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

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.

Lemon Ranch

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

SoCal Contractor Construction Erika Bierman Photography
Expansive tropical front yard full sun formal garden in Los Angeles with a water feature.

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.

Arcadia Spanish Colonial | Fountain Wall

Greey Pickett

The landscape of this home honors the formality of Spanish Colonial / Santa Barbara Style early homes in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. By re-grading the lot and allowing for terraced opportunities, we featured a variety of hardscape stone, brick, and decorative tiles that reinforce the eclectic Spanish Colonial feel. Cantera and La Negra volcanic stone, brick, natural field stone, and handcrafted Spanish decorative tiles are used to establish interest throughout the property. A front courtyard patio includes a hand painted tile fountain and sitting area near the outdoor fire place. This patio features formal Boxwood hedges, Hibiscus, and a rose garden set in pea gravel. The living room of the home opens to an outdoor living area which is raised three feet above the pool. This allowed for opportunity to feature handcrafted Spanish tiles and raised planters. The side courtyard, with stepping stones and Dichondra grass, surrounds a focal Crape Myrtle tree. One focal point of the back patio is a 24-foot hand-hammered wrought iron trellis, anchored with a stone wall water feature. We added a pizza oven and barbecue, bistro lights, and hanging flower baskets to complete the intimate outdoor dining space. Project Details: Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Higgins Architects Landscape Contractor: Premier Environments Photography: Sam Rosenbaum

Mill Waters, Still Waters - Surrey

Acres Wild

Romantic Country Garden, Surrey, UK
Inspiration for an expansive traditional backyard partial sun garden for fall in Sussex with a water feature and decking.

Mountaintop Modern Log Estate

Judge + Associates

Design ideas for an expansive country garden in Denver with a water feature.

Montecito Zen

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Ciro
Expansive contemporary backyard full sun garden in San Luis Obispo with a water feature and concrete pavers.

The Blue Garden

R. P. Marzilli & Company Landscape Contractor

Marianne Lee Photography Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architects Parker Construction TheBlueGarden.org
Inspiration for an expansive traditional full sun formal garden for summer in Boston with a water feature.

County Farmhouse

A J Miller Landscape Architecture PLLC

A natural stream meanders through the lawn and trees and under the bridge on the driveway. There are fabulous distant views of the countryside that included in our design by framing this view with the trees and position of the stream.

Los Angeles

Zucker Design Associates, Inc.

Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean backyard partial sun formal garden in Los Angeles with a water feature and concrete pavers.

River Oaks 2 - Landscape Maintenance & Seasonal Color

Hogue Landscape Services

fench country classical garden meets modern. These are technically two different houses that the client combined into one. VERY different styles, but well done.

Hardscape

Embassy Landscape Group

Design ideas for an expansive traditional front yard full sun driveway in Kansas City with a water feature and brick pavers.

Black Bear | Cordillera, CO

Meadow Mountain Homes

Massive addition and renovation adding a pond, waterfall, bridges, a chapel, boulder work, gardens and 5,000 SF log/stone addition to an existing home. The addition has a large theater, wine room, bar, new master suite, huge great room with lodge-size fireplace, sitting room and outdoor covered/heated patio with outdoor kitchen. Photo by Kimberly Gavin.

Boerne Multi-Level Pool/Spa/Landscape

Land Design | Swimming Pools & Landscape Designs

Design ideas for an expansive country side yard full sun driveway in Austin with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

South African Style in Woodside, California

User

The rusty colors of the flowering Restios (thamnochortus) make the pool terrace seem like an extension of the rustic house in the background. Photo- Marion Brenner

European Elegance

Kritsonis Lindor

Inspiration for an expansive courtyard full sun formal garden in Seattle with a water feature.

Traditional Home & Colorful Containers

Winland's Complete Landscaping Service

Leonard Hill Photography
Expansive traditional sloped full sun formal garden in Other with a water feature and concrete pavers for summer.

Black Bear | Cordillera, CO

Meadow Mountain Homes

Natural Pools, Spools & Spas

Rock & Water, LLC

Design ideas for an expansive country backyard garden in Seattle with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Expansive 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.