Within this image, the second retaining wall, expertly supporting the elevated landscape, comes into view. This cozy nook presents an ideal setting to gather with friends and family, positioned beside the outdoor fireplace - a spot for engaging conversations or simply unwinding with a captivating book while lounging next to its warmth.

The fire pit seating area is a lovely focal point with a large, modern rectangular fire table from Brown Jordan in charcoal grey finish. The modern seating has a woven rope back and arms from Madegoods with a vibrant pattern upholstery. This outdoor living space is both sophisticated and inviting.

Inspiration for a timeless white three-story clapboard house exterior remodel in Boston with a hip roof, a shingle roof and a gray roof

This midcentury modern house was transformed from a municipal garage into a private house in the late 1950’s by renowned modernist architect Paul Rudolph. At project start the house was in pristine condition, virtually untouched since it won a Record Houses award in 1960. We were tasked with bringing the house up to current energy efficiency standards and with reorganizing the house to accommodate the new owners’ more contemporary needs, while also respecting the noteworthy original design. Image courtesy © Tony Luong

Navajo white by BM trim color Bleeker beige call color by BM dark walnut floor stain
Inspiration for a timeless dark wood floor and brown floor entryway remodel in New York with a dark wood front door and beige walls

Brian Parks
Example of a classic stone patio design in Seattle with a fire pit and no cover

Created from a former breezeway this laundry room and mudroom is bright and cheery, Photos by Susan Gilmore
Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage single-wall porcelain tile laundry room remodel in Minneapolis with an utility sink, a side-by-side washer/dryer, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and quartz countertops

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.

A historic Howard Van Doren Shaw house from 1896, located on a 5.4 acre bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. Craig Bergmann Landscape Design was asked to design extensive formal gardens within the remnants of a walled garden originally designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman. Photography by Linda Oyama Bryan

Large cottage black two-story wood exterior home idea in San Francisco

This view of this Chicago rooftop deck from the guest bedroom. The cedar pergola is lit up at night underneath. On top of the pergola is live roof material which provide shade and beauty from above. The walls are sleek and contemporary using two three materials. Cedar, steel, and frosted acrylic panels. The modern rooftop is on a garage in wicker park. The decking on the rooftop is composite and built over a frame. Roof has irrigation system to water all plants. Bradley Foto, Chris Bradley

Preliminary architecture renderings were given to Obelisk Home with a challenge. The homeowners needed us to create an unusual but family friendly home, but also a home-based business functioning environment. Working with the architect, modifications were made to incorporate the desired functions for the family. Starting with the exterior, including landscape design, stone, brick and window selections a one-of-a-kind home was created. Every detail of the interior was created with the homeowner and the Obelisk Home design team. Furnishings, art, accessories, and lighting were provided through Obelisk Home. We were challenged to incorporate existing furniture. So the team repurposed, re-finished and worked these items into the new plan. Custom paint colors and upholstery were purposely blended to add cohesion. Custom light fixtures were designed and manufactured for the main living areas giving the entire home a unique and personal feel. Photos by Jeremy Mason McGraw

Photo by Samantha Robison
Small transitional backyard stone patio photo in Other with a pergola

Michal Utterback
Inspiration for a 1950s white one-story flat roof remodel in Los Angeles

Edible landscaping encompasses much more then adding some veggie beds to one’s property. Creative layouts and material usage can incorporate year-round vegetable harvests in an aesthetically pleasing way. Perennial fruit trees, along with bushes and herbs, create a lush space full of beautiful, colors, textures, smells and tastes. Searching out and experimenting with different and rare varieties of edible plants keeps home gardens interesting. Edible landscaping gives access to food at its freshest, when it is most nutritious, and offers many more options than supermarket produce sections—also cutting down on transportation and packaging impacts. From edible estates to food forests, or simple integration of garden-based food production, Sweet Smiling Landscapes has the knowledge and experience to help home owners harvest their own bounty.

NYPLANTINGS Before and after for this Manhattan Rooftop garden planting of new evergreens such as arborvitae for a privacy hedge, a mixed flower garden, flowers, creeping roses called carpet rose, drip irrigation start up and repair, major garden services such as pruning and feeding of the existing plantings. New York Plantings Garden Designers and Landscape Contracrors NYC http://www.newyorkplantngs.com #newyorkplantings #roofgardens #rooftopgarden #dripirrigationnyc

David Lauer Photography
Inspiration for a mid-century modern kitchen remodel in Denver

Patrick & Topaze McCaffery - Taproot Garden Design "Plenty of bench seating for entertaining small parties, or for stargazing during the warm summer nights. Within the raised concrete beds are a Meyer Lemon tree and a Bay Laurel tree. Alongside the fence are fruiting trees like Pineapple Guava, Apple, Donut Peach, Pear, and a vegetable bed. The non-fruiting trees are Dodonaea viscosa purpurea."

I was initially contacted by the builder and architect working on this Modern European Cottage to review the property and home design before construction began. Once the clients and I had the opportunity to meet and discuss what their visions were for the property, I started working on their wish list of items, which included a custom concrete pool, concrete spa, patios/walkways, custom fencing, and wood structures. One of the largest challenges was that this property had a 30% (or less) hardcover surface requirement for the city location. With the lot size and square footage of the home I had limits to how much hardcover we could add to property. So, I had to get creative. We presented to the city the usage of the Live Green Roof plantings that would reduce the hardcover calculations for the site. Also, if we kept space between the Laurel Sandstones walkways, using them as steppers and planting groundcover or lawn between the stones that would also reduce the hard surface calculations. We continued that theme with the back patio as well. The client’s esthetic leaned towards the minimal style, so by adding greenery between stones work esthetically. I chose the Laurel Tumbled Sandstone for the charm and character and thought it would lend well to the old world feel of this Modern European Cottage. We installed it on all the stone walkways, steppers, and patios around the home and pool. I had several meetings with the client to discuss/review perennials, shrubs, and tree selections. Plant color and texture of the planting material were equally important to the clients when choosing. We grouped the plantings together and did not over-mix varieties of plants. Ultimately, we chose a variety of styles from natural groups of plantings to a touch of formal style, which all work cohesively together. The custom fence design and installation was designed to create a cottage “country” feel. They gave us inspiration of a country style fence that you may find on a farm to keep the animals inside. We took those photos and ideas and elevated the design. We used a combination of cedar wood and sandwich the galvanized mesh between it. The fence also creates a space for the clients two dogs to roam freely around their property. We installed sod on the inside of the fence to the home and seeded the remaining areas with a Low Gro Fescue grass seed with a straw blanket for protection. The minimal European style custom concrete pool was designed to be lined up in view from the porch and inside the home. The client requested the lawn around the edge of the pool, which helped reduce the hardcover calculations. The concrete spa is open year around. Benches are on all four sides of the spa to create enough seating for the whole family to use at the same time. Mortared field stone on the exterior of the spa mimics the stone on the exterior of the home. The spa equipment is installed in the lower level of the home to protect it from the cold winter weather. Between the garage and the home’s entry is a pea rock sitting area and is viewed from several windows. I wanted it to be a quiet escape from the rest of the house with the minimal design. The Skyline Locust tree planted in the center of the space creates a canopy and softens the side of garage wall from the window views. The client will be installing a small water feature along the garage for serene noise ambience. The client had very thoughtful design ideas styles, and our collaborations all came together and worked well to create the landscape design/installation. The result was everything they had dreamed of and more for their Modern European Cottage home and property.