at the side rear near the 4 car garage, we designed a stable house reminiscent of the old days... and we made it the pool house. we used the same field stone on the pool house as on the decorative wall separating it from the driveway

Front double door entrance to Japanese Tea House. Photo displays a wood front porch with a reclaimed sandstone in the middle. The building is constructed with 8 different kinds of wood. The Japanese-style roof is constructed from copper and contains 4 skylight windows. Photo Credits: Dan Drobnick

This front yard features a seating area and jar fountain, ringed by aromatic native plantings of California Lilac, Manzanita, Cleveland Sage. A meadow-style planting of native sedge grasses create soft look in the foreground, and new concrete pavers add a modern touch. We also believe the project’s driveway to be among the prettiest we’ve created or seen: a ribbon of stones and grasses now meanders along a Hollywood-style center planting area.

A 3x30 timber frame trellis kit is installed in back yard landscape for the Greener residence garden area. Durable strong timbers built with the old world dovetail mortise and tenon system to last for generations and stand up through strong winds and heavy mountainous snows.

Arrow Land + Structures - Design and construction of a complete outdoor entertainment space. Swimming pool and spa design, custom outdoor kitchen nook, firepit gathering area, chaise lounge sunbathing, and outdoor dining space. Photography: Marco Romani, RLA

Arrow Land + Structures - Design and construction of a complete outdoor entertainment space. Swimming pool and spa design, custom outdoor kitchen nook, firepit gathering area, chaise lounge sunbathing, and outdoor dining space. Photography: Marco Romani, RLA

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

Three generations of one family live in a semi-detached house on an urban hillcrest that drops off sharply in their backyard. They wanted an enclosed, courtyard-like rear garden that would enable them to use as much of the slope as possible and provide some privacy on a tightly constrained site. Wood structures occupy significantly more area than the planting beds on this small, sloping lot. These structures perform multiple storage functions and create distinct areas – the dining area, the bridge to the shed, the stepped-down ‘secret garden’ at the rear with a Venus Dogwood tree and bench seating, and several planted areas. Vibrantly painted slats accent the natural-finish boards in the cedar fence, ensuring that there is colour in the garden year round. Between the side walkway and the rear entry a half-storey below, a balustrade with angled slats organizes the accent colours into a spectrum. From the interior of the house, the chromatic shift in the slats and the spaces between them create visual effects that change with the viewing point.

1.5 inch by 1.5 inch steel square tube, Paint Black Semi-Gloss
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard mulch garden path in Los Angeles.

Design credit; Mitch Evans, Redmond, WA Photo credit; Le jardinet
This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Seattle.

The planter box on the Green Roof Arbor is very adjustable to accommodate for the choice of plant material. Photo credits: Dan Drobnick
Design ideas for a small asian shade backyard gravel landscaping in Cleveland for summer.

Knockout Roses bloom during the Summer months. The outdoor structure is a custom pergola with climbing New Dawn Roses.
Inspiration for a huge traditional full sun front yard driveway in Boston for summer.

Wooden lattice privacy screen being threaded with ivy.
Design ideas for a small traditional partial sun backyard formal garden in Other for summer.

photos by Trina Roberts 949.395.8341 trina@grinphotography.com www.grinphotography.com
Example of a minimalist home design design in Orange County

Stepping stones in a minimal gravel paved area lead past two lounge chairs to the intimate dining area. The herringbone-patterned limestone patio dissipates into a lush planting bed filled with loose swaths of shade-loving perennials and seasonal bulbs. Beech hedging, and formal clipped evergreens, surround the space and provide privacy, structure and winter interest to the garden. On axis to the main interior living space of the home, the fountain, is the focal point of the garden. A limestone water wall featuring an engraved pattern of fallen Honey Locust leaves nods to the centrally located mature Honey Locust tree that anchors the garden. Water, flowing down the wall, falls a short distance into a pool with a submerged limestone panel. The light noise of the falling water helps soften the sounds of the bustling downtown neighbourhood, creating a tranquil back drop for living and entertaining.

New Additions to Hoover + Hill This project is a continuation of the renovation and updating work Flavin Architects had previously completed at the 1958 Wales house, designed by architect Henry Hoover and Walter Hill. Our clients, a young family, desired more space for guests, a home office, a yoga studio, and covered car parking. The challenge was to respect the architects’ original vision and not to interfere with the perfect cruciform plan of the house. To accomplish these goals, we converted the existing garage/workshop structure into a guest house and then designed a new, separate carport/storage building. The new carport building shares the low-slope gable of the original Hoover structure. The post and beam structure characteristic of Hoover’s design is updated through the use of galvanized steel posts and I beams. The galvanized beams cantilever to support a sheltered walkway leading from the parking to a guest house terrace defined in relationship to the three structures surrounding it. The terrace is paved in slate with a central rain garden. Wood lattice clads the carport, providing good ventilation and letting the building glow like a lantern at night. Our guest house renovation celebrates the unique structural timber ceiling of the original garage. We replaced opaque plywood trusses with a slender cable truss structurally engineered by Webb Structural Services. This cable truss allows for a view of the timber ceiling. A wall of glass facing the courtyard replaced the original garage door. A murphy bed in the rear room enables quick conversion from guest quarters to weight room.

Mid-sized detached garden shed photo in Other

Completed in the summer of 2013, this modern garden is located in Highland Park, Texas just north of Dallas. This garden features a modern edge with a swimming pool, concrete terraces, Ipe wood decks, a unique wood fence an outdoor shade structure with fireplace. The garden also includes and outdoor cooking area with Kalamazoo appliances.

A stone’s throw from Coogee Beach and nestled into the end of a private cul-de-sac, this secluded Sydney beachside garden balances beautifully the horticultural and the structural. With a seamless connection between the interior and exterior, this house is actually all about the garden. And so it should be as it is the home of the owners of Secret Gardens.