Design Build: Rancho Santa Fe - Full circle

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary front yard full sun driveway in San Diego with a retaining wall and mulch.

Photos by Barbara Wilson. Bedford equine compound. Mock stone bridge created along the mile long entry drive. Stream channel created with stones to allow runoff from the detention pond on the other side of the bridge flow into an existing wetland and pond downstream. A lovely equine compound was created out of a 35 acre woodland in Bedford Corners. The design team helped the owners create the home of their dreams out of a parcel with dense woodlands, a pond and NY State wetlands. Barbara was part of the team that helped coordinate local and state wetland permits for building a mile long driveway to the future house site thru wetlands and around an existing pond. She facilitated the layout of the horse paddocks, by obtaining tree permits to clear almost 5 acres for the future grazing areas and an outdoor riding ring. She then supervised the entire development of the landscape on the property. Fences were added enclosing the paddocks. A swimming pool and pool house were laid out to allow easy access to the house without blocking views to the adjacent woodlands. A custom spa was carved out of a piece of ledge at one end of the pool. An outdoor kitchen was designed for the pool area patio and another smaller stand-alone grill was provided at the main house. Mature plantings were added surrounding the house, driveway and outbuildings to create a luxuriant setting for the quaint farmhouse styled home. Mature apple trees were planted along the driveway between the barn and the main house to provide fruit for the family. A custom designed bridge and wood railing system was added along the entry drive where a detention pond overflow connected to an existing pond.

Duckham Cabin

Dan Duckham Architect

"Willow Pond", pedal boat dock and Laurel Knob reflected in pond
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard garden in Other with with pond.

Wood Fences

VIKING FENCE CO

This is an example of a large traditional side yard full sun driveway for winter in Austin with a retaining wall and brick pavers.

Banyon

Jilzart Design

Design ideas for a small tropical side yard partial sun formal garden in Los Angeles with a retaining wall.

Waterfeature Gallery

CMS Landscapes

Downers Grove Water Feature
This is an example of a traditional garden in Chicago with with pond.

Curved Retaining Walls With Upper Patio

The Sculpted Earth

Terraced Retaining Wall of AllenBlock Europa Series with low voltage landscape lighting, new plantings and sitting patio of concrete pavers.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun xeriscape for summer in Seattle with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

Patios/Retaining Walls

Timberland Outdoor Services

Stone steppers with multi-tiered boulder retaining wall
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun xeriscape in Minneapolis with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

Modern Landscape

All Natural Landscapes

Frank Spiker
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern front yard full sun formal garden in Detroit with a retaining wall and brick pavers.

Front entries, sidewalks, paths and steps

Landsburg Landscape Nursery

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional front yard garden in Minneapolis with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Simsbury Spa Retreat

Dian Barnes Landscape Design, LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized arts and crafts backyard full sun formal garden for fall in Bridgeport with with pond and concrete pavers.

Rustic Style Wall

katie_shoemaker23

Rustic Style Wall using Techo-Bloc's Borealis wall.
Mid-sized country front yard garden in Other with a retaining wall.

Lake Home Front Yard Landscape - Oconomowoc

Ginkgo Leaf Studio

Left side of driveway includes new Fond du Lac outcropping stone retaining wall and a variety of shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses. Westhauser Photography

Novotny Landscaping LLC Wall/Steps Construction

Novotny Landscaping LLC

Sally Michalko
Design ideas for an expansive country sloped full sun formal garden in Milwaukee with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Terraced Hillside with Elegant Swaying Grasses

Art of the Land

Retaining walls form the terraced hillside providing space for an elegant array of swaying grasses in front of wooded background.
Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard partial sun garden in Denver with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

School House Road Project

Belknap Landscape Company

Photo of an expansive country front yard full sun driveway for summer in Boston with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Harpenden Garden

Green Tree Garden Design Ltd

The circular steps lead from the corner of a large patio towards the first level of lawn. Richard Brown Photography Ltd.
Inspiration for a large traditional full sun formal garden in Cheshire with a retaining wall.

The Petal Planter

Hardy. low water plants for a terraced yard
Design ideas for a large mediterranean sloped full sun garden in Los Angeles with a retaining wall.

Good bye lawn, hello color!

Kristen Rudger Landscape Design

This is an example of a small country front yard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a retaining wall.

Cape Cod Inn with New England Stone Cladding, Retaining Walls, and Water Feature

STONEYARD®

Cape Cod is a vacation hot spot due not only to its vicinity to amazing beaches and seafood, but also because of its historic seaside charm. The Winstead Inn & Beach Resort located in Harwich, MA, is the perfect place to enjoy everything Cape Cod has to offer. If you are lucky enough to stay in the "Commodore's Quarters" prepare to be greeted with the soothing sounds of moving water and the rich textures of historic natural stone. This charming getaway reminds you of years past with STONEYARD® Boston Blend™ Mosaic, a local natural stone that was used as cladding, on retaining walls, stair risers, and in a water feature. Corner stones were used around the top of the retaining walls and water feature to maintain the look and feel of full thickness stones. Visit www.stoneyard.com/winstead for more photos, info, and video!

Garden Design Ideas with a Retaining Wall and with Pond

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.