Sunset Residence

GEL: Griffin Enright Landscape

A layered hillside extends the garden.

steps

D-CRAIN Design and Construction

Sloped Front Yard Luxury Landscaping

Big Rock Landscaping

This modern front yard is a brilliant example of the design and installation skills of Big Rock Landscaping.

Exterior Services

Interior & Exterior Environmental Designs

Bench seating in foreground with native plants on hillside in background

June Scott Design

Rock outcroppings make a striking background for new lounge areas in this compact Los Angeles hillside garden. Working with the attributes of the site, we added native plants to drape over the stone, and converted hollowed stone planters into a firepit and water feature. New built-in seating and a cozy hammock complete the relaxing space, and dramatic lighting makes it come alive at night. Photo by Martin Cox Photography.

Pool House

Pearson Landscape Services

Steel retaining walls and zoysia turf grass

Modern Landscape

All Natural Landscapes

Frank Spiker

Upper Grandview Gabion Wall + Custon Fence

Design Farm Group

Meeka Van der Wal

Poolside Paradise in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC

Techo-Bloc

This retaining wall design is inspired by our Raffinato Wall. The smooth look of the Raffinato collection brings modern elegance to your tailored spaces. The 90mm high and 180mm high versions are packaged separately, allowing for a modular or completely linear design. This contemporary double-sided retaining wall is offered in an array of modern colors. This wall can be used to retain earth against erosion, create raised patios or subtly separate spaces with a blade wall. Raffinato is part of the dry cast collection. Check out our website to shop the look!

W. Residence

Vincent Landscapes

View Ridge Makeover

Hayes Landscape Design Services

The improvements included regrading and adding steps, a seatwall, lower maintenance plantings with year round interest, lighting, and a lawn perfect for kicking the soccer ball.

Orinda Modern Landscape

FDC Design Build

Custom Built-In Seating

FormLA Landscaping

This built-in bench provides ample seating, matches the home's sorrel trim, and provides protection from the garden's signifiant level change. California native grasses border the patio, adding greenery that makes the seat color pop. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography

Front Yard Simplicity

STC Builders

Photos by Joe Murgel

Backyard Retaining Wall

Premier Lawncare & Landscape, LLC

The wall is constructed. Now, we just need to finish back-filling and grade the area behind the wall.

Cole Valley Hillside - John Maniscalco Architecture

John Maniscalco Architecture

Wildlife Garden

Painted Fern Garden Design

The existing garden had an ideal seating area in the back left corner to catch the evening sun. Unfortunately, it wasn’t particularly welcoming as it was overgrown with ivy and under an overhanging conifer. This coupled with an area of slippery, rotten decking was not a space the clients wanted to spend lots of time in. They were looking to create a naturalistic garden to sit in, whilst sharing the space with any wildlife we could encourage in. In order to future-proof the garden, changes in level needed to be kept to a minimum. Having a pet cat, careful consideration needed to be given to the choice of plants, to be both beneficial to wildlife, and wherever possible, non-toxic to cats. At the heart of the new garden sits a pond, with water one of the best ways of encouraging wildlife in. The turf was planted with pockets of early flowering Camassia and Fritillaria bulbs and allowed to grow long until the foliage had died right back, and over time hopefully encouraging in further species to create meadow strips. The plant selection included Buddleja, Geranium, Nepeta, Rosemary, Sedum and Thyme, which offered something for butterflies, honeybees, hoverflies, bee-flies and long-tongued bees. A small tree, Malus ‘Admiration’ was selected for its ability to attract bees, beneficial insects and butterflies with its nectar and pollen rich flowers whilst providing a food source for birds and caterpillars. A Salix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’ was positioned next to the pond, and along with Hellebores, these provided a welcome early source of food for queen bumblebees and solitary mining bees. Two seating areas were built. One was integrated into a dry-stone wall built using Purbeck stone, which in time, would create a home for various inhabitants. The second was a bug hotel. Attention was also given to hedgehogs by creating a series of hedgehog holes between the neighbouring four gardens and a hedgehog home. A combination of autumn brown sandstone for the two patio areas was teamed with matching square setts to create a sweeping curved path linking the different spaces within the garden. The timber used for both benches and the pergola was Western Red Cedar which was allowed to silver over time. A hand thrown Cretan urn was displayed in a feature area viewed from both the house and the seating areas.

Contemporary New Home Landscape - Caledonia

Ginkgo Leaf Studio

We collaborated with the architect of the home to design the poured concrete retaining wall. Renn Kuhnen Photography

Wallace Street Wall

Zaremba & Company

A retaining wall of Corten steel slices through the vegetation to create a striking juxtaposition of textures as well as a clear delineation between public and private space. Photo by George Dzahristos.

Modern Garden Design Ideas with a Retaining Wall

Get Inspired by Modern 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 modern 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 Modern Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a modern 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 modern 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 modern 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.