A 4o feet long green wall creates a living colorful mural on a side yard. Amelia B. Lima
This is an example of a contemporary side yard garden in San Diego with gravel.

Side yard renovation including garden walkway leading to bluestone patio and built in barbecue area. Bluestone planks set in grass and peastone with flowering pear trees and perennials lining privacy fence. - Sallie Hill Design | Landscape Architecture | 339-970-9058 | salliehilldesign.com

Photography by Studio H Landscape Architecture. Post processing by Isabella Li.
Design ideas for a small contemporary side yard partial sun xeriscape in Orange County with natural stone pavers and a garden path.

Design ideas for a large contemporary side yard full sun garden in San Francisco with concrete pavers.

Courtyard - Sand Pit Beach House at Avoca Beach by Architecture Saville Isaacs Project Summary Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ The core idea of people living and engaging with place is an underlying principle of our practice, given expression in the manner in which this home engages with the exterior, not in a general expansive nod to view, but in a varied and intimate manner. The interpretation of experiencing life at the beach in all its forms has been manifested in tangible spaces and places through the design of pavilions, courtyards and outdoor rooms. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ A progression of pavilions and courtyards are strung off a circulation spine/breezeway, from street to beach: entry/car court; grassed west courtyard (existing tree); games pavilion; sand+fire courtyard (=sheltered heart); living pavilion; operable verandah; beach. The interiors reinforce architectural design principles and place-making, allowing every space to be utilised to its optimum. There is no differentiation between architecture and interiors: Interior becomes exterior, joinery becomes space modulator, materials become textural art brought to life by the sun.   Project Description Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ The core idea of people living and engaging with place is an underlying principle of our practice, given expression in the manner in which this home engages with the exterior, not in a general expansive nod to view, but in a varied and intimate manner. The house is designed to maximise the spectacular Avoca beachfront location with a variety of indoor and outdoor rooms in which to experience different aspects of beachside living. Client brief: home to accommodate a small family yet expandable to accommodate multiple guest configurations, varying levels of privacy, scale and interaction. A home which responds to its environment both functionally and aesthetically, with a preference for raw, natural and robust materials. Maximise connection – visual and physical – to beach. The response was a series of operable spaces relating in succession, maintaining focus/connection, to the beach. The public spaces have been designed as series of indoor/outdoor pavilions. Courtyards treated as outdoor rooms, creating ambiguity and blurring the distinction between inside and out. A progression of pavilions and courtyards are strung off circulation spine/breezeway, from street to beach: entry/car court; grassed west courtyard (existing tree); games pavilion; sand+fire courtyard (=sheltered heart); living pavilion; operable verandah; beach. Verandah is final transition space to beach: enclosable in winter; completely open in summer. This project seeks to demonstrates that focusing on the interrelationship with the surrounding environment, the volumetric quality and light enhanced sculpted open spaces, as well as the tactile quality of the materials, there is no need to showcase expensive finishes and create aesthetic gymnastics. The design avoids fashion and instead works with the timeless elements of materiality, space, volume and light, seeking to achieve a sense of calm, peace and tranquillity. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ Focus is on the tactile quality of the materials: a consistent palette of concrete, raw recycled grey ironbark, steel and natural stone. Materials selections are raw, robust, low maintenance and recyclable. Light, natural and artificial, is used to sculpt the space and accentuate textural qualities of materials. Passive climatic design strategies (orientation, winter solar penetration, screening/shading, thermal mass and cross ventilation) result in stable indoor temperatures, requiring minimal use of heating and cooling. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ Accommodation is naturally ventilated by eastern sea breezes, but sheltered from harsh afternoon winds. Both bore and rainwater are harvested for reuse. Low VOC and non-toxic materials and finishes, hydronic floor heating and ventilation ensure a healthy indoor environment. Project was the outcome of extensive collaboration with client, specialist consultants (including coastal erosion) and the builder. The interpretation of experiencing life by the sea in all its forms has been manifested in tangible spaces and places through the design of the pavilions, courtyards and outdoor rooms. The interior design has been an extension of the architectural intent, reinforcing architectural design principles and place-making, allowing every space to be utilised to its optimum capacity. There is no differentiation between architecture and interiors: Interior becomes exterior, joinery becomes space modulator, materials become textural art brought to life by the sun. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/

APLD 2021 Silver Award Winning Landscape Design. Galvanized troughs used for vegetables in the side yard. An expansive back yard landscape with several mature oak trees and a stunning Golden Locust tree has been transformed into a welcoming outdoor retreat. The renovations include a wraparound deck, an expansive travertine natural stone patio, stairways and pathways along with concrete retaining walls and column accents with dramatic planters. The pathways meander throughout the landscape... some with travertine stepping stones and gravel and those below the majestic oaks left natural with fallen leaves. Raised vegetable beds and fruit trees occupy some of the sunniest areas of the landscape. A variety of low-water and low-maintenance plants for both sunny and shady areas include several succulents, grasses, CA natives and other site-appropriate Mediterranean plants complimented by a variety of boulders. Dramatic white pots provide architectural accents, filled with succulents and citrus trees. Design, Photos, Drawings © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Renn Kuhnen Photography
This is an example of a large contemporary side yard full sun xeriscape for summer in Milwaukee with gravel.

On the side yard that people rarely use we put a herb and veg garden using 2' x 6' watering troughs set up on cinder blocks.
Design ideas for a small contemporary side yard full sun xeriscape in Houston with a container garden.

In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth. Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography

Tiltshift Studio
Photo of a contemporary side yard formal garden in Austin with with pond and decking.

A two tiered block retaining wall system with a set of steps was installed allow for access from the upper level to the lower level and to allow for the creation of planting beds in between and around the walls.

We divided the long corridor into garden rooms and ran a jasmine espalier along the fence line to green up the walls. Designed by HEDGE Garden Design & Nursery. Photo: NZ House & Garden.

Inspiration for a large contemporary side yard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Tight path on this small scale lot in the borough
This is an example of a small contemporary side yard shaded xeriscape in Philadelphia with natural stone pavers.

ПАН Ландшафт
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary side yard full sun garden for fall in Moscow with concrete pavers.

Mid-sized contemporary side yard partial sun garden in Dallas with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Designed and built by Land Art Design, Inc.
This is an example of a small contemporary side yard garden in DC Metro with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

JMMDS utilized large stones, an array of foliage textures and tones, and dynamic bluestone placement to transform this side yard into a verdant and refreshing walking experience. The green, purple and white plant palette includes: Anemone hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ (Windflower), Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’ (Grapeleaf Windflower), Aster ‘Wood’s Purple’ (New York Aster), Helleborus foetidus (Bear’s Foot Lenten Rose), Heuchera ‘Citronelle’ (Coral Bells), Heuchera americana ‘Dale’ (Dale’s Strain Heuchera), Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’ (Coral Bells), Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ (Plantain Lily), Hosta ‘August Moon’ (Plantain Lily), Iris cristata (Crested Iris), Lamiastrum ‘Herman’s Pride’ (Yellow Archangel), Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’ (Creeping Phlox), Polygonatum commutatum (Giant Solomon’s Seal), Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern), Pulmonaria ‘Mrs. Moon’ (Lungwort). Photo: Bill Sumner.

Bliss Garden Design
Inspiration for a contemporary side yard shaded garden in Seattle with brick pavers.