Originally a nearly three-story tall 1920’s European-styled home was turned into a modern villa for work and home. A series of low concrete retaining wall planters and steps gradually takes you up to the second level entry, grounding or anchoring the house into the site, as does a new wrap around veranda and trellis. Large eave overhangs on the upper roof were designed to give the home presence and were accented with a Mid-century orange color. The new master bedroom addition white box creates a better sense of entry and opens to the wrap around veranda at the opposite side. Inside the owners live on the lower floor and work on the upper floor with the garage basement for storage, archives and a ceramics studio. New windows and open spaces were created for the graphic designer owners; displaying their mid-century modern furnishings collection. A lot of effort went into attempting to lower the house visually by bringing the ground plane higher with the concrete retaining wall planters, steps, wrap around veranda and trellis, and the prominent roof with exaggerated overhangs. That the eaves were painted orange is a cool reflection of the owner’s Dutch heritage. Budget was a driver for the project and it was determined that the footprint of the home should have minimal extensions and that the new windows remain in the same relative locations as the old ones. Wall removal was utilized versus moving and building new walls where possible. Photo Credit: John Sutton Photography.

Hyde Park Getaway Firepit

B. Jane Gardens

Ryann Ford

Lotus on Orange

Josh Wynne Construction

Ryan Gamma

Outdoor Learning Center

Integrated Design Studio, Inc.

raised veggie beds, sun dial, concrete walls

Retaining Wall Projects

Design Works - Landscape Architecture & Const.

A Welcoming Entry Courtyard - Terracing. Minnesota Landscape Design.

Anderson Design / ErosionZ. Minnesota Landscape.

Gentle terracing lifts the courtyard off the low, streetside front lawn. Credit: Tad Anderson. All rights exclusively reserved.

Concrete retaining walls and wood trellis

Springfield Design

Contemporary concrete retaining wall with stucco to match.

Coastal Contemporary

Studio 6 Architects

Wright Residence

Platinum Landscape & Pools

Geometric concrete slabs pave the lowest level of the landscape. Natural grass, flanked by bamboo and hosts softens the slabs.

Fences & gates - Contemporary

California Deck Builders

The Great Canadian Landscaping Company

The Great Canadian Landscaping Company Ltd.

Dana Point Residence

Verde Design Group, Landscape Architects Inc.

New construction for custom home. Designed all exterior elements

Los Altos Hills Residence II

dhd damir hurdich design

Stamped Concrete

Concepts In Concrete

Mid-Century Modern

Josh Blumer :: AB design studio, inc.

1950’s mid century modern hillside home. full restoration | addition | modernization. board formed concrete | clear wood finishes | mid-mod style. Photography ©Ciro Coelho/ArchitecturalPhoto.com

Salt Spray Laguna Niguel

Artisan Outdoor

Side yard dining area, with Ipe wood wall backdrop for BBQ parking spot

Contemporary Spanish Pottery with Succulents

Conscious Environments Inc.

This gorgeous contemporary Spanish style entry is accented with Spanish tiles, white precast concrete, synthetic lawn, and pottery w/ succulents.

San Juan Capistrano ||||

Altera Landscape

Landscape Architect: V3 Studio Berzunza / Photography: Jeri Koegel

West Seattle Contemporary

Spring Greenworks LLC

modern garden design in West Seattle. Clean lines and drought tolerant plants create a fresh functional space.

Huntleigh Outside Art Gallery Landscape Design

Frisella Landscape Group

Contemporary Garden Design Ideas with Concrete Pavers

Get Inspired by Contemporary Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own contemporary garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Contemporary Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a contemporary garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a contemporary garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your contemporary garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.