"Pave Stone" marble seating by Kreoo. Inspired by natural river stones, this elegant seating option layers a marble base with an ergonomic wood or cork top. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

Design ideas for a mid-sized rustic partial sun side yard stone retaining wall landscape in Denver for summer.

A circular flagstone patio with a natural boulder fire pit creates a glowing focal point in this multi-level backyard retreat. Soft landscape lighting highlights the curved lawn, stepping stone pathways, and layered plantings, while the covered upper and lower patios provide sheltered spaces for year-round entertaining. Warm textures, stone columns, and integrated lighting bring resort-style ambiance to a family-friendly outdoor living space.

Guadalajara, San Clemente Coastal Modern Remodel This major remodel and addition set out to take full advantage of the incredible view and create a clear connection to both the front and rear yards. The clients really wanted a pool and a home that they could enjoy with their kids and take full advantage of the beautiful climate that Southern California has to offer. The existing front yard was completely given to the street, so privatizing the front yard with new landscaping and a low wall created an opportunity to connect the home to a private front yard. Upon entering the home a large staircase blocked the view through to the ocean so removing that space blocker opened up the view and created a large great room. Indoor outdoor living was achieved through the usage of large sliding doors which allow that seamless connection to the patio space that overlooks a new pool and view to the ocean. A large garden is rare so a new pool and bocce ball court were integrated to encourage the outdoor active lifestyle that the clients love. The clients love to travel and wanted display shelving and wall space to display the art they had collected all around the world. A natural material palette gives a warmth and texture to the modern design that creates a feeling that the home is lived in. Though a subtle change from the street, upon entering the front door the home opens up through the layers of space to a new lease on life with this remodel.

Curving wall that blends into the landscape planting and can be used for seating. Layered plantings of varied texture and color for seasonal interest. Fountain provides pleasant background sounds.

Privacy in this neighborhood setting is provided by a charming wooden fence and further enhanced with layers of plants from groundcover to small trees.

Collaborated on project development from design and permitting to installation in 2014. Over 10 years, we’ve maintained close communication with the owners and their maintenance provider, RP Marzilli to ensure the landscape is kept in top condition. The sloping yard allowed us to create a stunning infinity-edge pool, while the large evergreen plantings provide privacy and edge habitat. New England stone walls and mature tree layers beautifully integrate the house with the surrounding landscape. Angela Kearney, Minglewood, LLC

This dramatic aerial view highlights a contemporary hillside home designed for sustainability, function, and year-round beauty. Anchored by clean architectural lines and a low-slope roof equipped with solar panels, the home blends seamlessly into its forested backdrop. A broad concrete driveway provides a crisp, functional entrance, framed by terraced retaining walls that stabilize the steep terrain while enhancing the visual rhythm of the landscape. Native trees and grasses are strategically planted among boulders and gravel mulch for a xeric, fire-wise approach that reduces maintenance and maximizes ecological harmony. The curved planting beds and layered retaining system not only manage slope but also create visual interest from every angle, showcasing a smart integration of form and function for mountain living.

colorful flowers and foliage greet you as you come up the center walk of this small urban home. Lawn is used as a sweeping pathway and to provide a green rest for the eye

Creating a garden in Topanga involved an exciting contextual proposition: how best to achieve a balance between the built environment, the rocky hillside and the surrounding native live oak woodland. Specially selected hardscape consisting of Malibu rock and rough-hewn broken concrete married old with new and provided access and definition. A mixed palette of natives and Mediterranean plants joined garden with existing oaks and toyon trees. The resulting effect is one of a layered experience, a transition from semiformal to natural. A visitor to this garden experiences both the feeling of a residential setting and the beckoning wildland beyond.

Creating a garden in Topanga involved an exciting contextual proposition: how best to achieve a balance between the built environment, the rocky hillside and the surrounding native live oak woodland. Specially selected hardscape consisting of Malibu rock and rough-hewn broken concrete married old with new and provided access and definition. A mixed palette of natives and Mediterranean plants joined garden with existing oaks and toyon trees. The resulting effect is one of a layered experience, a transition from semiformal to natural. A visitor to this garden experiences both the feeling of a residential setting and the beckoning wildland beyond.

Starting on the lakeside slope, 200 yards of pulverized topsoil peat and 40 tons of moss rock outcropping were hand delivered to the lakeside one wheelbarrow and rock at a time to soften the slope and create planting areas. Plantings on the lakeside included different Japanese Maples along with unique varieties of conifers, some multi-grafted. Different varieties of Hydrangeas, Rhododendrons along with mixed sun and shade perennials, grass sedges, and multiple types of ground covers were planted to complete the layers of color and textures.

Angela Kearney, Minglewood, LLC - We brought this downtown front yard to life by removing the lawn and installing a path of granite steppers and a connected patio niche. To finish the space, we layered drought-tolerant plants to feed and flourish.

Side of property with custom fence and layered variety of plant material.
This is an example of a huge traditional full sun side yard landscaping in New York for summer.

Photos-Chris Jacobson, GardenArt Group A collection of urns from the Richard Gervais Collection act as a design motif throughout the garden, as do the many horizontal layers of stairs and decks. Photos-Chris Jacobson, GardenArt Group

A sophisticated, transitional kitchen which exudes warmth and elegance, the cabinets are a soft, off-white, providing a timeless, neutral foundation that feels open and inviting. The metallic backsplash takes center stage, that contrasts beautifully with the creamy cabinetry. The backsplash is crafted from metallic tile that shimmer and reflect light, adding a layer of glamour and sophistication to the room. The metallic finish elevates the overall design, creating visual interest and a sense of luxury while keeping the space modern and fresh.

Driveway median planting with layers of color
This is an example of a contemporary full sun courtyard landscaping in Omaha for summer.

This Moroccan inspired Rooftop Garden in Chelsea features many outdoor rooms with pergolas, fencing, fiberglass containers, statues, and outdoor seating. This layered container garden is a plethora of different specimen plants- both flowering and evergreen, which provide for brilliant contrasting textures as well as a greater sense of depth.

A private seating area screened from the street with drought-tolerant plants and year-round color is what the client needed. Custom trellis by Indio Metal Arts. Photograph by Kate Howell