Lindsay Salazar
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master gray tile, white tile and stone slab dark wood floor alcove bathtub remodel in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Photo: Faith Towers Media © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a coastal bedroom remodel in Boston

ndscape design is the art of developing a property for its greatest use and enjoyment. Effective landscape design is also a science because it involves understanding the environment around your home and selecting plants that perform well in that environment. In either case, a well-conceived landscape design, properly installed and well maintained, adds value to your property and enhances the quality of your life.

Stripped of its original charm with sagging floors and water leaks, this 1900 row house was prime for a full renovation. While the staircase and marble fireplace are original, everything from the white oak flooring, crown, applied, and base moldings, to the archways and brass door hardware is new; yet they all feel original to the house. Other projects included removing soffits and tucking away randomly placed support beams and posts, relocating and expanding the kitchen, renovating each bathroom – and adding a new one, upgrading all the mechanical, electric and plumbing systems, removing a fireplace, and regrading the back patio for proper drainage and added greenery. The project is a perfect study of juxtaposing new and old, classic and modern. Photography Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Inspiration for a large timeless backyard concrete and kidney-shaped hot tub remodel in Chicago

Mary Ellen’s collection is a minimalistic and romantic inspired set. It has a touch of classic charm while maintaining a modern European aesthetic. Mary Ellen’s collection features five perfectly matched accent pieces. A stylish copper vase with the dark patina finish is flawless for placing fresh flowers giving this piece a classic and timeless style. One of the freshest trends in home décor is Gold Rose accent pieces. This collection features a candle holder with a twist on a 12-point star sculpture. The Stainless Steel Tray it’s a sleek, hand-finished tray with a copper inside and black exterior. Dutch designer Kiki Van Eijk originally designed the Paper Bag Porcelain Vase. His vision was to exude a visual illusion with the wrinkled ceramic and perfect detail resembling the texture of paper; this vase is one of kind and perfect for any table. One of the most unique pieces in this collection is a Brown Stem Coral. It is delicate and impressive with gorgeous white stems and rust colored base, it is an exquisite eye-catching piece. The coral includes a soft fabric to be placed underneath so it can be properly displayed in any surface.

Photo of a traditional landscaping in Newark.

Sustainable landscaping featuring low maintenance plants. The orange blooming plants are Dwarf Firebush shrubs. I paired them with Dwarf Natal Plum and Paspalum Ornamental grass. Dwarf Firebush shrubs sport orange flowers tipped with gold, which set off their beauty. A great nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds adds to it's appeal. They are really tough, so tough they are used in commercial locations and on some roadways. This delightful shrub blooms on and off all year - more during warmer weather - and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to its brightly-colored, tubular flowers. It has a light and airy charm and looks best when it's hand-trimmed to form a natural mounded shape, rather than trying to keep it manicured with hedge trimmers. Now this is not the native variety, for all you native plant purists out there, though many nurseries sell the dwarf as just "firebush," which can get confusing. Here's how to tell the difference: The native grows larger and has slightly "hairy" leaves and deep red to red-orange flowers. It's dwarf "cousin" can be kept smaller and more compact, though with a similar informal look. The smaller variety has smoother leaves and a touch of yellow to the blossoms...and requires a bit more care. This shrub is a fast grower that can be kept 3 feet tall and wide, though you can let it grow larger if you prefer. Though considered evergreen, the plant can lose leaves during a cold winter, though with proper pruning in spring it should sprout new growth and flush out again. A location sheltered from winter winds will help protect it. These plants prefer full to partial sun, though they'll grow in part shade, where they'll flower less with more open growth. Landscape uses for dwarf fire bush: • accent for a mixed bed • informal hedge • butterfly garden plant • lining a walkway or garden path • along a medium-height or tall fence • around a poolcage, patio, porch or deck • understory planting for tall palms • backdrop planting for smaller plants

Rick Mendoza
Eclectic master freestanding bathtub photo in Los Angeles with a drop-in sink, open cabinets, white walls, white cabinets and solid surface countertops

The Abraham Knowlton House (c. 1725) was nearly demolished to make room for the expansion of a nearby commercial building. Thankfully, this historic home was saved from that fate after surviving a long, drawn out battle. When we began the project, the building was in a lamentable state of disrepair due to long-term neglect. Before we could begin on the restoration and renovation of the house proper, we needed to raise the entire structure in order to repair and fortify the foundation. The design project was substantial, involving the transformation of this historic house into beautiful and yet highly functional condominiums. The final design brought this home back to its original, stately appearance while giving it a new lease on life as a home for multiple families. Winner, 2003 Mary P. Conley Award for historic home restoration and preservation Photo Credit: Cynthia August

