Lush annual plantings at front entry.

Landscaped the side of a home.

This garden started from an old vegetable garden tucked into an old estate property. The only element that remained was the privot hedge. My client wished to have a perennial garden that would be in a formal setting. So an axial line was

Driveway Ready

Photos by Green Sun Hardscapes

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

View of corten steel planter with boxwood hedge, black gravel and concrete stepping stones

Landscape Architect: Chalet Architect: Burns and Beyerl Developer: Middlefork Development LLC

Nature's Realm

A couple by the name of Claire and Dan Boyles commissioned Exterior Worlds to develop their back yard along the lines of a French Country garden design. They had recently designed and built a French Colonial style house. Claire had been very involved in the architectural design, and she communicated extensively her expectations for the landscape. The aesthetic we ultimately created for them was not a traditional French country garden per se, but instead was a variation on the symmetry, color, and sense of formality associated with this design. The most notable feature that we added to the estate was a custom swimming pool installed just to the rear of the home. It emphasized linearity, complimentary right angles, and it featured a luxury spa and pool fountain. We built the coping around the pool out of limestone, and we used concrete pavers to build the custom pool patio. We then added French pottery in various locations around the patio to balance the stonework against the look and structure of the home. We added a formal garden parallel to the pool to reflect its linear movement. Like most French country gardens, this design is bordered by sheered bushes and emphasizes straight lines, angles, and symmetry. One very interesting thing about this garden is that it is consist entirely of various shades of green, which lends itself well to the sense of a French estate. The garden is bordered by a taupe colored cedar fence that compliments the color of the stonework. Just around the corner from the back entrance to the house, there lies a double-door entrance to the master bedroom. This was an ideal place to build a small patio for the Boyles to use as a private seating area in the early mornings and evenings. We deviated slightly from strict linearity and symmetry by adding pavers that ran out like steps from the patio into the grass. We then planted boxwood hedges around the patio, which are common in French country garden design and combine an Old World sensibility with a morning garden setting. We then completed this portion of the project by adding rosemary and mondo grass as ground cover to the space between the patio, the corner of the house, and the back wall that frames the yard. This design is derivative of those found in morning gardens, and it provides the Boyles with a place where they can step directly from their bedroom into a private outdoor space and enjoy the early mornings and evenings. We further develop the sense of a morning garden seating area; we deviated slightly from the strict linear forms of the rest of the landscape by adding pavers that ran like steps from the patio and out into the grass. We also planted rosemary and mondo grass as ground cover to the space between the patio, the corner of the house, and the back wall that borders this portion of the yard. We then landscaped the front of the home with a continuing symmetry reminiscent of French country garden design. We wanted to establish a sense of grand entrance to the home, so we built a stone walkway that ran all the way from the sidewalk and then fanned out parallel to the covered porch that centers on the front door and large front windows of the house. To further develop the sense of a French country estate, we planted a small parterre garden that can be seen and enjoyed from the left side of the porch. On the other side of house, we built the Boyles a circular motorcourt around a large oak tree surrounded by lush San Augustine grass. We had to employ special tree preservation techniques to build above the root zone of the tree. The motorcourt was then treated with a concrete-acid finish that compliments the brick in the home. For the parking area, we used limestone gravel chips. French country garden design is traditionally viewed as a very formal style intended to fill a significant portion of a yard or landscape. The genius of the Boyles project lay not in strict adherence to tradition, but rather in adapting its basic principles to the architecture of the home and the geometry of the surrounding landscape. For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

Chris O'Donohue - The Great Canadian Landscaping Company Ltd

The principal challenge was to design a usable space that provided seating for 25 in a confined area that also addressed aesthetics, maintenance, drainage and slope stabilization. The long narrow space, (approximately 9 x 60’) is located at the bottom of a 40% slope in an environmental critical area. A 3' to 6' high rockery is one side and the back façade of the house on the other side. A 3' wide pathway is the only exterior access to the project. The site was moss covered, wet, dark and subject to high litter trees. In order to maximize space and stabilize the rockery sit walls were designed into the existing rockery. A wide curved sit wall cups a 1/2-moon shaped patio extends from the interior living room. An L-shaped sit wall creates alfresco dining off the kitchen. The hardscapes slope toward custom drains in front of the sit walls, eliminating standing water. Low voltage lighting and cream colored concrete brighten the landscape. Concrete paving provides a low maintenance surface and a project with longevity. The end result is a highly functional, successful outdoor room enjoyed from the inside and the outside. The client wanted a water feature as a focal point. The difficulty was how to incorporate it into the landscape so that it would not undermine the rockery. Without machines the pipes and equipment would have to be in front of or on top the rockery. How would we hide the equipment? How would get the water up to the top of the rockery without moving any of boulders? The solution was uniquely innovative. The designer hand selected a large triangular shaped 4” flagstone then drew lines on the stone with chalk where to carve a river into the face the stone. The artisan then chiseled this stone into a custom weir that would direct the water away from the rockery and fall into a basin of Mexican pebble. A second large piece of stone was secured vertically under the direction of the designer on site to hide the liner and the pipe. Both stones were doweled into the rockery. The effect of the water falling is like a series of ever changing diamond shaped due to the rough cut of the face of the stone.

A bubbling boulder water feature murmurs soothing sounds. Where once this was an inhospitable desert, the garden now it has a multitude of tranquil destinations to enjoy, serenaded by the calls of birds that have made their home there.

Dramatic plant textures, modern hardscaping and sharp angles enhanced this mid-century modern bungalow. Soft plants were chosen to contrast with the sharp angles of the pathways and hard edges of the MCM home, while providing all-season interest. Horizontal privacy screens wrap the front porch and create intimate garden spaces – some visible only from the street and some visible only from inside the home. The front yard is relatively small in size, but full of colorful texture.

Studio H Landscape Architecture

This container garden in the Tucson Catalina Foothills supports wildlife such as hummingbirds and butterflies. This garden gives year-around color and interest that is low water and low maintenance! It is a great Wildlife View!