Our client desired a functional, tasteful, and improved environment to compliment their home. The overall goal was to create a landscape that was subtle and not overdone. The client was highly focused on their deck environment that would span across the rear of the house with an area for a Jacuzzi as well. A portion of the deck has a screened in porch due to the naturally buggy environment since the home is situated in the woods and a low area. A mosquito repellent injection system was incorporated into the irrigation system to help with the bug issue. We improved circulation of the driveway, increased the overall curb appeal of the entrance of the home, and created a scaled and proportional outdoor living environment for the clients to enjoy. The client has religious guidelines that needed to be adhered to with the overall function and design of the landscape, which included an arbor over the deck to support a Sukkah and a Green Egg smoker to cook Kosher foods. Two columns were added at the driveway entrance with lights to help define their driveway entrance since it's the end of a long pipe-stem. New light fixtures were also added to the rear of the house. Our client desired multiple amenities with a limited budget, so everything had to be value engineered through the design and construction process. There is heavy deer pressure on the site, a mosquito issue, low site elevations, flat topography, poor soil, and overall poor drainage of the site. The original driveway was not sized appropriately and the front porch had structural issues, as well as leaked water onto the landing below. The septic tank was also situated close to the rear of the house and had to be contemplated during the design process. Photography: Morgan Howarth. Landscape Architect: Howard Cohen, Surrounds Inc.

This backyard pool was inaccessible to excavation equipment or a cement truck so everything was dug and hauled using manual labor. The foundation was extended and footings were dug 8 feet because of poor soil conditions.

This beautiful property is located in the hills above of Montecito with 360 degree of views onto the Channel Islands and the surrounding mountains. Inspired by the Japanese landscape design principal of the borrowed landscape the gardens on this property serves as a kind of picture frame from which to view the natural beauty of its surroundings. This 15-year-old costume-built home was crafted with all the style and workmanship ship found in Villa or Château in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, the garden design was not as well thought out as the house was. Most of this property receives baking sun, drying winds and is in an extremely high fire danger area. Do to these factors many of the plants on the property were unsuitable for their location. The original planting scheme was also lifeless and colorless. Poor landscape maintenance had left many of the plants on the property sick and dying. We came in to revive this landscape, breathing new life into it. Creating a drought tolerant and fire wise landscape was of utmost importance to these clients. Staying true to the more formal landscape styles found in Southern Europe we also want to create an opportunity to design seamlessly blend with its natural surroundings. We did that by incorporating a lot of California native plants. This vast property also contains an avocado orchard and a vineyard. By adding California native plants the property is inviting in native birds and insects that help keep pollinate the orchard and vineyard and keep pest problems at bay. Because these clients enjoy harvesting from their land we added elements of edible landscaping to this project. We filled pottery and planter beds with fruit trees, culinary and medicinal herbs as well as flowers that can be used in cut flower arrangements. Lastly, we went through carefully pruning diseased plants, treating pest problems an improving the soil. Now the landscape is not only more beautiful it is more protected against fire, is more water wise and integrate into its surrounds with a wholistic approach.

Inspiration for a landscaping in Other.

This is an example of a contemporary landscaping in Seattle.

This beautiful property is located in the hills above of Montecito with 360 degree of views onto the Channel Islands and the surrounding mountains. Inspired by the Japanese landscape design principal of the borrowed landscape the gardens on this property serves as a kind of picture frame from which to view the natural beauty of its surroundings. This 15-year-old costume-built home was crafted with all the style and workmanship ship found in Villa or Château in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, the garden design was not as well thought out as the house was. Most of this property receives baking sun, drying winds and is in an extremely high fire danger area. Do to these factors many of the plants on the property were unsuitable for their location. The original planting scheme was also lifeless and colorless. Poor landscape maintenance had left many of the plants on the property sick and dying. We came in to revive this landscape, breathing new life into it. Creating a drought tolerant and fire wise landscape was of utmost importance to these clients. Staying true to the more formal landscape styles found in Southern Europe we also want to create an opportunity to design seamlessly blend with its natural surroundings. We did that by incorporating a lot of California native plants. This vast property also contains an avocado orchard and a vineyard. By adding California native plants the property is inviting in native birds and insects that help keep pollinate the orchard and vineyard and keep pest problems at bay. Because these clients enjoy harvesting from their land we added elements of edible landscaping to this project. We filled pottery and planter beds with fruit trees, culinary and medicinal herbs as well as flowers that can be used in cut flower arrangements. Lastly, we went through carefully pruning diseased plants, treating pest problems an improving the soil. Now the landscape is not only more beautiful it is more protected against fire, is more water wise and integrate into its surrounds with a wholistic approach.