Powerful architectural elements were carried into the landscape design to create beautiful focal points throughout the landscape as well. Creating a space as an extension of this home would take careful planning to ensure proper coordination of all materials. It was important for our designers to create a landscape with features as beautiful as the home. With this home's stunning view it was important to create an outdoor space with character and depth, yet still, promote the views of the surrounding landscape. Four custom raised planter beds were created within the patio area to allow vegetable gardening or annual flower plantings, including custom irrigation. A paver patio with custom cut ‘in-lays’ provided special interest as well as plenty of space to entertain guests, enjoy a fire in the outdoor fireplace, or gather around the outdoor kitchen.

Powerful architectural elements were carried into the landscape design to create beautiful focal points throughout the landscape as well. Creating a space as an extension of this home would take careful planning to ensure proper coordination of all materials. It was important for our designers to create a landscape with features as beautiful as the home. With this home's stunning view it was important to create an outdoor space with character and depth, yet still, promote the views of the surrounding landscape. Four custom raised planter beds were created within the patio area to allow vegetable gardening or annual flower plantings, including custom irrigation. A paver patio with custom cut ‘in-lays’ provided special interest as well as plenty of space to entertain guests, enjoy a fire in the outdoor fireplace, or gather around the outdoor kitchen.

Powerful architectural elements were carried into the landscape design to create beautiful focal points throughout the landscape as well. Creating a space as an extension of this home would take careful planning to ensure proper coordination of all materials. It was important for our designers to create a landscape with features as beautiful as the home. With this home's stunning view it was important to create an outdoor space with character and depth, yet still, promote the views of the surrounding landscape. Four custom raised planter beds were created within the patio area to allow vegetable gardening or annual flower plantings, including custom irrigation. A paver patio with custom cut ‘in-lays’ provided special interest as well as plenty of space to entertain guests, enjoy a fire in the outdoor fireplace, or gather around the outdoor kitchen.

Juliet Court Romes Porcelain Tile | This 6in. x 6in. Black Juliet Court Romes Porcelain Tile has a stone look finish. Inkjet technology offers the very best in tile design. Offering excellent color range, sharp details and exceptional variation, inkjet technology will create a tile that is stunningly realistic. PEI measures a tile's durability and ability to withstand foot traffic, on a scale of 1-5. This tile, rated at 4 PEI, can withstand moderate to heavy traffic and is suitable for all residential and medium commercial floor and wall applications. This porcelain tile is made in the USA. Known for high quality design and efficient production, tiles made in the USA are excellent options for any floor or wall. Porcelain tiles are strong and long-lasting making them ideal for use in high-traffic or outdoor living areas. Porcelain is an excellent choice to decorate your walls or floors, and comes in a variety of colors, sizes and textures. With proper installation, porcelain tiles can last for years with very little maintenance.

Low Water Use Gardens
This is an example of a large contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard gravel retaining wall landscape in San Francisco.

Suppose you are moving. Imagine there is also a pending vacation you and your family want to take. How about combining those two things? Impossible? Think again! It is a winning proposition! While you go on vacation, we take over that terrible moving you'd rather avoid. Instead of being burdened by it, you return from your vacation to a perfectly appointed, organized home. All you need to do is unpack your bags, take a relaxing bath, enjoy your new home, and have a champagne toss. That was precisely the case with my client last week. She is a young, vibrant fitness guru. After a much-anticipated vacation overseas with her family, she arrived at her new home. Everything in its proper place, no boxes to deal with, a clean, designed home, fresh linens in her bed, new, plush towels in all bathrooms, and systems to make her life even more productive. Ah, let's not forget fresh flowers and cold champagne! And yes, I was there to help her unpack quickly and intentionally.

Suppose you are moving. Imagine there is also a pending vacation you and your family want to take. How about combining those two things? Impossible? Think again! It is a winning proposition! While you go on vacation, we take over that terrible moving you'd rather avoid. Instead of being burdened by it, you return from your vacation to a perfectly appointed, organized home. All you need to do is unpack your bags, take a relaxing bath, enjoy your new home, and have a champagne toss. That was precisely the case with my client last week. She is a young, vibrant fitness guru. After a much-anticipated vacation overseas with her family, she arrived at her new home. Everything in its proper place, no boxes to deal with, a clean, designed home, fresh linens in her bed, new, plush towels in all bathrooms, and systems to make her life even more productive. Ah, let's not forget fresh flowers and cold champagne! And yes, I was there to help her unpack quickly and intentionally.