Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard landscaping in Chicago.

A stunning landscape filled with traditional elements throughout. Knot gardens, formal boxwood gardens with a water feature at the center, dining under a plush pergola, and seating from front to back to enjoy every space. Multiple levels are created in the landscape with raised beds and views from the upper terrace. Extensive perennial beds fill the distance with color and texture. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan

Christel Leung
Inspiration for a small modern full sun backyard concrete paver formal garden in San Francisco.

Joe Runde
Design ideas for a transitional gravel formal garden in Chicago.

Design ideas for a mid-sized mediterranean courtyard water fountain landscape in Denver.

My clients were excited about their newly purchased home perched high in the hills over the south Bay Area, but since the house was built in the early 90s, the were desperate to update some of the spaces. Their main powder room at the entrance to this grand home was a letdown: bland, featureless, dark, and it left anyone using it with the feeling they had just spent some time in a prison cell. These clients spent many years living on the east coast and brought with them a wonderful classical sense for their interiors—so I created a space that would give them that feeling of Old World tradition. My idea was to transform the powder room into a destination by creating a garden room feeling. To disguise the size and shape of the room, I used a gloriously colorful wallcovering from Cole & Son featuring a pattern of trees and birds based on Chinoiserie wallcoverings from the nineteenth century. Sconces feature gold palm leaves curling around milk glass diffusers. The vanity mirror has the shape of an Edwardian greenhouse window, and the new travertine floors evoke a sense of pavers meandering through an arboreal path. With a vanity of midnight blue, and custom faucetry in chocolate bronze and polished nickel, this powder room is now a delightful garden in the shade. Photo: Bernardo Grijalva

Example of a trendy backyard concrete patio design in San Francisco with a pergola

Pool - large traditional backyard brick and rectangular lap pool idea in Seattle

Photo of a mid-sized transitional partial sun backyard stone garden path in San Francisco.

Inspiration for an eclectic side yard concrete paver garden path.

The homeowners desired an outdoor space that felt more rustic than their refined interior spaces, but still related architecturally to their house. Cement plaster support arbor columns provide enough of visual tie to the existing house exterior. Oversized wood beams and rafter members provide a unique outdoor atmosphere. Structural bolts and hardware were minimized for a cleaner appearance. Structural connections and supports were engineered to meet California's stringent earthquake standards. Ali Atri Photography

Photograpy by Liz Linder ( http://www.lizlinder.com/)
Example of a small transitional garden shed design in Boston

Two 5' tall fences, spaced 5' apart will deter deer without looking like Fort Knox. Hardware cloth and graduated hog fence panels keeps burrowing rodents and rabbits at bay. See web site for details and plans

Timber frame arbor kit installed in the corner of the yard.
Patio - traditional shade patio idea in Salt Lake City

This small formal patio was created to utilize the existing fountain and concrete pond. Clay pavers nicely encircle the pond to add interest to the patio and stay true to the craftsmanship of the estate. Gardens surround the back property so there is always great views of the carefully manicured gardens from the patio. The lions head fountain tops off the patio experience with the southing sound of water.

Deck - contemporary backyard deck idea in Chicago with decking and a pergola

Tamara Alvarez
Inspiration for a small tropical partial sun pool remodel in Miami with decking

Example of a classic stone and rectangular pool design in New York

Ira Montgomery
This is an example of a large traditional gravel formal garden in Dallas.