Carex sprengelii / Long-Beaked Sedge Photo: Matt Lavin, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic
Inspiration for a landscaping in Other.

Home design - transitional home design idea in Orange County

Our client desired a functional, tasteful, and improved environment to compliment their home. The overall goal was to create a landscape that was subtle and not overdone. The client was highly focused on their deck environment that would span across the rear of the house with an area for a Jacuzzi as well. A portion of the deck has a screened in porch due to the naturally buggy environment since the home is situated in the woods and a low area. A mosquito repellent injection system was incorporated into the irrigation system to help with the bug issue. We improved circulation of the driveway, increased the overall curb appeal of the entrance of the home, and created a scaled and proportional outdoor living environment for the clients to enjoy. The client has religious guidelines that needed to be adhered to with the overall function and design of the landscape, which included an arbor over the deck to support a Sukkah and a Green Egg smoker to cook Kosher foods. Two columns were added at the driveway entrance with lights to help define their driveway entrance since it's the end of a long pipe-stem. New light fixtures were also added to the rear of the house. Our client desired multiple amenities with a limited budget, so everything had to be value engineered through the design and construction process. There is heavy deer pressure on the site, a mosquito issue, low site elevations, flat topography, poor soil, and overall poor drainage of the site. The original driveway was not sized appropriately and the front porch had structural issues, as well as leaked water onto the landing below. The septic tank was also situated close to the rear of the house and had to be contemplated during the design process. Photography: Morgan Howarth. Landscape Architect: Howard Cohen, Surrounds Inc.

This modern home was a net-zero energy design-build project built in collaboration with a local architecture firm. The owner was living in the Midwest, so other than an in-person, upfront planning meeting and a few visits for walkthroughs along the way, we built the home with him providing input from afar. One of the homeowner’s goals was to be as close to net-zero in energy usage as possible. The home features solar panels to generate electricity and geothermal heat pumps to power in-floor radiant heating and cooling. Solar panels also heat hot water to augment the heating system and provide hot water for domestic use. The modern design of the home also helps to save on the energy needed for heating and cooling. Extensions on the roof let the low winter sunlight pour through the windows to provide passive solar heat during the colder months and block the rays in the summer to help keep the house cool. The home’s foundation and its garage floor sit on concrete piers drilled into the ground. This keeps them away from direct contact with the poor soils the home is built on, allowing the soils to expand without causing any damage. We commissioned custom furniture, countertops, and other features made from salvaged elm and walnut trees cut down in the area. Custom walnut doors, wardrobes in the master suite, and grain-sequenced cabinet doors and drawer fronts coordinate beautifully with the locally sourced pieces, as do the accents made from beetle-kill pine. The home nestles into the ground to provide a mid-level walkout basement. Stairs go down from main floor and up from basement to meet in the middle and provide access to the outdoors. Locally sourced Colorado buff stone accents interior walls and transitions to exterior walls, helping to further anchor the home to its beautiful, lakeside location.

A tired landscape with poor soil and lacking some privacy, was updated. A Large tri colored Beech tree was added to the front yard to screen the front of the house from the street. Foundation plantings were added.

Agastache rupestris / Threadleaf giant hyssop
Design ideas for a landscaping in Denver.

