Dakin has been working with the owners of this site realize their dream of cultivating a rich and meaningful landscape around their home. Because of their deep engagement with their land and garden, the landscape has guided the entire design process, from architecture to civil engineering to landscape design. All architecture on site is oriented toward the garden, a park-like, multi-use environment that includes a walking labyrinth, restored prairie, a Japanese garden, an orchard, vegetable beds, berry brambles, a croquet lawn and a charred wood outdoor shower. Dakin pays special attention to materials at every turn, selecting an antique sugar bowl for the outdoor fire pit, antique Japanese roof tiles to create blue edging, and stepping stones imported from India. In addition to its diversity of garden types, this permacultural paradise is home to chickens, ducks, and bees. A complex irrigation system was designed to draw alternately from wells and cisterns. 3x5lion.png Dakin has also had the privilege of creating an arboretum of diverse and rare trees that she based on Olmsted’s design for Central Park. Trees were selected to display a variety of seasonally shifting delights: spring blooms, fall berries, winter branch structure. Mature trees onsite were preserved and sometimes moved to new locations.

Mulch

Design One Landscaping

Laurel Way

Guerin Design + Development

William Maccollum, Art Grey Photography

Jones Road

Adam Woodruff LLC

Montecito Zen

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Ciro

Spring 2012 Installation - Contempory

McKay Landscape Lighting

Regency Sub-Division. Photos by Tom Kessler Photography.

Putting Green

Land & Water Design

A Backyard Resort with a freeform saltwater pool as the focal point, a spa provides a spot to relax. A large raised waterfall spills into the pool, appearing to flow from the koi pond above. We extended a streambed to flow from behind the outdoor kitchen, all the way to the patio, to spill into the koi pond. A Sports Court at one end of the yard with putting greens meander throughout the landscape and the water features. A curved outdoor kitchen with a large Viking grill with a warming drawer to the sink and outdoor refrigeration. A Pavilion with large roof and columns unite the landscape with the home while creating an outdoor living room with a stone fireplace along the back wall, while still allowing views of the yard beyond.

Xeriscape & Landscape Design

Aria Alfresco

Huge Boulder Waterfall, Natural Boulder Dry River Bed and Xeriscaped Planting Beds Make This Landscape Design Unique and Beautiful

Gilston Road

Bartholomew Landscaping Ltd

Our clients had a potentially fabulous garden designed by landscape architects Del Buono Gazerwitz. Unfortunately there were significant problems with water ingress into the property where the garden was located above the swimming pool and Landscape works had not been completed. Bartholomew landscaping’s team of project managers and skilled craftsmen carefully lifted all of the roof garden to enable the fibre glassing team to apply their finishes. The paving and planting was then carefully reinstated to the highest possible standard. The water feature, walls, stairs and paving to the lightwell were also totally refurbished.

Front Landscape - Bel Marin Keys Lagoon Side Residence

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

The old concrete driveway was replaced with a contemporary pattern of large concrete slabs with small Mexican pebbles set in between in permeable resin. The other areas of this front landscape were transformed from a tired, water-thirsty lawn into a contemporary setting with dramatic concrete pavers leading to the home's entrance. Plants for sun and part shade complete this project, just completed in February 2014. The back areas of this transformation are in a separate project: Modern Water-Side Landscape Remodel http://www.houzz.com/projects/456093/Modern-Water-Side-Landscape-Remodel---Lawn-Replaced--Novato--CA Photos: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Elevated Sky Garden Walk

Rosemarie Allaire Lighting Design

Steve Lerum

Third

EVOKE

Custom Landscape Design

EvLand LLC/Everett Landscape

Jones Road

Adam Woodruff LLC

Rustic Steel Privacy Fence with Modern Design - Salt Lake City, Utah

Pteryx

Custom steel privacy fence with natural finish.

Retaining Walls

Spartan Landscapes

The brief of this project was very clear and simple. The clients wanted to transform their overgrown and non functional back yard to a usuable and practical space. The location is in Rye, Vic. The solution was to build tiered retaining walls to stabilize the slope and create level and usuable platforms. This proved challanging as the soil mostly contains sand, especially here on the lower end of the peninsula, which made excavating easy however difficult to retain the cut once excavated. Therefore the retaining walls had to be constructed in stages, bottom wall to top wall, back filling and stabilizing the hill side as the next wall got erected. The end result met all expectations of the clients and the back yard was transformed from an unusable slope to a functional and secure space.

Virginia Contemporary

M.S. Vicas Interiors

Windermere Garden

Britton Shepard Landscapes

Stairway detail with moss & lavender.

Front Landscaping

Mary-Liz Campbell Landscape Design

Traditional with a twist - boxwood entry with looser mix of shrubs, ornamental grasses and perennials and evergreen screening. Antique armillary.

Design Build: Rancho Santa Fe - Full circle

The Design Build Company

Drought tolerant container gardens with Agave Pedunculifera by The Design Build Company

Expansive Contemporary Garden Design Ideas

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.