wa design
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for spring in San Francisco with a vegetable garden and gravel.

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.

Front Landscape - Bel Marin Keys Lagoon Side Residence

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Photos taken just after installation, there are more recent photos in this project. The front areas of this landscape were transformed from a tired, water thirsty lawn into a contemporary setting with dramatic concrete pavers leading to the home's entrance and a new driveway using large concrete slabs with small black pebbles set in resin. Plants for sun and part shade complete this project, just completed in February 2014. The back areas of this transformation are in a separate project: Modern Water-Side Landscape Remodel http://www.houzz.com/projects/456093/Modern-Water-Side-Landscape-Remodel---Lawn-Replaced--Novato--CA Photos: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Enclosed vegetable garden

Landsburg Landscape Nursery

Photo of a large country side yard full sun formal garden for summer in Minneapolis with a vegetable garden, mulch and a wood fence.

Traditional Westport

Oliver Design Associates

Large arts and crafts backyard partial sun formal garden in New York with a garden path and natural stone pavers for spring.

Gamble Garden Spring Tour 2014: Webster

Hoi Ning Wong

Hoi Ning Wong
This is an example of a traditional full sun formal garden in San Francisco.

Downtown Kitchener

Heritage Stoneworks Ltd.

Concrete driveway with grass strip up the middle leading to the double curved cedar gates into the rear yard.
Inspiration for a large traditional side yard driveway in Toronto.

Modern Update to a Ranch Style Orinda Home Landscape

Garden Lights Landscape and Pool Development Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized modern front yard full sun driveway in San Francisco with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

keyhole corten steel large 3.jpg

Rooted Garden, Inc

Mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun formal garden with with raised garden bed and gravel for spring.

Architektonischer Vorgarten

Paus Gartendesign

Photo of a large contemporary front yard partial sun formal garden for summer in Essen with with raised garden bed and concrete pavers.

Court Drive

LAND BY DESIGN

A mix of black eyed susans, yucca, and ornamental grasses form the basis to this gorgeous and exuberant mass planting full of texture and color in the front yard landscape architecture garden design of this Kansas City home.

Contra Verde

TLC Gardens

Inspiration for a modern backyard full sun formal garden in Denver with a fire feature and gravel.

De Beauvoir House

Studio 30 Architects

A contemporary refurbishment and extension of a Locally Listed mid-terraced Victorian house located within the East Canonbury Conservation Area. This proposal secured planning permission to remodel and extend the lower ground floor of this mid-terrace property. Through a joint application with the adjoining neighbour to ensure that the symmetry and balance of the terrace is maintained, the house was also extended at 1st floor level. The lower ground floor now opens up to the rear garden while the glass roof ensures that daylight enters the heart of the house.

Back Yards

Runde's Landscape Contractors, Inc.

Joe Runde
Inspiration for a transitional formal garden in Chicago with a vegetable garden and gravel.

Grow zone wider view from patio - built

Metamorphic Design

Raised planter boxes arranged to maximize light and micro climate conditions
Photo of a large country backyard full sun formal garden in Vancouver with a vegetable garden and gravel.

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.

Cedar Hot Tub Overlook

Gardens by Gabriel, Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean side yard partial sun formal garden in San Luis Obispo with decking.

Broadmore Residence

Kim Rooney Design

Mid-sized front yard full sun driveway in Seattle with concrete pavers.

SimTek Faux Stone Privacy Fence

Superior Fence Co of San Antonio

Photo of an expansive modern backyard full sun formal garden for spring in Austin with a garden path and gravel.

Curb Appeal

Crescent Hill Home Staging & Design LLC

Inspiration for a small transitional side yard full sun formal garden in Other with a garden path.

Garden - Formal Garden and 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.