Photo of a traditional landscaping in Portland.

Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Portland.

The steel fence at the front entry is composed of rusted steel panels with a custom, hand-drawn pattern based on ink brush lines. Photos by Benjamin Benschneider

A 1950's home gets a big update with new fencing, arbors, rear deck, and front gate. Working with a skilled finish carpenter, we created a beautiful new fence to enclose this family-friendly yard. A small lawn provides space to play and enjoy, while California natives and complimentary shrubs surround the yard. Mature trees are protected with natural wood chip mulch. Rock mulch surrounds the 5-foot perimeter of the house with a few low fuel plants for a fire-safe landscape appropriate to the California foothills.

Design ideas for a small farmhouse full sun landscaping in New York.

Design ideas for a mediterranean partial sun side yard landscaping in Orange County with a pergola.

Photo of a coastal landscaping 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.

Addition by J.S. Brown & Co.
Mid-sized elegant beige two-story stone exterior home photo in Columbus

Eric Roth
Cottage gray two-story stone gable roof photo in Philadelphia with a shingle roof

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2015 Houzz
Example of a classic patio design in Los Angeles

Photos By Shawn Lortie Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary brown two-story mixed siding flat roof remodel in DC Metro

Ciro Coelho
Home design - large mediterranean marble floor home design idea in Santa Barbara with beige walls and a metal front door

arbor, palm tree, stepping stones, flower, shrub, lawn, pathway, path, creeping plant, gate, white gate
This is an example of a transitional side yard garden path in New York.

Shiflet Group Architects Photographer Nick Johnson
Inspiration for a farmhouse bedroom remodel in Austin with white walls

Design ideas for a contemporary backyard outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in Salt Lake City.

Photo: Danielle Sykes © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a farmhouse landscaping in Boston.

This is an example of a transitional backyard concrete paver landscaping in Portland.

Photography by Laura Moss
Shabby-chic style gray one-story exterior home idea in New York