This beautiful property is located in the hills above of Montecito with 360 degree of views onto the Channel Islands and the surrounding mountains. Inspired by the Japanese landscape design principal of the borrowed landscape the gardens on this property serves as a kind of picture frame from which to view the natural beauty of its surroundings. This 15-year-old costume-built home was crafted with all the style and workmanship ship found in Villa or Château in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, the garden design was not as well thought out as the house was. Most of this property receives baking sun, drying winds and is in an extremely high fire danger area. Do to these factors many of the plants on the property were unsuitable for their location. The original planting scheme was also lifeless and colorless. Poor landscape maintenance had left many of the plants on the property sick and dying. We came in to revive this landscape, breathing new life into it. Creating a drought tolerant and fire wise landscape was of utmost importance to these clients. Staying true to the more formal landscape styles found in Southern Europe we also want to create an opportunity to design seamlessly blend with its natural surroundings. We did that by incorporating a lot of California native plants. This vast property also contains an avocado orchard and a vineyard. By adding California native plants the property is inviting in native birds and insects that help keep pollinate the orchard and vineyard and keep pest problems at bay. Because these clients enjoy harvesting from their land we added elements of edible landscaping to this project. We filled pottery and planter beds with fruit trees, culinary and medicinal herbs as well as flowers that can be used in cut flower arrangements. Lastly, we went through carefully pruning diseased plants, treating pest problems an improving the soil. Now the landscape is not only more beautiful it is more protected against fire, is more water wise and integrate into its surrounds with a wholistic approach.

We love Cistus. Poor soil, drought, salt, wind, heat... they take it all. Add deer, pest, and fire resistance, what's not to love? This new charmer stays compact without pruning, and even looks great when not in bloom. Features Feature/Bloom Pure white flowers in spring Evergreen or Deciduous evergreen USDA Zones Hardy 20-25°F USDA Zones 9, 10, 11 Sunset Zones 4-9, 14-24, 26, 28, 31 Special Features Salt tolerance, drought tolerance, heat tolerance, water-wise, dwarf Landscape Use aAccent, border, container, rock gardens, retaining walls, mass planting, groundcover, slope, coastal, firescaping Exposure Full sun Bloom Season Spring Dimension 12 in H x 12-18 in W Growth Rate Slow to moderate Plant Type evergreen About the Collection Brought to you by the authority on Western gardening, the Sunset Western Garden Collection is an exclusive plant collection of top performing plants for the Western Gardener.

Home office landscape using native plants. Front yard rain garden. July.
This is an example of a full sun front yard landscaping in Detroit.

This beautiful property is located in the hills above of Montecito with 360 degree of views onto the Channel Islands and the surrounding mountains. Inspired by the Japanese landscape design principal of the borrowed landscape the gardens on this property serves as a kind of picture frame from which to view the natural beauty of its surroundings. This 15-year-old costume-built home was crafted with all the style and workmanship ship found in Villa or Château in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, the garden design was not as well thought out as the house was. Most of this property receives baking sun, drying winds and is in an extremely high fire danger area. Do to these factors many of the plants on the property were unsuitable for their location. The original planting scheme was also lifeless and colorless. Poor landscape maintenance had left many of the plants on the property sick and dying. We came in to revive this landscape, breathing new life into it. Creating a drought tolerant and fire wise landscape was of utmost importance to these clients. Staying true to the more formal landscape styles found in Southern Europe we also want to create an opportunity to design seamlessly blend with its natural surroundings. We did that by incorporating a lot of California native plants. This vast property also contains an avocado orchard and a vineyard. By adding California native plants the property is inviting in native birds and insects that help keep pollinate the orchard and vineyard and keep pest problems at bay. Because these clients enjoy harvesting from their land we added elements of edible landscaping to this project. We filled pottery and planter beds with fruit trees, culinary and medicinal herbs as well as flowers that can be used in cut flower arrangements. Lastly, we went through carefully pruning diseased plants, treating pest problems an improving the soil. Now the landscape is not only more beautiful it is more protected against fire, is more water wise and integrate into its surrounds with a wholistic approach.

