The owner of this small shady garden in the heart of Noe Valley wanted an elegant outdoor room with enough warmth to ward off the cold of San Francisco’s summer nights. She also wanted her small upper deck to feel more connected to the lower deck. The design included replacing the two redwood decks and stairs with Brazilian Walnut and the addition of new railings. We added a unique water feature that could be seen from various vantage points, and a simple concrete fire pit large enough to be used as a coffee table. A heated concrete bench made the small upper deck off of the kitchen more inviting and usable. We replaced a tall wooden plinth at one end of the upper deck with a long clay pot filled with succulents, connecting the two decks. The all weather cushioned couch and chaise lounge on the lower deck are back lit by elegant sconce lights. New shade tolerant plants such as Fuchsia Thymifolia, Hellebores, Loropetalum and a Box Honeysuckle add to the year round blooms of this small, elegant garden.

View of urn from lower level family room.
Mid-sized elegant backyard decomposed granite patio fountain photo with no cover

Example of a mid-sized transitional backyard tile patio design in San Diego with a fire pit and an awning

Images provided by 'Ancient Surfaces' Product name: Antique Biblical Stone Fountain Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com Do you want to add the crown jewel to your backyard? Or maybe you want to finish of your swimming pool with a hand carved stone art piece instead of that stacked, bricked or stuccoed wall that you currently have? What about that kitchen window that leads to your neighbor’s wall or catwalk? Well you guessed it if you were thinking about adding a unique water feature that will transform that dull space into a lush oasis of limestone, water and greenery... An antique water fountain will not only transform your backyard it will change your mood every time you look at it of walk pass by it...

Extending the garden across the winding path to just behind the garage, the existing koi pond was refurbished and a hot tub nestled in nearby but still within view of the fire pit to give the back yard a secret-garden-feel.

Photo by Jay Sifford.
Photo of an eclectic landscaping in Charlotte.

The bubbling fountain provides a tranquil backdrop to the shade garden.
Design ideas for a small contemporary shade backyard water fountain landscape in Chicago.

Design ideas for a large transitional partial sun backyard stone water fountain landscape in Sacramento.

This natural stone waterfall brings the sound and beauty of a water to the garden. This beautiful feature serves an important function for the water pond by aerating the water and hiding the pond filters. Photography by Katherine Palmer

Cottage basement photo in Philadelphia

Michael Glassman
Home design - traditional home design idea in Sacramento

Photo of a mid-sized transitional partial sun backyard water fountain landscape for spring.

This once terminally muddy water pond with no visibility is the main feature of the backyard. With changes made by Full Service Aquatics of Summit, NJ this pond is now a beautiful showcase of this backyard. All photos by Mike Gannon

Ecosystem Ponds are the crown jewel of the Water Feature world. They soon become the centerpiece of your landscape. These low-maintenance, natural-looking water gardens work with Mother Nature, not against her, to stay clean and clear without using chemicals or UV sterilizers or anything artificial. The key is the symbiotic relationship between the Pond Fish, the beneficial bacteria, and the Aquatic Plants. There is no sound in nature quite as relaxing as moving, falling water. It soothes away your stress at the end of a long day and you instantly start to feel more relaxed. Watching the Koi and other Pond Fish gracefully swimming around and nibbling from the underwater rocks and gravel can be almost hypnotizing. A variety of birds come to drink and bathe in the stream and colorful dragonflies flit here and there on mosquito patrol. Water lilies bloom in almost every color you can imagine and you'll soon see that frogs really DO sit on lily pads! Having one of these Ponds in your landscape is like coming home every day to a private vacation retreat right in your own backyard! Texas Ponds and Water Features creates some of the most beautiful and natural looking Ecosystem Ponds and Water Gardens in the Austin and Central Texas area. We also work in the Houston, Southeast Texas area and almost anywhere in between. Working with only natural stone, our specialists craft waterfalls and ponds that look as if they had been carved by the hand of nature. Our two main pond guys have over 27 years of experience between them. We are at the Master level of Certified Aquascape Contractors--among the best in the world at what we do. Contact us today to get started on your own backyard paradise.

Water fountain with large urn.
Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in Los Angeles.

Enrique Acevedo Nancollas
Inspiration for an asian landscaping in Madrid.

Mid-sized mountain style backyard stone patio photo in Houston with a fire pit and no cover

We built them a medium size pond with a 6' stream and waterfall.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard gravel water fountain landscape in Detroit for summer.

Design ideas for a southwestern landscaping in Albuquerque.