Marrying Elegant Design & Sustainability

Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio (JMMDS)

Featured in Feb/Mar 2013 issue of Organic Gardening Magazine, this Boston-area courtyard functions as an entryway, parking space, driveway turnaround, and outdoor room. New York bluestone planks set into a sea of pea gravel can bear the weight of vehicles while allowing rainwater to permeate the ground, preventing run-off. Curving 7-foot-high green walls of shade-loving native plants create privacy and beauty, while native birch trees (Betula papyrifera) in the entry planters provide a handsome complement to the four-story Silver LEED-certified house by Wolf Architects, Inc. Landscape Architect: Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio Landscape contractor: Robert Hanss, Inc. Green wall: g_space Photographed by Susan Teare for Organic Gardening Magazine.

West University

Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design

Carl Mayfield
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional partial sun driveway in Houston with natural stone pavers.

Seaview Beach House

Mackenzie Pronk Architects

Recycled timeber sleepers and pebbles provide a pervious yet robust driveway. A garage door is concealed with flush hardwood cladding. Photography Roger D'Souza

Driveway, Front Yard and Backyard Landscaping

Neave Group Outdoor Solutions

Neave Group Outdoor Solutions
Design ideas for a large traditional backyard full sun driveway in New York with a garden path and gravel.

Elegant Country Estate

Artemis Landscape Architects, Inc.

Photo of a large traditional front yard full sun driveway for spring in New York with gravel and a garden path.

Mid Century Modern Gem

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

Sculptural agaves, succulents and California native plants punctuate the front landscape complementing the “arroyo seco” rain garden studded with boulders and branches. The rain garden catches 50% of the stormwater runoff from the roof and infiltrates it into the soil. The remaining 50% of the runoff goes to a second rain garden in the back yard.

A Ranch True to its Past

Designscapes Colorado Inc.

A grand wooden gate introduces the series of arrival sequences to be taken in along the private drive to the main ranch grounds.
Photo of a country front yard full sun driveway for summer in Denver with with privacy feature and a stone fence.

Wenham, MA

Brookwood Landscape and Stonework Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun driveway in Boston with natural stone pavers.

Gallery

U.S. Brick & Block Systems, LLC

This is an example of a large traditional front yard driveway in Miami with natural stone pavers.

Country Estate

Marras Lighting Design

Daniel Stauch
Inspiration for a large traditional front yard full sun driveway in New York with natural stone pavers.

Elton Lane Residence

Studio Balcones

Concrete stepping stones act as both entry path and an extra parking space. Photography by Lars Frazer
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury front yard partial sun driveway in Austin with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Entrances, Fences & Gates

Maher & Greenwald Fine Gardens

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional front yard driveway in New York with natural stone pavers.

Contemporary garden

Living Gardens Landscape Design

Contemporary succulent garden
This is an example of a small contemporary front yard partial sun driveway in Orange County with concrete pavers.

Driveway Turn-Around

Krugel Cobbles, Inc.

Phototography: Linda Oyama Bryan
Large traditional front yard driveway in Chicago with concrete pavers for fall.

North Arlington Residence

Katia Goffin Gardens

Sinuous Driveway - Acts as the backbone of the garden. Both the lower and upper garden are bordered by Annabelle Hydrangeas and Zelkovas planted along the asphalt driveway making the driveway recede and emphasizing a garden feel to an otherwise functional space. Photo credit: ROGER FOLEY

Curved Gravel Driveway and Landscape

James Martin Associates

Request Free QuoteThe roses and day-lilies are deadheaded to allow continuous blooms throughout the season. The rose beds are supplemented with a compost amendment giving the plants the need nutritional feeding without having to rely on artificial fertilizers. Since the plant material near the house depends more on texture and shapes than color. The maintenance team has to make sure that this visual hierarchy is preserved by carefully shaping each plant to either distinguish itself or to gracefully flow into one another.

Seneca Residence

Verdance Landscape Architecture

The driveway was rebuilt with permeable Belgard 'Old World' pavers to complement the Spanish style home. Slabs of 'Autumn Gold' create steps up to the front seating area, which is contained by a seatwall clad in 'Mt. Moriah' ledge stone. Photo © Jude Parkinson-Morgan.

Courtyard Transformation

a Blade of Grass

The driveway entry with reclaimed granite pillars, reclaimed granite cobble aprons, and a chip seal drive.
Design ideas for a large traditional front yard partial sun driveway in Boston with natural stone pavers.

Driveway Contains Dry Rivers

FormLA Landscaping

Dry river-esque bands of rock in the driveway direct stormwater into planted spaces. This band, at the end of the drive, directs water into bright green Dwarf Coyote Bush.

Double-Picket Security Gate & Fencing

Baratech Gates & Fences

Installation of 5'Tall Double-Picket Aluminum Industrial-Grade Security Fencing
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary front yard driveway in Other with a metal fence.

Driveway Design Ideas

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.