Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard garden in Other with a container garden.

Large picture windows looked out onto the empty narrow side yard. Our solution was to create a dramatic 3D modular installation with CorTen Planters filled with low maintenance cacti.

Landscape Architect: Howard Cohen Photography by: Bob Narod, Photographer, LLC
Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard garden in DC Metro with a container garden and concrete pavers.

Dan Solomon
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern front yard partial sun xeriscape for summer in Los Angeles with a container garden and concrete pavers.

Roberto silva
Inspiration for a small traditional backyard formal garden in London with a container garden and decking.

A crescent garden container filled with coleus, petunias, new guinea impatiens, mandevilla, and potato vine.
Inspiration for a traditional front yard partial sun garden for summer in New York with a container garden.

Exterior Worlds was contracted by the Bretches family of West Memorial to assist in a renovation project that was already underway. The family had decided to add on to their house and to have an outdoor kitchen constructed on the property. To enhance these new constructions, the family asked our firm to develop a formal landscaping design that included formal gardens, new vantage points, and a renovated pool that worked to center and unify the aesthetic of the entire back yard. The ultimate goal of the project was to create a clear line of site from every vantage point of the yard. By removing trees in certain places, we were able to create multiple zones of interest that visually complimented each other from a variety of positions. These positions were first mapped out in the landscape master plan, and then connected by a granite gravel walkway that we constructed. Beginning at the entrance to the master bedroom, the walkway stretched along the perimeter of the yard and connected to the outdoor kitchen. Another major keynote of this formal landscaping design plan was the construction of two formal parterre gardens in each of the far corners of the yard. The gardens were identical in size and constitution. Each one was decorated by a row of three limestone urns used as planters for seasonal flowers. The vertical impact of the urns added a Classical touch to the parterre gardens that created a sense of stately appeal counter punctual to the architecture of the house. In order to allow visitors to enjoy this Classic appeal from a variety of focal points, we then added trail benches at key locations along the walkway. Some benches were installed immediately to one side of each garden. Others were placed at strategically chosen intervals along the path that would allow guests to sit down and enjoy a view of the pool, the house, and at least one of the gardens from their particular vantage point. To centralize the aesthetic formality of the formal landscaping design, we also renovated the existing swimming pool. We replaced the old tile and enhanced the coping and water jets that poured into its interior. This allowed the swimming pool to function as a more active landscaping element that better complimented the remodeled look of the home and the new formal gardens. The redesigned path, with benches, tables, and chairs positioned at key points along its thoroughfare, helped reinforced the pool’s role as an aesthetic focal point of formal design that connected the entirety of the property into a more unified presentation of formal curb appeal. To complete our formal landscaping design, we added accents to our various keynotes. Japanese yew hedges were planted behind the gardens for added dimension and appeal. We also placed modern sculptures in strategic points that would aesthetically balance the classic tone of the garden with the newly renovated architecture of the home and the pool. Zoysia grass was added to the edges of the gardens and pathways to soften the hard lines of the parterre gardens and walkway.

Design ideas for a country garden in San Francisco with a container garden.

Cushion moss, Ivory Prince Lenten Rose and Western Sword fern
Photo of a small traditional backyard shaded garden for spring in New York with a container garden.

The office garden
Design ideas for a contemporary backyard garden in San Diego with a container garden.

Beach style backyard xeriscape in San Francisco with with outdoor playset, decomposed granite and a wood fence.

Country backyard partial sun garden in New York with a container garden and gravel.

Majestic Coast Live Oak trees anchor the recreation space that contains a bocce court and synthetic turf play lawn adjacent to the swimming pool.
Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean backyard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with with outdoor playset and gravel.

Photo of a partial sun garden for summer in New York with a container garden.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard garden in Other with a container garden.

Container garden as focal point. Photo by Ketti Kupper
Design ideas for a small contemporary front yard full sun xeriscape in Los Angeles with a container garden.

Inspiration for a large midcentury front yard full sun xeriscape in San Diego with a container garden and gravel.

Inspiration for a large contemporary front yard full sun garden in Dallas with a container garden.

Guy Lockwood
Design ideas for a contemporary backyard partial sun garden in London with a container garden and gravel.