Kitchen - tropical u-shaped brown floor kitchen idea in San Diego with black cabinets, white backsplash, a peninsula and white countertops

Design ideas for a transitional landscaping in San Francisco.

Different types of backyard retreat in the Tri-County area.
Inspiration for a large tropical drought-tolerant and full sun backyard mulch landscaping in Tampa.

Landscape contracting by Avid Landscape. Carpentry by Contemporary Homestead. Photograph by Meghan Montgomery.
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional full sun backyard gravel vegetable garden landscape in Seattle.

An aluminum portal at the beginning of the front pathway signals that you are entering into a special garden.
Inspiration for a contemporary landscaping in Charlotte.

Project designed and built by Atlanta Decking & Fence.
Example of a classic deck design in Atlanta with a pergola

Photo by Mary Costa
Example of a trendy light wood floor living room design in Los Angeles with white walls

Rue Sherwood Landscape Design A new home overlooking the salt marsh called for a naturalistic planting with multi-seasonal interest. Grades were modified to integrate the house and terraces with the surrounding landscape, and a sharp embankment was softened with a retaining wall and planting. Specimen trees, shrub borders, grasses and perennials connect the house with the landscape and help to define exterior spaces.

Barry Grossman Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary dining room remodel in Miami

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Expansive landscape with detail to gorgeous trees, flowers and shrubs.
Inspiration for a large rustic shade backyard formal garden in Baltimore.

Elegant exterior home photo in New York

Concrete stepping stones meander their way thought a private, densely planted garden area. Accents like a wooden bridge over the dry creek bed, a seating bench, and container planting bring this area to life.

New construction home designed and built by Hartman Baldwin. The landscape is extensive and was a collaborative effort between HB and NC Design. We created a beautiful drought tolerant landscape that blended in well with the surrounding hillsides. To ensure a healthy, vibrant environment for years to come, many colorful succulents, grasses, yuccas and flowering low-water perennials were used throughout the property, along with non-fruiting Olive trees and Palo Verde.

David Morello
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Houston.

This tired, unused San Francisco backyard was transformed into a modern, low-maintenance landscape with site-appropriate plantings enhanced by raised planting beds and a lead-free artificial lawn to replace the existing water-thirsty lawn. I created two separate "rooms" to break up the long narrow yard, and specified full range blue stone for the two small patio areas, connected by a curved pattern of rectangular pavers of the same natural stone. The raised concrete rectangular planting beds were incorporated to bring more movement and interest to the landscape along with gravel bed accents alongside. Some of the existing concrete remained, and was stained with a color to compliment the natural stone. These photos were taken over a three year period. Photos: © Landscape Designer, Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design.

Landscape Design: AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc. / Photography: Jeri Koegel
Example of a large trendy backyard stone and rectangular pool design in Orange County with a gazebo

Fire pit seating area with fountain and pathway to upper level landscape. ©Daniel Bosler Photography
Design ideas for a large contemporary drought-tolerant backyard concrete paver landscaping in Los Angeles with a fire pit.