Photo: Bilyana Dimitrova
This is an example of a large traditional full sun rooftop water fountain landscape in New York with decking.

The soft green opalescent tile in the shower and on the floor creates a subtle tactile geometry, in harmony with the matte white paint used on the wall and ceiling; semi gloss is used on the trim for additional subtle contrast. The sink has clean simple lines while providing much-needed accessible storage space. A clear frameless shower enclosure allows unobstructed views of the space.

Inspiration for a timeless tile patio fountain remodel in Charleston with no cover

This Mill Valley residence under the redwoods was conceived and designed for a young and growing family. Though technically a remodel, the project was in essence new construction from the ground up, and its clean, traditional detailing and lay-out by Chambers & Chambers offered great opportunities for our talented carpenters to show their stuff. This home features the efficiency and comfort of hydronic floor heating throughout, solid-paneled walls and ceilings, open spaces and cozy reading nooks, expansive bi-folding doors for indoor/ outdoor living, and an attention to detail and durability that is a hallmark of how we build. See our work in progress at our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/D.V.RasmussenConstruction Like us on Facebook to keep up on our newest projects. Photographer: John Merkyl Architect: Barbara Chambers of Chambers + Chambers in Mill Valley

Photography by: Alex Hayden
Example of a trendy backyard decomposed granite patio design in Seattle with no cover