To anchor a modern house, designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners, Campion Walker brought in a mature oak grove that at first frames the home and then invites the visitor to explore the grounds including an intimate culinary garden and stone fruit orchard. The neglected hillside on the back of the property once overgrown with ivy was transformed into a California native oak woodland, with under-planting of ceanothus and manzanitas. We used recycled water to create a dramatic water feature cut directly into the limestone entranceway framed by a cacti and succulent garden.

Inspiration for a contemporary exterior home remodel in New York

Sunroom - small contemporary backyard stone slate floor and gray floor sunroom idea in New York with a roof extension and a standard ceiling

The entire yard was on the diagonal in this rectangular yard to add interest and draw the eye out to the left hand corner. A pondless 'framed' water feature sits behind a simple stucco firepit. A group of painted concrete pillars were created for the family's 5 kids, along with a framed chalkboard.

Lake Forest Mosaic House designed by prominent American architect Henry Ives Cobb, in 1882. Grounds designed and constructed by Arrow Land+Structures, in 2016.

Lake Forest Mosaic House designed by prominent American architect Henry Ives Cobb, in 1882. Grounds designed and constructed by Arrow Land+Structures, in 2016.

Photos by A4 Architecture. For more information about A4 Architecture + Planning and the Honeysuckle Lodge visit www.A4arch.com
Example of a mid-sized classic side yard stone and rectangular pool design in Providence

Mid-sized transitional galley ceramic tile enclosed kitchen photo in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Instead of entering through the home, guests can arrive from the side yard through a parterre garden.
Home design - transitional home design idea in New Orleans

Terrace and grill station with Storage Pavilion off the the left in photo
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary drought-tolerant and full sun side yard concrete paver lawn edging in Philadelphia for summer.

The use of clean lines and classic materials beautifully integrates the yard with the architecture of the home. Three large chaise lounges are positioned strategically to take advantage of the angle of the sun. (16 x 32, rectangular)

Inspiration for a large transitional built-in desk medium tone wood floor home studio remodel in Seattle with multicolored walls and no fireplace

Rob Karosis
Country exterior home photo in New York

Design | Tim Doles Landscape Design Photography | Kurt Jordan Photography
Example of a tuscan courtyard stone patio design in Santa Barbara with a pergola

Fence planting of Protea, Lavender, Senecio serpens, and Costa Rica Butterfly Vine will soon fill in. Shaded patio space for garden view. Photo by Katrina L. Coombs

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

Photos by A4 Architecture. For more information about A4 Architecture + Planning and the Honeysuckle Lodge visit www.A4arch.com
Mid-sized elegant beige two-story wood exterior home photo in Providence with a shed roof

Inspiration for a contemporary exterior home remodel in New York

Rectangular Pool With Pool House
Pool - traditional backyard rectangular lap pool idea in New York