Steamboat Storm Meadow Drive Mountain/Asian Fusion

Japanese Garden with Hot Springs outdoor soaking tub. Landscape Design by Chad Guinn. Photo Roger Wade Photography The Rocky Regions best and boldest example of Western - Mountain - Asian fusion. Featured in Architectural Digest May 2010

Ni-water Composition

Outdoor Craftsmen

Mid-sized mediterranean backyard full sun formal garden in Denver with natural stone pavers and a water feature.

Blue & White Garden–Seekonk, MA

Andrew Grossman Landscape Design

Blue & White Garden with rectangular lily pond; azaleas, tree peonies, assorted Spring bulbs, perennials and flowering shrubs. Display Garden, Seekonk, MA.

Modern Tranquility

Campion Walker Landscapes

To anchor a modern house, designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners, Campion Walker brought in a mature oak grove that at first frames the home and then invites the visitor to explore the grounds including an intimate culinary garden and stone fruit orchard. The neglected hillside on the back of the property once overgrown with ivy was transformed into a California native oak woodland, with under-planting of ceanothus and manzanitas. We used recycled water to create a dramatic water feature cut directly into the limestone entranceway framed by a cacti and succulent garden.

Modern Landscape

Design ideas for a small modern backyard partial sun garden in Denver with natural stone pavers and a water feature.

A Garden for Every Season

Cottage Gardener, LTD

This project was designed and installed by Cottage Gardener, LTD. These photos highlight our effort to create seasonal interest throughout the entire year.

Garnet Residence

Envision Landscape Studio

This small tract home backyard was transformed into a lively breathable garden. A new outdoor living room was created, with silver-grey brazilian slate flooring, and a smooth integral pewter colored concrete wall defining and retaining earth around it. A water feature is the backdrop to this outdoor room extending the flooring material (slate) into the vertical plane covering a wall that houses three playful stainless steel spouts that spill water into a large basin. Koi Fish, Gold fish and water plants bring a new mini ecosystem of life, and provide a focal point and meditational environment. The integral colored concrete wall begins at the main water feature and weaves to the south west corner of the yard where water once again emerges out of a 4” stainless steel channel; reinforcing the notion that this garden backs up against a natural spring. The stainless steel channel also provides children with an opportunity to safely play with water by floating toy boats down the channel. At the north eastern end of the integral colored concrete wall, a warm western red cedar bench extends perpendicular out from the water feature on the outside of the slate patio maximizing seating space in the limited size garden. Natural rusting Cor-ten steel fencing adds a layer of interest throughout the garden softening the 6’ high surrounding fencing and helping to carry the users eye from the ground plane up past the fence lines into the horizon; the cor-ten steel also acts as a ribbon, tie-ing the multiple spaces together in this garden. The plant palette uses grasses and rushes to further establish in the subconscious that a natural water source does exist. Planting was performed outside of the wire fence to connect the new landscape to the existing open space; this was successfully done by using perennials and grasses whose foliage matches that of the native hillside, blurring the boundary line of the garden and aesthetically extending the backyard up into the adjacent open space.

West Coast English Retreat

Tierra Madre Fine Gardens

Inspiration for a contemporary backyard partial sun garden in Other with a water feature, gravel and a wood fence.

Contemporary Retreat

David Thorne Landscape Architect

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

A Beautiful Water Feature

The Landscape & Garden Company LTD

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard formal garden in Other with a water feature and gravel.

CRAFTSMAN IN THE CITY

ORIJIN STONE, LLC

This classic craftsman style cottage nestled in a downtown Minneapolis neighborhood truly flourished with the anchoring of some expertly designed stonework. Featuring ORIJIN STONE Full Color Natural Cleft Bluestone paving stone, our Lakeside Wallstone, custom Bluestone Blue Select Treads & Wall Caps. The backyard features our handcrafted Bluestone water feature sculpture which adds to both the sights and sounds of this haven. Photography by Chelsea Eul Photography.

Japanese Zen Garden Backyard with Fountain and Patio

Southwest Boulder & Stone

Award-winning Japanese landscape designer Kohei Owatari uses natural elements like water and stone to create relaxing environments amid modern life. A reverence for nature marks this eco-friendly and creative landscape design, where meandering pathways perfectly complement clean geometric lines and patterns. Natural stone was the ideal material to deepen the connection with the natural world. The unique leaf-shaped patio and the custom water trough are key elements that showcase Kohei’s exceptional creativity and design sense.

Tahoe Mountain Living

Christine Karnofsky Garden Design & Consulting

Stone steps framed with water Feature and perennial plantings
Inspiration for a large traditional backyard partial sun garden in Other with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Warrawee

Cadence and Co

This is an example of a traditional backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Sydney with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Shadyside

The Outdoor Living Studio

Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Other with a water feature and gravel.

Menlo Park

Garden Nest Residential Landscape

Photo By: Jude Parkinson-Morgan
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard garden in San Francisco with a water feature and gravel.

Japanese Garden: double water fall

Andrew Zema's Landscaping, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard formal garden in Boston with a water feature and gravel.

French Park

Creative Landscapes Detroit LLC

Ground cover by other
Design ideas for an expansive traditional backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Detroit with brick pavers and a water feature.

Waterfall backyard

Matthew Giampietro Garden Design

Backyard rock waterfall by Matthew Giampietro
Design ideas for a mid-sized tropical backyard full sun garden in Miami with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Japanese Garden: court yard garden, stone walk.

Andrew Zema's Landscaping, Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard formal garden in Boston with a water feature and gravel.

Backyard Garden Design Ideas with a Water Feature

Get Inspired by 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 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 Garden for Your Home

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