Marrying Elegant Design & Sustainability

Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio (JMMDS)

Featured in Feb/Mar 2013 issue of Organic Gardening Magazine, this Boston-area courtyard functions as an entryway, parking space, driveway turnaround, and outdoor room. New York bluestone planks set into a sea of pea gravel can bear the weight of vehicles while allowing rainwater to permeate the ground, preventing run-off. Curving 7-foot-high green walls of shade-loving native plants create privacy and beauty, while native birch trees (Betula papyrifera) in the entry planters provide a handsome complement to the four-story Silver LEED-certified house by Wolf Architects, Inc. Landscape Architect: Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio Landscape contractor: Robert Hanss, Inc. Green wall: g_space Photographed by Susan Teare for Organic Gardening Magazine.

Cooks Hill

MUD Landscape Design

Recycled timber green wall, Photography by Andy Jones
This is an example of a small country courtyard partial sun xeriscape for spring in Newcastle - Maitland with a vertical garden and concrete pavers.

Europa Allan Block

Air Vol Block, Inc

All Palermo steps
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard xeriscape in San Luis Obispo with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Primrose Hill

Emma O'Connell Garden Design

Bespoke circular table and curving bench backed by retaining wall clad in vintage brick.
This is an example of a small contemporary backyard shaded garden in London with a retaining wall and brick pavers.

Landscape Design

WINN Design+Build

This is an example of a large contemporary backyard full sun garden for summer in DC Metro with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Modern Hideout in Bucktown

Chicago Roof Deck & Garden

Photo of a small modern backyard partial sun garden for summer in Chicago with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

Contemporary Garden Boulder

High Desert Designs, llc

Spring has sprung! A mix of early season ground cover, tulips, feather reed grass and sage all green up quickly and give you garden pleasure as soon as April.

Banyon

Jilzart Design

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

Footscray

Normark Landscapes

This is an example of a small tropical backyard formal garden in Melbourne with decking and a retaining wall.

Artificial Turf for a Dog in Lakewood

PlushGrass Custom Synthetic Turf

Artificial grass requires no mowing, watering, or fertilizing. Dog urine won't stain or discolor the artificial grass. Clean ups on artificial grass are easier than on natural grass. If you're tired of re-sodding year after year due to your dogs then consider an artificial grass dog run from PlushGrass. Additionally, your dog(s) won't track dust or mud into the house with an artificial lawn or dog run area.

Rock Garden–Glocester, RI

Andrew Grossman Landscape Design

Rock garden bordering stone wall and viewing terrace. Plantings include a variety of evergreen groundcovers along with heathers, flowering shrubs, and low-maintenance perennials.

Fence at Suburban Oasis

Princeton Design Collaborative

Fence Design with Cedar Pergola, copper pipe trellis ,gravel path & bench Jeffrey Edward Tryon
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard shaded formal garden for fall in New York with a vertical garden and brick pavers.

Lafayette 2

Envision Landscape Studio

Photo of a large modern sloped full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a retaining wall and gravel.

Sloped Front Yard Luxury Landscaping

Big Rock Landscaping

This modern front yard is a brilliant example of the design and installation skills of Big Rock Landscaping.
This is an example of a modern front yard garden in Salt Lake City with a retaining wall.

Seneca Residence

Verdance Landscape Architecture

The driveway was rebuilt with permeable Belgard 'Old World' pavers to complement the Spanish style home. Slabs of 'Autumn Gold' create steps up to the front seating area, which is contained by a seatwall clad in 'Mt. Moriah' ledge stone. Photo © Jude Parkinson-Morgan.

The Hines Residence

IRI Landscape

Barton Hills Contemporary Curb Appeal

Native Edge Landscape

After this home was completely rebuilt in the established Barton Hills neighborhood, the landscape needed a reboot to match the new modern/contemporary house. To update the style, we replaced the cracked solid driveway with concrete ribbons and gravel that lines up with the garage. We built a retaining to hold back the sloped, problematic front yard. This leveled out a buffer space of plantings near the curb helping to create a welcoming accent for guests. We also introduced a comfortable pathway to transition through the yard into the new courtyard space, balancing out the scale of the house with the landscape.

Modern Front Yard Landscaping

Techo-Bloc

This front yard landscaping project consist of multiple of our modern collections! Modern grey retaining wall: The smooth look of the Raffinato collection brings modern elegance to your tailored spaces. This contemporary double-sided retaining wall is offered in an array of modern colours. Discover the Raffinato retaining wall: https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/walls/raffinato-smooth/ Modern grey stone steps: The sleek, polished look of the Raffinato stone step is a more elegant and refined alternative to modern and very linear concrete steps. Offered in three modern colors, these stone steps are a welcomed addition to your next outdoor step project! Discover our Raffinato stone steps here: https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/steps/raffinato-step/ Modern grey floor pavers: A modern paver available in over 50 scale and color combinations, Industria is a popular choice amongst architects designing urban spaces. This paver's de-icing salt resistance and 100mm height makes it a reliable option for industrial, commercial and institutional applications. Discover the Industria paver here: https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/pavers/industria-smooth-paver/

Formal Front Lawn Area

Eden Garden Design

A formal and thoughtfully sized ‘Cavalier’ zoysia lawn defined with custom steel edging. Photographer: Greg Thomas, http://optphotography.com/

Landscape Design

WINN Design+Build

This is an example of a contemporary backyard full sun garden in DC Metro with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Garden Design Ideas with a Vertical Garden and a Retaining Wall

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.