Featured on NBC's Living In Luxury, this clean-canvas was given to us at the early development stage where we had free reign to create a home for our Texas-native, race-car driving client. We kept gray as the color tone throughout the main living spaces, while adding splashes of colors via accessories. Wanting something "new" we incorporated a "smart-glass" that provided privacy by the flick of a switch. Interior Design: Sire Design Photography: LUX Hunters

Our clients moved from Southern California to Austin, Texas and had some adjusting to do. Their home had a Texas traditional theme, but they wanted to bring in their California bohemian style. They had a lot of great pieces, really cool style, and a ton of books we had to make room for.

Photography by Andrea Calo
Small cottage master gray tile and glass tile limestone floor, gray floor and single-sink freestanding bathtub photo in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, a hinged shower door, gray countertops, green walls, an undermount sink and a built-in vanity

The Mercer Island Garden transforms a client’s underutilized lawn space into an urban farm and a native habitat garden per their goals of creating both a productive and ecological space. To unite these two distinct schemes, consistent materials and edible perennials plantings are used throughout the garden. The southern edible garden is defined by a basalt retaining wall which creates a large, level production space divided by pathways into four beds. Edible and beneficial perennials are placed at the outer edges of the raised garden, allowing regular crop rotation of edible annuals within the 4’ x 12’ beds. Functionally, this design enables peak productivity for the edible garden by maximizing the square footage of garden beds within the area of prime sun exposure. Aesthetically, the layout uses large gestures to create a consistent flow through the garden, linking it to the Northwest native plantings above. The northern perennial garden showcases native plants with a variety of fruits, flowers, textures, and colors to create a dynamic environment year round. The outer loop of the garden incorporates beneficial flowers near fruiting shrubs, and small pockets provide this homeowner with the opportunity for a floral cutting garden. Hilary Dahl

Staghorn NYC designed and installed this townhouse backyard garden for a young family in Brooklyn. The clients requested a pea gravel patio for it's casual style and great drainage properties and a palette of mostly native plants. River birch trees anchor the back of the yard and provide dappled shade, and lush border plantings give color and interest during all four seasons.

A meandering flagstone pathway is bordered by a thoughtful curving retaining wall and drought-tolerant plantings that attract birds + butterflies: Salvia greggii 'Flame' (Red Texas Sage), Calluna vulgaris (Scotch Heather), Lavandual angustifolia (English Lavender), and native Arctostaphylos columbiana (White-Leafed Manzanita).

Limestone boulders retain this steep slope and create a places for plants and for the address marker.
Inspiration for a large contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard stone landscaping in Austin.

River rock slows water and prevents soil erosion. Plantings dress up the edge of a paver driveway.
This is an example of a large contemporary full sun front yard brick driveway in Austin.

Terren Landscapes http://www.terrenlandscapes.com Project Entry: Pembrooke Estate Rain Garden 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Sustainable Landscape &60,000-$120,000 Award Level: Silver Project Description: The client contracted our company to solve multiple existing drainage problems. In a heavy rain event the existing French drain system would overflow, causing water to pool in the driveway. After investigating the system we found that the capacity of the French drain was undersized for the amount of storm water from the large rain events received in recent years. As a result of our findings and at the request of the homeowner, we designed a storm water management system to capture all storm water from the structures on the property and regenerate the underground aquifers for the volume of a 5.8” rainstorm. In addition to the new drain system, the homeowners wanted a rain garden to provide a backdrop for an existing formal garden, provide a habitat for wildlife, and provide screening from an adjacent neighbor. Throughout the design process many challenges were presented, including an existing gas line, which ran directly through the area that best suited the bioswale. The existence of the gas line caused us to alter the shape and depth of the bioswale in some areas. We also inspected the existing downspouts to make sure there were no obstructions that would impede the system’s efficiency, and then conducted a test pit dig to make sure we had sufficient percolation rates for disposal of storm water. To effectively capture the storm water runoff, the existing downspouts were piped from the main house and the large detached garage to a large catch basin located at the low point in the driveway. The driveway catch basin contains two outlet pipes at different elevations within the basin allowing water from smaller rain events to enter the bioswale and rain garden area to percolate into the soil before excess water overflows into a sediment trap which filters out any debris and is then piped to an underground StormTech® pit to slowly percolate into the ground. The other outlet pipe in the driveway catch basin is used for larger storm water events, taking the water directly to the StormTech® pit. Accepting and slowing the velocity of the storm water, mitigation of erosion, and filtering out pollutants contained in the “first flush” of rainfall are the primary functions of the bioswale and rain garden. Planting these areas with mostly native plant species helps carry out these functions while attracting and providing shelter for wildlife. The ‘Niobe’ weeping willow is the centerpiece of the rain garden, connecting with the axis of the existing formal garden. To screen the neighboring property we chose Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ for its graceful evergreen habit and tolerance of wet sites. ‘Ivory Halo’ dogwood and Panicum ‘Cloud Nine’ were used for screening as well as winter interest. To provide deciduous structure to the garden Taxodium distichum and Magnolia virginiana were used in conjunction with witch hazel. Mostly native wetland perennials were used due to their tolerance of wet conditions and occasional drought. The area above the StormTech® pit provides space for the client’s family to relax. The rain garden and bioswale provide screening, storm water management, a habitat for wildlife, and plants that enhance the adjacent formal garden. Photo Credit: Terren Landscapes

Photo of a transitional landscaping in Houston.

Design ideas for a transitional landscaping in Houston.

Button Bush, CowBoy Pool, Zoysia lawn, Mexican Olive
Transitional pool photo in Houston

High Line inspired concrete formed entry path
This is an example of a transitional landscaping in Houston.

This is an example of a transitional landscaping in Houston.

Photo of a transitional landscaping in Houston.

Design ideas for a transitional landscaping in Houston.

This is an example of a large contemporary drought-tolerant and full sun front yard retaining wall landscape in Austin for spring.

Located in Dallas, Texas, this new transitional modern style residence, features an understated and simplistic landscape design including a new concrete driveway with inlay LED lighting, corten steel planters and native, low maintenance plant selections. The rear garden provides perimeter privacy along with a wall fountain feature that can be seen throughout the interior of the main floor.

This is an example of a transitional landscaping in Houston.