Balinese style water garden including a pond less waterfall and 18’ stream, crossed by a custom made wooden bridge and stone mosaic pathway. 12’ x 16’ Pergola custom built to enjoy the sound of the running water.

Front yard design in Naples Reserve with modern tropical plants lined with a Mexican beach pebble border. Included larger bromeliads, bird of paradise with multiple blooms, multiple 14' foxtail palms, an agave, red ti, foxtail ferns and mammy crotons. This design is supposed to look full after plants mature.

This garden was designed to celebrate panoramic views of the San Gabriel mountains. Horizontal bands of slate tile from the interior of the mid-century home wrap around the house’s perimeter and extend to the rear pool area, inviting the family outdoors. With a pool framed by mature trees, a sunken seating area, fruit trees, and a modest lawn for a young family, the landscape provides a wide range of opportunities for play, entertaining and relaxation.

You can read more about the project through this Houzz Feature link: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/hillside-yard-offers-scenic-views-and-space-for-contemplation-stsetivw-vs~131483772

Photo of a full sun garden in Phoenix with a fire feature and gravel.

Photo of an expansive arts and crafts front yard full sun driveway in Denver with with rock feature and mulch.

Courtyard - Sand Pit Beach House at Avoca Beach by Architecture Saville Isaacs Project Summary Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ The core idea of people living and engaging with place is an underlying principle of our practice, given expression in the manner in which this home engages with the exterior, not in a general expansive nod to view, but in a varied and intimate manner. The interpretation of experiencing life at the beach in all its forms has been manifested in tangible spaces and places through the design of pavilions, courtyards and outdoor rooms. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ A progression of pavilions and courtyards are strung off a circulation spine/breezeway, from street to beach: entry/car court; grassed west courtyard (existing tree); games pavilion; sand+fire courtyard (=sheltered heart); living pavilion; operable verandah; beach. The interiors reinforce architectural design principles and place-making, allowing every space to be utilised to its optimum. There is no differentiation between architecture and interiors: Interior becomes exterior, joinery becomes space modulator, materials become textural art brought to life by the sun.   Project Description Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ The core idea of people living and engaging with place is an underlying principle of our practice, given expression in the manner in which this home engages with the exterior, not in a general expansive nod to view, but in a varied and intimate manner. The house is designed to maximise the spectacular Avoca beachfront location with a variety of indoor and outdoor rooms in which to experience different aspects of beachside living. Client brief: home to accommodate a small family yet expandable to accommodate multiple guest configurations, varying levels of privacy, scale and interaction. A home which responds to its environment both functionally and aesthetically, with a preference for raw, natural and robust materials. Maximise connection – visual and physical – to beach. The response was a series of operable spaces relating in succession, maintaining focus/connection, to the beach. The public spaces have been designed as series of indoor/outdoor pavilions. Courtyards treated as outdoor rooms, creating ambiguity and blurring the distinction between inside and out. A progression of pavilions and courtyards are strung off circulation spine/breezeway, from street to beach: entry/car court; grassed west courtyard (existing tree); games pavilion; sand+fire courtyard (=sheltered heart); living pavilion; operable verandah; beach. Verandah is final transition space to beach: enclosable in winter; completely open in summer. This project seeks to demonstrates that focusing on the interrelationship with the surrounding environment, the volumetric quality and light enhanced sculpted open spaces, as well as the tactile quality of the materials, there is no need to showcase expensive finishes and create aesthetic gymnastics. The design avoids fashion and instead works with the timeless elements of materiality, space, volume and light, seeking to achieve a sense of calm, peace and tranquillity. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ Focus is on the tactile quality of the materials: a consistent palette of concrete, raw recycled grey ironbark, steel and natural stone. Materials selections are raw, robust, low maintenance and recyclable. Light, natural and artificial, is used to sculpt the space and accentuate textural qualities of materials. Passive climatic design strategies (orientation, winter solar penetration, screening/shading, thermal mass and cross ventilation) result in stable indoor temperatures, requiring minimal use of heating and cooling. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ Accommodation is naturally ventilated by eastern sea breezes, but sheltered from harsh afternoon winds. Both bore and rainwater are harvested for reuse. Low VOC and non-toxic materials and finishes, hydronic floor heating and ventilation ensure a healthy indoor environment. Project was the outcome of extensive collaboration with client, specialist consultants (including coastal erosion) and the builder. The interpretation of experiencing life by the sea in all its forms has been manifested in tangible spaces and places through the design of the pavilions, courtyards and outdoor rooms. The interior design has been an extension of the architectural intent, reinforcing architectural design principles and place-making, allowing every space to be utilised to its optimum capacity. There is no differentiation between architecture and interiors: Interior becomes exterior, joinery becomes space modulator, materials become textural art brought to life by the sun. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/

Mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Inspiration for an expansive traditional backyard full sun garden in Houston with a fire feature and gravel.

A meandering path provides access to the front of the residence. This path is protected by weeping Hemlocks and the steppers are surrounded by thyme.

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

Caroline Mardon
Mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun formal garden in London with a fire feature and natural stone pavers for spring.

In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth . Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography

Garden landscaping in Ealing, London http://www.positivegarden.com/portfolio/garden-landscaping-in-ealing/ Corten steel planters/ raised beds, oak benches, self-binding gravel, veg patch, Collingwood lights and corten steel fire pit. Turf: Tillers turf Stone: Raj Sandstone Designer: Emma Griffin http://www.emmagriffingardens.com/ Postive Garden Ltd

Inspiration for a traditional backyard full sun xeriscape for summer in San Diego with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

The project was a complete rear renovation involving a new swimming pool, patio areas, fireplace, outdoor kitchen, deck renovation, and surrounding landscape, and lighting. The site was very challenging due to very steep slopes and a limited amount of land area to accomplish the overall goals of the project. Those were lawn areas for the kids to play as well as patio space for entertainment and a swimming pool. Due to county requirements, multiple infiltration trenches were needed to accommodate the Chesapeake Bay ordinances. Photography: Morgan Howarth. Landscape Architect: Chad Talton, Surrounds Inc.

A prefabricated concrete fire pit surrounded by built-in bench style seating and pottery with citrus on an ipe wood deck. Low water-use succulents neighbor the deck , planted in the decorative pebble. The shade sail was added at a later time due to the sun reflecting off the windows and burning the artificial grass. In the distance is the built-in barbecue and wood dining table. Studio H Landscape Architecture

This is an example of a large traditional sloped full sun formal garden for spring in San Francisco with a fire feature and concrete pavers.

This is an example of a mid-sized modern backyard formal garden for spring in Surrey with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.