We completely renovated a simple low-lying house for a university family by opening the back side with large windows and a wrap-around patio. The kitchen counter extends to the exterior, enhancing the sense of openness to the outside. Large overhanging soffits and horizontal cedar siding keep the house from overpowering the view and help it settle into the landscape. An expansive maple floor and white ceiling reinforce the horizontal sense of space. Phil Bond Photography

Photo credit: www.parkscreative.com
Inspiration for a large timeless backyard stone patio remodel in Seattle with a fire pit

Rock garden featuring Applegate river rocks bordered by Rogue river 3/4" round rock. Landscape steel edging separates between rock garden and bark mulch.

Summer Beauty onion surround the stone entry columns while the Hydrangea begin to glow from the landscape lighting. Landscape design by John Algozzini. Photo courtesy of Mike Crews Photography.

This is an example of a small contemporary partial sun backyard brick landscaping in New York.

© Todd Haiman Landscape Design
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard concrete paver landscaping in New York.

This custom roof deck in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood features lightweight aluminum decking, ipe planters, an ipe and metal pergola, and ipe benches with built-in storage under the seats. Few woods can match the natural beauty of ipe (pronounced ee-pey), a hardwood with a 30-year life expectancy. These pictures were taken in early spring, before the leaves have filled out on the trees. Plantings include coralbark maples, hornbeams, pink cherry trees, crape myrtles, and feather grasses. The planters include LED up-lighting and automated drip irrigation lines. Read more about our projects on my blog, www.amberfreda.com.

Inspiration for a transitional single front door remodel in Minneapolis with beige walls and a glass front door

Lori Hamilton
Example of a classic light wood floor and beige floor hallway design in Miami with white walls

Howard Roberts
Photo of a traditional driveway in New York.

The backyard is small and uninviting until we transformed it into a comfortable and functional area for entertaining
Inspiration for a small contemporary privacy and full sun backyard landscaping in New York.

Photo of a transitional landscaping in New York.

This project reimagines an under-used back yard in Portland, Oregon, creating an urban garden with an adjacent writer’s studio. Taking inspiration from Japanese precedents, we conceived of a paving scheme with planters, a cedar soaking tub, a fire pit, and a seven-foot-tall cedar fence. A maple tree forms the focal point and will grow to shade the yard. Photo: Anna M Campbell: annamcampbell.com

Elegant foyer stair wraps a paneled, two-story entry hall. David Burroughs
Staircase - traditional wooden u-shaped staircase idea in Baltimore with painted risers

Inspiration for a large traditional partial sun backyard gravel formal garden in San Diego for spring.

The layered planting scheme along the front porch was designed to focus attention on the front porch and complement the existing paver walk. The suggestion to paint the posts, chinoiserie railing and porch trim a dark gray color added a dimension of sophistication to the simple frame house. Photography by Linda Oyama Bryan

Mid-sized transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Inspiration for an asian courtyard landscaping in Kyoto.

Inspiration for a traditional backyard concrete paver formal garden.