Inspiration for a french country landscaping in Santa Barbara.

This house is a classic cottage located on a secluded, wooded street below street level. The goal with this project was to create a garden that fit the east coast feel of house while allowing the plants to flourish in the Southern California climate. Looking to Mediterranean adaptive plants we went with a plant pallet consisting of deep green foliage with white and purple flowers. We added the Purple-leaved Eastern Redbud trees to provide nice contract with the other deep green foliage used in the project. These deciduous trees will also work to help moderate the temperature in and around the house. In the heat of the summer when the trees are leafed out they shade the patio iand front rooms of the house. In the winter when the trees lose their leaves sun is allowed in to warm the patio and help heat the home.

Situated on a long level lot in the small town of Kenwood, with fantastic views of Sugar Loaf Ridge, this client wanted their country home to meet their needs in a way their city house could not. The Master Plan included the layout and material selection for the following elements: a large rectangular pool with raised spa, pool/guest house, shade arbor, outdoor shower, children’s play structure, bocce ball court, fire pit patio, dining patio, outdoor kitchen, raised vegetable beds, composting bins, orchard and rose garden. With fuller plantings in the heavy use areas and minimal drought tolerant plantings for screening around the perimeter, this plan created a lush garden close in - while limiting maintenance overall.

Situated on a long level lot in the small town of Kenwood, with fantastic views of Sugar Loaf Ridge, this client wanted their country home to meet their needs in a way their city house could not. The Master Plan included the layout and material selection for the following elements: a large rectangular pool with raised spa, pool/guest house, shade arbor, outdoor shower, children’s play structure, bocce ball court, fire pit patio, dining patio, outdoor kitchen, raised vegetable beds, composting bins, orchard and rose garden. With fuller plantings in the heavy use areas and minimal drought tolerant plantings for screening around the perimeter, this plan created a lush garden close in - while limiting maintenance overall.

Home design - contemporary home design idea in Toronto

(c) Stephen Dunn Photography
Trendy backyard custom-shaped infinity pool photo in Other with decking

The plants in front of this home consisted of large overgrown Yews, an out of scale Viburnum and spindly Witchazel trees. The woodly Hydrangea had become too shaded out to perform well. Replacements are Green Mountain Boxwood, Incrediball Hydrangea, Herbert Azaleas, Japanese Bloodgood Maple and two Redbud trees. Variegated Carex and Hosta were placed on either side of the new sidewalk. The home will now have color in Spring, Summer, Fall and a backdrop of winter structure by the Boxwood.

New planted forest pansy redbud tree.

Redbud trees are exploding with amazing color. (Photo by RStarovich)
Photo of a traditional partial sun landscaping in Chicago for spring.

Blooms of every color greet those who walk the path of the front garden. sunny yellow Oregon grape, candy pink Redbud, delicate blue California Lilac, lavender Cleveland Sage and purple Woolly Blue Curls - the flowers and fragrance drew gasps and giggles. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography, Spring 2025

Looking out from the front entry area of the house, the grasses will compliment the Western Redbud trees planted as a trio.
Inspiration for a landscaping in San Francisco.

The Redbuds will let us know when winter has left. (Photo by RStarovich)
This is an example of a traditional partial sun landscaping in Chicago for spring.

Our client commissioned us to redesign the entire front landscape of their beautiful contemporary home, built in 2004. As a starter, the project entailed demolishing and repouring their front steps and walkway. We chose sand-finish concrete as the replacement material for its beauty and slip resistance, and we laid the walkway out in a segmented, offset pattern to complement the contemporary nature of our client’s home. We chose solid-brass pathway lights from Brilliance Lighting to complement the beauty of their bronze front door. To further accentuate the beauty of our client’s entrance, we tiled their front stoop with natural Rustica slate, built a decorative screen of South American Ipe wood on one side of their entrance, and installed a colorful ceramic flowerpot on the other. We installed an automatic watering system for the flowerpot, and directed their downspout effluence into an underground drainage system. Our planting choices for the project included a specimen multi-trunk Eastern Redbud tree, ‘Panchito’ Manzanita, Itoh Peony, ‘Kelseyi’ Dogwood, Blue Avena Grass, and Liriope Muscari.

Situated on a long level lot in the small town of Kenwood, with fantastic views of Sugar Loaf Ridge, this client wanted their country home to meet their needs in a way their city house could not. The Master Plan included the layout and material selection for the following elements: a large rectangular pool with raised spa, pool/guest house, shade arbor, outdoor shower, children’s play structure, bocce ball court, fire pit patio, dining patio, outdoor kitchen, raised vegetable beds, composting bins, orchard and rose garden. With fuller plantings in the heavy use areas and minimal drought tolerant plantings for screening around the perimeter, this plan created a lush garden close in - while limiting maintenance overall.

Wrapped in lush oak and pine tree canopy, the home feels as if it could be located deep in the mountains. Palm trees, sentimental for the owners, are kept free of any dry material for fire safety.

Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Other.

Flagstone strips dry-laid in a herringbone pattern with steps and border. Redbud tree encircled with flagstone laid on sand for water penetration and tree preservation.

Flagstone strips dry-laid in a herringbone pattern with steps and border. Redbud tree encircled with flagstone laid on sand for water penetration and tree preservation.

Flagstone strips dry-laid in a herringbone pattern with steps and border. Redbud tree encircled with flagstone laid on sand for water penetration and tree preservation.