Outdoor Living in Kissing Camels Colorado Springs

An outdoor fire pit is a welcome addition to any landscape. This natural gas fire pit sits on a flagstone patio, and has built in bench seating.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard full sun xeriscape for winter in Denver with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Classic Campfire | Fire Features

Southview Design

A classic campfire circle, just like when your grandparents were kids.
Photo of a mid-sized backyard shaded garden for summer in Minneapolis with a fire feature and gravel.

Rosedale Backyard Living Space

Owen Landscape Architect

The east side of the yard features a raised trough planter against the architectural screen, and wrapping around the corner of the deck. This helps to envelope the outdoor living furniture; along with the overhead pergola this creates a sense of containment. Photo credit: Tracy Granger

Lancing 'Gaudi' Garden

Anita Sullivan Gardens

The 'pink and silver' border, with eryngium 'Green Jade'. Planting design and photo by Anita Sullivan
Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean backyard partial sun garden for summer in Sussex with a fire feature and gravel.

Urban Living

Beyond Landscaping

Photo of a small contemporary backyard garden in Toronto with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Whiting

Finishing Touches Landscaping

Design ideas for a large country front yard garden in Milwaukee with a fire feature.

Lafayette Hillside Engineered Pool

Creative Environments

Landscape and planting by Michael Tebbs Design, Home construction by Crowder Construction, Thank you Mr. & Mrs. W. for trusting your project to the team at Crowder Construction, Michael Tebbs Design and Creative Environments... it was our pleasure to help transform your property to the beautiful entertainment area that it is today....

Woodland Garden, Hampshire

Karen Rogers at KR Garden Design

A beautiful sitting area overlooking the South Downs National Park. Photo by Caroline Mardon
Large country sloped full sun garden in London with a fire feature for spring.

Entertainers' Paradise

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

The front yard is simple and easy to maintain with a beautiful Crape Myrtle tree.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape for spring with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Whitewing Exterior, Landscape and Additional Photos

AFT Construction

Backyard landscape
Design ideas for an expansive transitional backyard full sun outdoor sport court for summer in Phoenix with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Grace Design Associates

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Naturalist ocean view landscape with camp fire and Adirondack chair makes for a great outdoor living space. Holly Lepere
Photo of a mid-sized country backyard partial sun garden in Santa Barbara with a fire feature and gravel.

Carmel Valley Water Feature

Jesse York, Landscape Designer

This project showcases a grand custom water feature, beginning with an impressive water wall that flows down through multiple basins, culminating in a vast pond. It is accentuated by several large concrete pads that appear to float over the water, serving as stepping stones to the network of pathways weaving through the yard. Modern and elegant materials were meticulously selected to complement the design, including sleek finishes that enhance the feature's contemporary aesthetic. To highlight the space and integrate it seamlessly with the natural surroundings, a variety of native grasses and plants were chosen, adding both beauty and ecological benefits to the landscape.

Hannah Residence

Venetian Outdoors

Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard garden in Phoenix with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

McKinnon Project

Boodle Concepts

Contemporary garden design and landscaping installation by Boodle Concepts, based in Melbourne & Kyneton, Macedon Ranges. A large firepit feature encourages outdoor living, and is hugged by various layering of timber and steel mesh screening. A modern planting scheme is colourful, tidy and considered.

Mountain Arcadia

Living Green Designs

In this backyard space, the design challenge was to bring the essence of the California Mountains to Redondo Beach. As this client is an avid outdoorsman, he wanted to bring the a feel of the Sierra Nevada mountains, his happy place, home to create his very own backyard mountain retreat. Our team sourced materials that one would find in the mountains of California whilst keeping a lounge feel in mind for the secondary design criteria, a retreat. In this retreat, we created four distinct areas: the lounging area with covered pergola, fire pit area with built-in seating bench and overhead trellis complete with carnival lighting, central waterfall, and barbeque area with picnic table and overhead carnival lighting. We built a 10” x 10” rugged pergola was built out of sustainably sourced pine. The massive posts feel as though large pine trees were harvested right out of the California Mountains and crafted right on-site. The pergola was built with a retractable shade cloth so the sun can be let in for warmth in open during the colder months. The pergola and the other hard-scaped areas in the backyard were covered with a mix of gray granite and charcoal pavers. This color selection is reminiscent of the colors in California granite. Walking north from the pergola toward the fire pit area there is a mass planting of deer grasses, assortment of ferns and California coffee berries planted to mimic California Chaparral. At the other edge of this chaparral garden, sits the Cresta Boulder fire pit. Boulders were used to create this fire pit to harness the feeling of being outdoors in the wilderness. The boulders were locally sourced out of the Sierra Nevada mountain range for authenticity. In order to frame the space we installed a trellis and off the trellis runs carnival lights for night time parties. Just beyond the fire pit sits a granite boulder water fall. The waterfall is placed so that wherever you are in the yard you can see and hear the tranquil sounds of the babbling water as it circulates and recycles. The barbeque area is nestled against the backdrop of a dark green fernleaf podocarpus hedge. During the day, birds and butterflies traverse the native foliage and at night the sounds of the fire pit dance in harmony with the gentle sounds of water falling down granite pebbles making this backyard a true retreat from the chaotic noise of the city.

Phoenix Transitional Beauty

Green Project

Nick Berger
Inspiration for an expansive contemporary backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Phoenix with a fire feature.

Landscape Ideas

ONE Design and Landscaping

Backyard Landscaping
Inspiration for a large backyard full sun garden for summer in Phoenix with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Traditional Landscape

This is an example of a large traditional backyard full sun garden for summer in Milwaukee with a fire feature and concrete 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.

BBQ

GARDEN PROS

Inspiration for a large mediterranean backyard full sun garden in Orange County with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

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.