Photo of a mid-sized contemporary courtyard partial sun formal garden for spring in London with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Leaside Eclectic Garden

Arbordale Landscaping

We turned this pedestrian Leaside backyard upside down! We added a stone patio complete with a firepit and lounge area which is covered by giant umbrella. A custom rough hewn beam pergola was painted black to contrast the custom stainless steel shoes and connector plates and placed over the new dining area and custom buffet. The buffet has a Corten steel decorative panel behind with white plexiglass and lighting for a dramatic dining experience. Horizontal fencing surrounds the backyard and the style carries through to both gates. Natural stone steppingstones and borders add contrast and frame the different sections of the yard. Playful informal plantings give the garden a sense of whimsy. The back porch was created for barbecuing with glass railings to not disturb the view from inside the home and contains a large storage space underneath.

North Fork Waterfront

Chango

Architectural advisement, Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Photography by Sarah Elliott See the feature in Domino Magazine

Old Locke Renovation

Fiorentino Group Architects

Rob Karosis
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Boston with a fire feature and gravel.

Firepit Ambiance

Ted Carter Inspired Landscapes

stone veneer firepit with irregular capstones. Granite terrace
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun formal garden for spring in Portland Maine with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Landscape Water Feature Design & Installation Rochester NY Acorn Ponds

Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls

Landscape Water Feature Design & Installation Rochester NY Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls brought this Rochester (NY) front yard landscape to life with the installation of this stunning custom designed water feature which consists of bubbling urns, waterfalls, led lighting and beautiful aquatic plants. The sound of water running softly through this lovely water feature provides a relaxing sound that inspires relaxation which makes you want to sit down, relax, and enjoy all the simple pleasures life has to offer. Not only are water features lovely, they will make any space look more aesthetically pleasing and are the next best thing to living on a lovely lake or a sparking fish pond. This water feature has bubbling urns which can be installed with multiple sizes in groupings or we can design & install your water feature to have only one gorgeous stand alone urn. We love installing these beautiful urns in pondless waterfalls as well as in streams and fish ponds while adding LED lighting to them. Another cool feature is the addition of FIRE to the top of our fountains which really enhances the whole garden and makes the house stand out from the rest. The owners can sip their morning coffee on the porch and see a myriad of lovely birds and other pretty wildlife stop by for a quick sip of water. It’s a simple pleasure, but it brings a smile to the lives of our Western NY clients in Rochester & Buffalo New York (NY) and we love what we do. Our unique water features are also easy to maintain! Homeowners worry their new custom water feature requires ample work to maintain, but they do not. Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls design experts are happy to discuss seasonal care of water features with our clients to ensure they’re being cared for properly, no matter the season. Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls can help you design and install a beautiful water feature to add that peace and tranquility to your outdoor spaces. For large or small projects, there are always solutions to adding a water feature in your garden weather you are thinking about installing a pondless waterfall, one of a kind fish pond, custom water feature or large recreational pond. Acorn works with you from beginning to end so you can have a worry free addition to your backyard.

Arts and Crafts Woodland Home Gardens, Phoenixville

Donald Pell - Gardens

This is an example of a large country backyard partial sun formal garden in Philadelphia with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Fire Pit & Outdoor Seating

Guru Construct

Contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden in Brisbane with a fire feature and gravel.

Beach Style Fence and Deck Remodel

Kristl Konstruction Inc.

Marty Cohen
Photo of a beach style backyard formal garden in San Francisco with a fire feature and gravel.

Inviting Patio with fire feature

Magnolia Landscape and Design Co.

Inspiration for a small traditional backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Minneapolis with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Randy Landscape Remodel Mission Hills - Backyard

Villa & Mission Imports

Mexican Pavers Stair Treads in Corona line, are available at Villa and Mission Imports. Sealer as well.
Large mediterranean backyard partial sun formal garden in San Diego with a fire feature and brick pavers for spring.

Private Sanctuary

biota - Landscape Design + Build

Contemporary side yard formal garden in Minneapolis with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Southern Charm Farmhouse Back Patio

Blenker Construction

Large country side yard full sun formal garden in Other with a fire feature and concrete pavers for summer.

water feature

L.I.U. Landscape Inc.

Inspiration for a large transitional backyard formal garden in Orange County with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Modern outdoor living

Cleator Landscape Design

This home was in need of a indoor outdoor entertaining space that would compliment the residents desire for clean lines and crisp architectural elements. By adding a lounging area with fire pit, water feature, outdoor kitchen and dinning spaces all atop modern pavers we were able to greatly increase the useable space while providing the polished look the client longed for.

Historic Evanston Retreat

Greenwise Organic Lawn Care and Landscape Design

Hydrangea varieties abound throughout the property. Tardiva, Limelight, Endless Summer, and Quickfire Hydrangea are repeated to create rhythm in the landscape. Photo: Linda Oyama Bryan

Maltese Road

Aralia: Innovation in Landscape Design

An award winning Victorian garden design that featured in ITV’s ‘Britain’s best gardens’ programme. The design features Victorian paviours, a metal pergola, a slate bench and traditional raised brick beds. Unusual down-lighting and a mixture of cottage garden and architectural planting complete the design. Photography by John Glover

Randy Landscape Remodel Mission Hills - Backyard

Villa & Mission Imports

Cantera 3 Tier Stone Fountain with Barceló Tiles in the middle. Barceló Tiles available at Villa and Mission Imports, as well as stone fountains.
Design ideas for a large mediterranean backyard partial sun formal garden for spring in San Diego with a fire feature and brick pavers.

North West Design Award Winner 2010

Kim Rooney Design

Landscape by Kim Rooney Seattle outdoor Fire Pits + Fire Places
Design ideas for a large contemporary backyard full sun formal garden in Seattle with a fire feature and concrete pavers.

Backyard Fire Pit with Pergola and Swing

Ted Lare Design Build

Ted Lare Design Build
Mid-sized traditional backyard full sun formal garden in Other with a fire feature and natural stone pavers for summer.

Formal Garden Design Ideas with a Fire 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.