Ellen Smiler Creative
Living room - large 1950s open concept concrete floor living room idea in Los Angeles with yellow walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a concealed tv

Photo of a large contemporary shade side yard stone garden path in DC Metro for fall.

The owners of this property were avid entertainers who enjoy opening up their space for friends and family. The design's primary objective was to create an inviting space for mingling and socializing. Situated in Houston's West University area on a compact lot, our focus was on accommodating gatherings of varying sizes. The focal point of this design is a bubbling water feature, that enhances the space with a touch of color and soothing water sounds, complemented by a base of Mexican beach pebbles. Stamped and stained concrete compose the walkway and patio, purposefully designed to encourage conversation around the water feature and to provide a dedicated outdoor dining and gathering area. Understanding the owners' love for their canine companions, we integrated pet-friendly synthetic turf. This sustainable and low-maintenance choice offers a space where owners can enjoy quality moments with their beloved pets. We built a Western Red Cedar Fence around the property and installed Eagleston Holly trees at the perimeter for enhanced privacy. These trees will mature to an impressive 15 feet. Texas native plants, Loropetalum and Variegated Ginger, were thoughtfully incorporated throughout the design. In the evenings, carefully positioned soft LED lighting adds allure and highlights specific facets of the design. We obscured the A/C by installing an A/C screen that matches the Western Red Cedar Fence. The result of this design is an elevated space, ideal for hosting, while remaining low-maintenance and sustainable. This ensures that owners can fully embrace quality time with their family and pets, without the burden of extensive upkeep.

Small zoysia grass area for small pet.
Inspiration for a contemporary landscaping in Austin.

This 1946 beach cottage landscape blends vintage charm with eco-friendly design. The front yard was transformed into a kid- and pet-friendly space with Kurapia groundcover, native and succulent plantings, and a redwood pergola. Upgrades include drip irrigation, a bioswale, concrete steppers, and smart lighting—offering a sustainable, low-maintenance outdoor retreat.

A beautiful garden pathway is accented by flowers, synthetic lawn, stepping pads, and arbor.
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean drought-tolerant and full sun backyard concrete paver garden path in Orange County for spring.

Front yard Landscape photo by Gina M.
Design ideas for a rustic landscaping in Denver.

This is an example of a mid-sized modern backyard concrete paver garden path in Austin for summer.

This 1946 beach cottage landscape blends vintage charm with eco-friendly design. The front yard was transformed into a kid- and pet-friendly space with Kurapia groundcover, native and succulent plantings, and a redwood pergola. Upgrades include drip irrigation, a bioswale, concrete steppers, and smart lighting—offering a sustainable, low-maintenance outdoor retreat.

This project is entitled 'Bringing Nature Home'; Where the Coyotes Run. While initially meeting with the client on a sunny afternoon a coyote ran across the lawn. This indicated good fortune was waiting. From a Feng Shui perspective...powerful, positive energy. An excerpt from the design concept is...Flowering ornamental grasses colorful perennials with large boulders will accent your new, native plant garden.

This 1946 beach cottage landscape blends vintage charm with eco-friendly design. The front yard was transformed into a kid- and pet-friendly space with Kurapia groundcover, native and succulent plantings, and a redwood pergola. Upgrades include drip irrigation, a bioswale, concrete steppers, and smart lighting—offering a sustainable, low-maintenance outdoor retreat.

When Clint first met with the client, he learned how much he wanted his home to be connected to the land, and how fully he admired the buildings of the national parks. He particularly treasured the Yellowstone Lodge, with its simple yet very large spaces, revealing great wooden beams supported by log poles that hold up the entire structure. As they talked, Clint realized how striking it would be to use timber framing and loadbearing adobe walls, and the natural materials of his hillside site, to expose the home’s structure and release its character. This home rises above its foundation as a rustic dwelling influenced by the Arts and Crafts design exhibited by buildings found in the national parks. Small outcroppings of rock and native plants, within and outside of the home, extend this design and feel. To put the final touches on this character-rich home, The home owner planted grapevines and a lush green garden, which have become home to his beloved pets and several desert tortoises. “I had wanted to do a National Park/Craftsman style home for some time but was unsure of which building material to use. When Clint showed me his first set of drawings, they were exactly what I had in mind. My home fits perfectly into the surrounding environment and I’m very happy with the design.” the home owner

Rhododendron canescens / Piedomont Azalea Photo: John S. Quarterman, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-2.0 Generic
Inspiration for a landscaping in Other.

A pair of private courtyards within a unique condo development, "Kat’s Garden," and “The Bloem Garden,” nestle into a densely populated neighborhood in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The intimate and private spaces also feel inviting and lively. In Kat’s Garden, a sentimental family drawing from the homeowner's personal collection inspires a focal point in the form of a sculptural sliding gate crafted from raw aluminum—a threshold visible throughout the property. Horizontal wood fencing built from western red cedar radiates from the gate and encloses the courtyard, and a striking recycled-plastic dining set rests upon linear bands of reclaimed granite slabs embedded in the earth. Reflections from the furniture illuminate the space. The courtyard holds three particularly special blocks of antique granite salvaged from an early 19th-century decommissioned building in Boston. Two are nestled into a planted slope as impromptu benches for overflow seating; the other is carefully outfitted with a stainless steel rill where water spills into a riverstone basin. Underground drywell “pockets” are dotted throughout the hardscape, and stormwater perks into the surrounding planting beds. Water becomes a calming, artistic, and nourishing element in the garden. A dramatic, stainless steel trellis spans two stories where a clematis vine softens the scale of the house. A dynamic plant palette composed of sculptural trees, evergreen and deciduous shrubs, and multi-seasonal perennials provides excellent opportunities for active, inspired gardening. On lazier days, the courtyard can be taken in from two contemporary Adirondack chairs nestled into an elevated corner of the garden, a prime spot for reading. In “The Bloem Garden,” a contemporary dining set rests upon an ashlar-patterned bluestone terrace where birch and stewartia trees provide dappled shade. Western red cedar detailing complements the neighboring garden, and a matching set of fencing and gates enclose a pet-friendly space for the family to enjoy. Native plants with contrasting colors and textures provide a low-maintenance backdrop for alfresco dining and casual relaxation. Thick, reclaimed granite bands are embedded in gravel parking areas to create a functional, inviting, and unique arrival experience for the homeowners. The two, private gardens become the center of outdoor-focused activities. The spaces are unified, yet reflect the individual tastes of each of the people who call this place home.

Photo of a mid-sized modern backyard concrete paver outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in Austin for summer.

Monte Cristo Hellebore / Helleborus x ericsmithii Gold Collection® Monte Cristo Compact and well-proportioned, heavy bloomer with blue gray leaves and red stems. Cream flowers with a peachy rose blush. Deer resistant. Skagit Gardens

For this doctor, giving up the golf course for mountain living was a no brainer. Restoring an overgrazed horse property in to his Nine Point Something was a three year adventure into holistic land stewardship. We developed a sanctuary immediate to the newly renovated home. Outlying pastures and open space were managed in terms of weeds, wildlife, pets, livestock and conservation. Photo, Gigi

Amanda Driscoll
This is an example of a rustic landscaping in Raleigh.

Front yard Landscape photo by Gina M.
Inspiration for a rustic landscaping in Denver.