Transformed Urban Oasis: Premium Artificial Turf Installation" Set in the heart of Palm Beach Gardens this backyard underwent a comprehensive transformation, turning a previously underutilized space into a lush, evergreen oasis. The aim was clear: to craft an outdoor environment that requires minimal maintenance, provides aesthetic pleasure, and offers functional space for various activities. Initially, the backyard presented challenges including uneven ground, patchy grass areas, and poor soil conditions. Our team addressed these issues with precision grading and soil stabilization techniques, preparing a perfect base for the upcoming transformation. We opted for a premium artificial turf, chosen for its realistic texture, durability, and environmental resilience. Spread across [specific square footage/size of the area], the turf exudes a natural charm that rivals the best of lawns. With its soft pile height and UV resistance, it promises year-round greenery without the hassle of watering, mowing, or fertilizing. Details, such as the seamless integration of the turf with existing patios or garden beds, highlight our team's meticulous attention to detail and commitment to excellence. The results are evident — a green sanctuary ready for sunbathing, children's play, or simply lounging. Homeowners have praised the transformation, noting the newfound usability of their outdoor space, the reduction in water bills, and the numerous compliments they receive from visitors. This project isn't just about installing artificial turf; it's about reimagining urban backyards, bringing nature closer to home, and offering sustainable and beautiful solutions for modern living.

Rhus trilobata / skunkbush sumac
Design ideas for a landscaping in Denver.

Our Modern Aspen ave. project was a home that grew out of our clients desire to have a modern home in the heart of the art filled, mountain-biking-community of Fruita, Colorado. Our original concept was to renovate an older existing home to be able to better function as a 2-3 bedroom home for her friends and family to come stay, ride bikes, play and enjoy downtown Fruita. Due to a combination of the poor quality of the existing structure, an almost non existent foundation and discovered geotechnical site conditions, the project became a new construction dream getaway. Design Concept: In developing this project our client desired, a modern, open floor plan home filled with natural light and a durable maintenance free exterior. From this program we massed the home into 3 distinctly separate zones contained within 3 simple modern forms; a transitional entry space, the public living spaces and the private bedroom spaces. These zones of the home were each to become visible from the exterior through the use of 3 separate durable exterior material claddings of wood, stucco and steel respectively. Spaces: The entry of the home, clad in wood, was created as a transitional space between the exterior and the living spaces by creating a feeling of compression before entering into the voluminous, light filled, living area. The large volume, tall windows and natural light of the living area allows for light and views to the exterior in all directions. The custom kitchen cabinets and cabinetry storage are “tucked in” under the stairs and loft allowing for a sense of refuge while in the “command center” of the home. In this design every inch of usable space was thoughtfully incorporated into its function. The private bedroom zone of the home has bedrooms stacked on 2 levels with the master suite on the main level and guest bedrooms and guest bath above. These Bedrooms adjoin a loft area that flows onto a covered and well shaded 2nd level deck. The loft and 2nd level deck allows for a separate living space to relax and gather with family and friends. Garage and Exterior landscaping: This project also considered our clients' need for storage and love for travel by creating storage space for an Airstream camper in the oversized 2 car garage at the back of the property. The design of the garage was flat roofed in order to preserve views and light on the north side of the home, while also allowing room for a photovoltaic (PV) solar system to offset electrical needs. The “lawn” and landscaping of the home were designed as a part of a no maintenance exterior requirement. Although wanting to be maintenance as maintenance free as possible on the exterior, her love for dogs required the home to have some form of grass, so we opted for a K-9 Grass turf system that is designed for pets and allows the turf to be rinsed into the soil through the use of a typical sprinkler system. Energy Efficiency: As in all of our homes, we design and built this project with increased energy efficiency standards in mind. Our standards begin below grade by designing our foundations with insulated concrete forms (ICF) for all of our exterior foundation walls, providing the below grade walls with an R value of 23. As a standard, we also install a passive radon system and a heat recovery ventilator to efficiently mitigate the indoor air quality within all of the homes we build. Above grade, the exterior walls on this home are built with 2x6 construction and sheathed with the Zip R-3 system allowing for an air and weather tight, R-27 exterior wall assembly. The flat roofs of the home are insulated with a hybrid closed cell foam and batt insulation system creating an affordable R-45 insulation. These roofs are covered with a reflective white, TPO membrane roof to reflect the excess heat during the hot summer months. The pitched roofs of the home are vented insulated with a breathable R-50 blown fiberglass insulation.