Photo shows a front view of the Japanese tea House before an Tea Ceremony was held. Photo credits: Dan Drobnick
Photo of a mid-sized asian partial sun backyard gravel landscaping in Cleveland.

Photo shows the interior of the Japanese Tea House. The four skylights have hand carved overlay screens. The open ceiling shows the beauty of the design. The structure is very sustainable in that the building can be left to age naturally or oiled every few years to retain the wood color. Photo credits: Dan Drobnick

Front double door entrance to Japanese Tea House. Photo displays a wood front porch with a reclaimed sandstone in the middle. The building is constructed with 8 different kinds of wood. The Japanese-style roof is constructed from copper and contains 4 skylight windows. Photo Credits: Dan Drobnick

Our clients on this project were inspired by their travels to Asia and wanted to mimic this aesthetic at their DC property. We designed a water feature that effectively masks adjacent traffic noise and maintains a small footprint.

The custom designed and built bench protects the aesthetic calm of the front garden patio. It provides an excellent view of the neighborhood as well as the hummingbirds drawn by pink Alumroot bells, the sweet fragrance and magic wand-like blooms of Hummingbird Sage blooms, as well as the water feature.

Blue & White Garden with rectangular lily pond; azaleas, tree peonies, assorted Spring bulbs, perennials and flowering shrubs. Display Garden, Seekonk, MA.

Melinda Joy Miller's personalized this meditation garden for her bohemian client. Consultations include over thirty years experience in permaculture, sustainability, and herbology. She incorporates her unique background as a medicine woman, feng shui master, cultural anthropologist, sensorimotor-integrative therapist, and metaphysical healer. This garden was a collaboration between Melinda Joy and her daughter, Kim Colwell, an interior designer and second generation feng shui master. Each client is given a personalized plan based on their individual needs, interests, sensibility, budget, and environment. Photo by Zeke Ruelas

Chakra garden
Design ideas for an eclectic backyard landscaping in New York.

The “handrill” of Corten steel follows the peastone and steel steps down a steep slope to pour into a round basin, emptying into a channel that meanders through the narrow back garden at ground level, ending finally in a boulder fountain. Devised to minimize root disturbance for the tall existing pines on the property, the continuous Corten steel structure is supported by concrete tubes rather than a foundation that would have required extensive excavation. Architect: Wolf Architects, Inc. General Contractor: GF Rhode Construction, Inc. Landscape Contractor: Robert Hanss, Inc. Steel Fabrication: Wovensteel and Richard Duca Water Systems: Pond Creations by Sean Photo by Susan Teare.

Floating deck walkway over dry creek garden leads to a modern, Japanese-inspired backyard gazebo with ambient lighting.
Example of a large zen backyard deck design in Sacramento

Modern outdoor gazebo inspired by Japanese tea houses, with steel posts, cedar accents, and custom garden integration.
Large zen backyard deck photo in Sacramento

Photo of a mid-sized rustic backyard gravel landscaping in Detroit.

Chakra garden
Photo of an eclectic shade backyard stone landscaping in New York.

Photo by Ashley Elizabeth Ford.
Inspiration for a small drought-tolerant and full sun backyard stone landscaping in Los Angeles with a fire pit.

Modern outdoor gazebo inspired by Japanese tea houses, with steel posts, cedar accents, and custom garden integration.
Example of a large asian backyard deck design in Sacramento

ORANGE-BARKED PINUS SYLVESTRIS WATERERI, FOCAL POINT OF THE GARDEN.
Inspiration for a mid-sized courtyard stone patio remodel in Manchester with no cover

We were asked to create something really special for one of our most admired clients. This home has been a labor of love for both of us as we finally made it exactly what she wanted it to be. After many concept ideas we landed on a design that is stunning! All of the elements on her wish list are incorporated in this challenging, multi-level landscape: A front yard to match the modern traditional-style home while creating privacy from the street; a side yard that proudly connects the front and back; and a lower level with plantings in lush greens, whites, purples and pinks and plentiful lawn space for kids and dogs. Her outdoor living space includes an outdoor kitchen with bar, outdoor living room with fireplace, dining patio, a bedroom-adjacent lounging patio with modern fountain, enclosed vegetable garden, rose garden walk with European-style fountain and meditation bench, and a fire pit with sitting area on the upper level to take in the panoramic views of the sunset over the wooded ridge. Outdoor lighting brings it alive at night, and for parties you can’t beat the killer sound system!

Deck with bridge. Photo by Ashley Elizabeth Ford.
Photo of a small drought-tolerant and full sun backyard landscaping in Los Angeles with decking.

Photo of a small traditional partial sun backyard gravel formal garden in Charleston for spring.