Photo of a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard landscaping in New York.

This beautiful home needed a garden refresh.. We added new planting, pottery and fountains, all with a simple elegant feel. Planting is low water, with a simple blue-green-grey palette. More photos to come of the rest of the property, as the landscape grows in.

Example of a southwest patio design in Phoenix with a fire pit

This is an example of a traditional backyard retaining wall landscape in Atlanta.

Heliconia under-planted with crotons, coleus, and sweet potato vine give a tropical look to this Palm Beach county container garden. Pamela Crawford designed and photographed the planter. See over 500 photos of container gardens on her website at pamela-crawford.com. Pamela designs landscapes throughout Palm Beach County, FL, including Boca Raton, Delray Beach, the town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Wellington.

Design ideas for a traditional full sun backyard stone driveway in New York for summer.

Design ideas for a mediterranean partial sun gravel landscaping in Los Angeles.

Michael Pring
Photo of a contemporary landscaping in New York.

What our clients needed: • Create a garden folly that doubles as a well-built shed for crafts and storage. • Size the structure large enough for comfortable storage without dominating the garden. • Discreetly locate the shed in the far corner of the rear yard while maintaining existing trees. • Ensure that the structure is protected from the weather and carefully detailed to deter access of wildlife and rodents. FUNCTION • Construct the shed slab close to grade to permit easy access for bicycle storage, while building shed walls above grade to ensure against termites and dryrot. • Install a French door and operable casement windows to admit plenty of daylight and provide views to the garden. • Include rugged built-in work bench, shelves, bike racks and tool storage for a rustic well-organized and efficient space. • Incorporate GFIC electrical service for safe access to power at this distant corner of the yard. • Position energy-efficient interior lighting to ensure space can be used year-round. • Switch control of exterior light from house and from shed for ease of command. AESTHETICS • Design and detail the shed to coordinate with the Arts and Crafts style house. • Include an arbor for future flowering vines, further softening the shed’s garden presence. • Simple and rustic interior surfaces ensure that the space is easy to clean. • Create an aged and softly weathered appearance, and protect the exterior siding by finishing the cedar with a custom-colored semi-transparent stain. INNOVATIVE MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION • Factory-built components were pre-assembled to allow for a speedy assembly and for a shorter on-site construction schedule. • Each component was easily transported through the yard without disturbing garden features. • Decorative exterior trim frames the door and windows, while a simpler trim is used inside the unadorned shed. OBSTACLE OVERCOME • The structure is located in the corner of the yard to avoid disturbance of a curly willow tree. • The low-profile structure is positioned close to property lines while staying beneath the allowable daylight plane for structures. • To comply with daylight plane close to fence, the roof form combines hip and gable forms, with door located at gable end. • The height of the modest interior is maximized, without exceeding the allowable building height. CRAFTSMANSHIP • The concrete slab was precisely formed and finished for ease of shed assembly before the factory-built components were delivered to site. • Precision planning meant the pre-framed door fit exactly between raised concrete curb.

stone walkway, retaining wall, arbors, pergolas, trellis, cedar fencing, custom wood structures
Design ideas for a traditional retaining wall landscape in Portland.

Photo of a transitional landscaping in Phoenix.

Dargan Landscape Architects

Photo of a large mediterranean landscaping in Los Angeles.

Inspiration for a rustic landscaping in Atlanta.

Photo of a large coastal full sun backyard brick garden path in Boston.