Huge trendy rooftop outdoor kitchen deck photo in Chicago with a pergola

Leucadendron 'Jester' provides beautiful colors and structure to this front garden. Complimented by Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark', and Lomandra breeze. Positioned alongside the front entrance of large concrete pavers. The front areas of this landscape in Bel Marin Keys, Novato, were transformed from a tired, water thirsty-lawn into a contemporary setting with dramatic concrete pavers leading to the home's entrance. A variety of low-water plants for sun and part shade complete this project front yard transformation. Installed in February 2014. More plant updates early 2015. The back areas of this transformation is featured in a separate project: Modern Water-Side Landscape Remodel http://www.houzz.com/projects/456093/Modern-Water-Side-Landscape-Remodel---Lawn-Replaced--Novato--CA

Large elegant backyard stone patio kitchen photo in New York with a pergola

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.

Mixed shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses create a rich garden border with year-round structure.
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in San Francisco.

Mark Hoyle Originally, this 3700 SF two level eclectic farmhouse from the mid 1980’s underwent design changes to reflect a more colonial style. Now, after being completely renovated with additional 2800 SF living space, it’s combined total of 6500 SF boasts an Energy Star certification of 5 stars. Approaching this completed home, you will meander along a new driveway through the dense buffer of trees until you reach the clearing, and then circle a tiered fountain on axis with the front entry accentuating the symmetrical main structure. Many of the exterior changes included enclosing the front porch and rear screened porch, replacing windows, replacing all the vinyl siding with and fiber cement siding, creating a new front stoop with winding brick stairs and wrought iron railings as will as other additions to the left and rear of the home. The existing interior was completely fro the studs and included modifying uses of many of the existing rooms such as converting the original dining room into an oval shaped theater with reclining theater seats, fiber-optic starlight ceiling and an 80” television with built-in surround sound. The laundry room increased in size by taking in the porch and received all new cabinets and finishes. The screened porch across the back of the house was enclosed to create a new dining room, enlarged the kitchen, all of which allows for a commanding view of the beautifully landscaped pool. The upper master suite begins by entering a private office then leads to a newly vaulted bedroom, a new master bathroom with natural light and an enlarged closet. The major portion of the addition space was added to the left side as a part time home for the owner’s brother. This new addition boasts an open plan living, dining and kitchen, a master suite with a luxurious bathroom and walk–in closet, a guest suite, a garage and its own private gated brick courtyard entry and direct access to the well appointed pool patio. And finally the last part of the project is the sunroom and new lagoon style pool. Tucked tightly against the rear of the home. This room was created to feel like a gazebo including a metal roof and stained wood ceiling, the foundation of this room was constructed with the pool to insure the look as if it is floating on the water. The pool’s negative edge opposite side allows open views of the trees beyond. There is a natural stone waterfall on one side of the pool and a shallow area on the opposite side for lounge chairs to be placed in it along with a hot tub that spills into the pool. The coping completes the pool’s natural shape and continues to the patio utilizing the same stone but separated by Zoysia grass keeping the natural theme. The finishing touches to this backyard oasis is completed utilizing large boulders, Tempest Torches, architectural lighting and abundant variety of landscaping complete the oasis for all to enjoy.

This breezeway is a unique architectural detail that connects the garage to the main house.
Inspiration for a transitional partial sun stone garden path in Other.

Inspiration for a small eclectic landscaping in Hamilton.

The Lavenham Summerhouse - An elegant octagonal design with a Victorian feel, attention to detail is clear in the design. From fluted posts to arched tracery, every aspect of its design creates a structure fit to command a place in the finest of gardens. With three of its eight bays fully opening the Lavenham Summerhouse can be opened up to the garden, producing both cover from direct sunlight and excellent cross ventilation. Our traditional lead roof design will mellow over time to a pleasing blue / grey colour and this added to a mainly hardwood construction will ensure longevity of the structure. All models are fitted with three opening bays and two "fixed glazed" as standard which can be positioned to best suit at time of installation. With year round structures growing ever more popular we have also added an insulated option to the range, double glazed and insulated panels and roof provide a year round use capability, the structure thus becoming an extension to the house, yet separate from it. Ordering Options Colour Model Size - 2400, 3000, 3800 Roof Style - Cathedral or Bell Floor Style - Plywood (Fitted As Standard) or Hardwood (Optional Extra) Contact Garden Accents for additional information.

With amazing city views, its hard not to want to spend all your time living outside. With this design, you can. In one corner you have planters packed with seasonal vegetables that can be picked, rinsed and served, all within about 10 footsteps. Want some protein with that? No problem. The outdoor kitchen is set to feed a crowd, all while engaging friends over the bar, and into the dining area. Here, with built-in retractable pergola canopies, you can control your environment to whatever shade, sun, or night sky setting you desire. And then, when you can eat no more, kick-back and relax in the comfy, heated lounge seating area.

