Here we create a quiet destination garden around a pergola. The grape vines create a cool shady area where you can relax in the hammock and enjoy a book and a cool beverage.

If you want to entertain in the backyard you can remove the hammock and add a table with chairs plus a few extra design elements. Now you have a fantastic area for entertaining.

This is an example of a shabby-chic style brick landscaping in Chicago.

A path of irregular pavers in a sea of mazus breaks up the space in this small garden and makes it look bigger. © Melissa Clark Photography
Inspiration for a small shabby-chic style partial sun backyard stone formal garden in DC Metro for spring.

Design ideas for a shabby-chic style landscaping in Seattle.

A private seating area amidst the garden space
Inspiration for a mid-sized shabby-chic style partial sun backyard concrete paver formal garden in New York for summer.

Inspiration for a shabby-chic style landscaping in Atlanta.

Photo of a small shabby-chic style painted wood floor girl outdoor playset in New York with pink walls.

Photo of a shabby-chic style landscaping in San Francisco.

Our design for the 2014 SF Flower and Garden Show was marine themed, specifically inspired by the boatyards found along the California coast. Almost all the wood shown is up-cycled fence boards with the arbor comprised of used fence posts bolted together.

Design ideas for a shabby-chic style landscaping in San Francisco.

This is an example of a shabby-chic style landscaping in DC Metro.

Curved pathway draws attention to the front entrance and away from the garage.
Inspiration for a shabby-chic style stone landscaping in DC Metro.

Justin Maconiche
Photo of a shabby-chic style landscaping in Detroit.

Design ideas for a mid-sized shabby-chic style full sun backyard landscaping in San Diego with a pergola.

Created for a couple moving to a smaller house and lot in order to “down¬-size” after their children had left home, this garden’s design presented many challenges. The wife, an ardent gardener, had a long wish list: a water feature; specific plants (including a river birch, a gingko tree, oakleaf hydrangeas, plants to attract butterflies, and trilliums), fragrance, a small patio, and a potting shed. She also wanted to eliminate grass from any part of the property, and to have space to plant annuals (in containers and other areas). In short, she wanted a small “dream garden” created from a site that even she characterized as “disastrous-looking” at the outset. The wife wanted pathways that would allow her to visit all parts of the garden. The patio space did not need to be sizable because of the high deck off the back of the house, but the views from the deck were important. We accomplished all of the clients' goals, and designed a series of small "garden rooms" in the backyard to create the illusion of a larger space. We also designed a "faux potting shed" front to screen the area under the deck and incorporated a raised planting bed for annuals and herbs, which was featured in an article in Fine Gardening the following year as an inventive way to disguise an eyesore in the landscape. This garden received an Award of Distinction in 2009 from the DC/MD/VA Landscape Contractors Association. A view from the deck into the corner of the back yard, with a crape myrtle to provide seasonal interest.© Melissa Clark Photography

Photo of a shabby-chic style landscaping in Las Vegas.

Inspiration for a shabby-chic style landscaping in Santa Barbara.

This carefully planned front yard in the Bayview shore neighborhood contains a mix of color, texture and form, all in a tiny space. It is very low-maintenance and pleasing from both inside the house and from the street year-round.