With this client who has been passionate about plants all his life, there was naturally a close collaboration and a lot of input from him. Upon closer inspection you'd find some very exceptional plants that are sort of experimental but "all worth the try" in Gordon's eyes. And he is right! I relished the opportunity to use Star Magnolia stellata, Redbud Cercis 'Avondale' and 'Silver Cloud', Arabian Lilac 'Grand Duke of Tuscany', Royal Bromeliad Vriesea imperialis, also many unusual bulbs such as Scilla. Besides structure providing shrubs and trees (Tecoma, existing Indian Hawthorne with beautiful structures, Sweet Pea Bush, Golden Breath of Heaven, Ilex, Ginkgo, Bronze Loquat etc.) you'll see here also my favorite perennials, succulents and grasses, all as low care and undemanding as well as low-water as possible, to keep the landscape colorful and interesting year round. One of the highlights of this garden are the dry stream beds, bird bath and garden bench that we added. Built originally by himself and his wife, the dry stream beds were overgrown, mostly hidden by plant debris, or half rolling down hill. We had fun selecting a mixed collection of colorful and richly textured boulders of various sizes over, and with the input from 7 team members: Gordon, me, the contractor, the supervisor and three workers, we re-created the stream beds, making sure that anchor stones on the sides were well embedded in the slope, and that stone shelves and “top dressing” with smaller pebbles would add to the visual interest. Now these beds form very pleasing architectural features that look like they have always been there. We were all surprised how quickly all plants adapted to the site and started growing and putting out bloom. Now the old birdbath, a traditional white thing with dove figurines resting on the scalloped bowl, looked out of place, and I suggested to replace it with a stone bowl. And that part of the garden just called for a bench under the Macademia nut tree, to observe the birds and contemplate the whole creation. Only stone would do, but not any stone! Gordon picked a Basalt boulder that was naturally bowl shaped. It’s so heavy that it took 8 men to heave it into place! The Basalt bench was not much lighter, and together they make a very inviting scene. This job should last for a while. Photographed by Emma Almendarez at http://www.emmatheodoraphotography.com/

It is a contemporary ‘farm style compound’ with the main house accommodated in a ‘barn’ structure, the garages & workshops (steel- & woodworking workshops for the tinkering owner) in adjoining ‘sheds’ and the entrance & staircase housed in a semi-klinker ‘silo’ structure. A lap pool to the North of the barn act as a passive cooling device in summer, by cooling the warm summer winds from the North-East down through the evaporation of the pool water, and drawing the hot air from the ‘barn’ through large apertures facing the pool to the North & the pasture to the South. Triangular windows in the gables can be opened to draw out further hot air rising to the ceiling level inside the house. Proper insulation materials & methods for the roof, walls & floors, together with double glazing results in a cosy & warm interior. The lap pool is also an analogy of a drinking trough for the cows which used to roam the land and found on the farm before it was developed, hankering to its past, but off course also is just a swimming pool, in which the kids can play or train in for swimming galas. This house is designed to self-sufficient and ‘off-the-grid’ in the end, through the incorporation of many ideas & systems. Sustainable elements include items like a rain water harvesting system with galvanized tanks on the outside in feeling with the farm style vernacular, grey water recycling for garden irrigation, solar water heating- & photo voltaic (electricity generation) on the roof, the use of recycled materials obtained from demolished buildings & bridges at the time, and low-water-low maintenance gardens, indigenous to the area.

Staghorn NYC - Landscape design for the terraces of a high-floor residence at 1 Grand Army Plaza. Clients requested low maintenance and a modern aesthetic to match both the facade and interior. A simple color palette of white, gray, and greens. Flow-y ornamental grasses mingle with structural hardy cacti and evergreen trees.

Staghorn NYC - Landscape design for the terraces of a high-floor residence at 1 Grand Army Plaza. Clients requested low maintenance and a modern aesthetic to match both the facade and interior. A simple color palette of white, gray, and greens. Flow-y ornamental grasses mingle with structural hardy cacti and evergreen trees.

Staghorn NYC - Landscape design for the terraces of a high-floor residence at 1 Grand Army Plaza. Clients requested low maintenance and a modern aesthetic to match both the facade and interior. A simple color palette of white, gray, and greens. Flow-y ornamental grasses mingle with structural hardy cacti and evergreen trees.

Staghorn NYC - Landscape design for the terraces of a high-floor residence at 1 Grand Army Plaza. Clients requested low maintenance and a modern aesthetic to match both the facade and interior. A simple color palette of white, gray, and greens. Flow-y ornamental grasses mingle with structural hardy cacti and evergreen trees.

Staghorn NYC - Landscape design for the terraces of a high-floor residence at 1 Grand Army Plaza. Clients requested low maintenance and a modern aesthetic to match both the facade and interior. A simple color palette of white, gray, and greens. Flow-y ornamental grasses mingle with structural hardy cacti and evergreen trees.

Photo provided by Parks Creative, Patio Furniture provided by Rich's For the Home
Design ideas for a large traditional backyard stone water fountain landscape in Seattle.

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.