Inspiration for a large modern backyard driveway in Los Angeles with with a gate and a vinyl fence.

Expansive front yard driveway in Seattle with with a gate.

This very social couple were tying the knot and looking to create a space to host their friends and community, while also adding much needed living space to their 900 square foot cottage. The couple had a strong emphasis on growing edible and medicinal plants. With many friends from a community garden project they were involved in and years of learning about permaculture, they wanted to incorporate many of the elements that the permaculture movement advocates for. We came up with a California native and edible garden that incorporates three composting systems, a gray water system, rain water harvesting, a cob pizza oven, and outdoor kitchen. A majority of the materials incorporated into the hardscape were found on site or salvaged within 20-mile of the property. The garden also had amenities like an outhouse and shower for guests they would put up in the converted garage. Coming into this project there was and An old clawfoot bathtub on site was used as a worm composting bin, and for no other reason than the cuteness factor, the bath tub composter had to stay. Added to that was a compost tumbler, and last but not least we erected an outhouse with a composting toilet system (The Nature's Head Composting Toilet). We developed a gray water system incorporating the water that came out of the washing machine and from the outdoor shower to help water bananas, gingers, and canailles. All the down spouts coming off the roof were sent into depressions in the front yard. The depressions were planted with carex grass, which can withstand, and even thrive on, submersion in water that rain events bring to the swaled-out area. Aesthetically, carex reads as a lawn space in keeping with the cottage feeling of the home. As with any full-fledged permaculture garden, an element of natural building needed to be incorporated. So, the heart and hearth of the garden is a cob pizza oven going into an outdoor kitchen with a built-in bench. Cob is a natural building technique that involves sculpting a mixture of sand, soil, and straw around an internal structure. In this case, the internal structure is comprised of an old built-in brick incinerator, and rubble collected on site. Besides using the collected rubble as a base for the cob structure, other salvaged elements comprise major features of the project: the front fence was reconstructed from the preexisting fence; a majority of the stone edging was created by stones found while clearing the landscape in preparation for construction; the arbor was constructed from old wash line poles found on site; broken bricks pulled from another project were mixed with concrete and cast into vegetable beds, creating durable insulated planters while reducing the amount of concrete used ( and they also just have a unique effect); pathways and patio areas were laid using concrete broken out of the driveway and previous pathways. (When a little more broken concrete was needed, we busted out an old pad at another project a few blocks away.) Far from a perfectly polished garden, this landscape now serves as a lush and inviting space for my clients, their friends and family to gather and enjoy each other’s company. Days after construction was finished the couple hosted their wedding reception in the garden—everyone danced, drank and celebrated, christening the garden and the union!

This project was so fun to design and install on their farmhouse style residence! We love transforming these beautiful outdoor spaces to an area they can actually use and enjoy at night! No worries about security either, this house is fully lit! From grand entrances and leading pathways to beautiful gardens and amazing pools, we can illuminate the most appealing features of your home. We offer expert installation of quality low voltage LED outdoor lighting, which provides added safety and beauty to any structure.

Photo of a modern front yard partial sun garden for spring in San Francisco with with a gate and natural stone pavers.

This is an example of a traditional backyard garden in Other with with lawn edging.

With the goal of enhancing the connection between interior and exterior, backyard and side yard, and natural and man-made features, Partridge Fine Landscapes Ltd. drew on nature for inspiration. We worked around one of Oakville’s largest oak trees introducing curved braces and sculpted ends to an organic patio enhanced with wild bed lines tamed by a flagstone mowing strip. The result is a subtle layering of elements where each element effortlessly blends into the next. Linear structures bordered by manicured lawn and carefully planned perennials delineate the start of a dynamic and unbridled space. Pathways casually direct your steps to and from the pool area while the gentle murmur of the waterfall enhances the pervading peace of this outdoor sanctuary.

The problem this Memorial-Houston homeowner faced was that her sumptuous contemporary home, an austere series of interconnected cubes of various sizes constructed from white stucco, black steel and glass, did not have the proper landscaping frame. It was out of scale. Imagine Robert Motherwell's "Black on White" painting without the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston's generous expanse of white walls surrounding it. It would still be magnificent but somehow...off. Intuitively, the homeowner realized this issue and started interviewing landscape designers. After talking to about 15 different designers, she finally went with one, only to be disappointed with the results. From the across-the-street neighbor, she was then introduced to Exterior Worlds and she hired us to correct the newly-created problems and more fully realize her hopes for the grounds. "It's not unusual for us to come in and deal with a mess. Sometimes a homeowner gets overwhelmed with managing everything. Other times it is like this project where the design misses the mark. Regardless, it is really important to listen for what a prospect or client means and not just what they say," says Jeff Halper, owner of Exterior Worlds. Since the sheer size of the house is so dominating, Exterior Worlds' overall job was to bring the garden up to scale to match the house. Likewise, it was important to stretch the house into the landscape, thereby softening some of its severity. The concept we devised entailed creating an interplay between the landscape and the house by astute placement of the black-and-white colors of the house into the yard using different materials and textures. Strategic plantings of greenery increased the interest, density, height and function of the design. First we installed a pathway of crushed white marble around the perimeter of the house, the white of the path in homage to the house’s white facade. At various intervals, 3/8-inch steel-plated metal strips, painted black to echo the bones of the house, were embedded and crisscrossed in the pathway to turn it into a loose maze. Along this metal bunting, we planted succulents whose other-worldly shapes and mild coloration juxtaposed nicely against the hard-edged steel. These plantings included Gulf Coast muhly, a native grass that produces a pink-purple plume when it blooms in the fall. A side benefit to the use of these plants is that they are low maintenance and hardy in Houston’s summertime heat. Next we brought in trees for scale. Without them, the impressive architecture becomes imposing. We placed them along the front at either corner of the house. For the left side, we found a multi-trunk live oak in a field, transported it to the property and placed it in a custom-made square of the crushed marble at a slight distance from the house. On the right side where the house makes a 90-degree alcove, we planted a mature mesquite tree. To finish off the front entry, we fashioned the black steel into large squares and planted grass to create islands of green, or giant lawn stepping pads. We echoed this look in the back off the master suite by turning concrete pads of black-stained concrete into stepping pads. We kept the foundational plantings of Japanese yews which add green, earthy mass, something the stark architecture needs for further balance. We contoured Japanese boxwoods into small spheres to enhance the play between shapes and textures. In the large, white planters at the front entrance, we repeated the plantings of succulents and Gulf Coast muhly to reinforce symmetry. Then we built an additional planter in the back out of the black metal, filled it with the crushed white marble and planted a Texas vitex, another hardy choice that adds a touch of color with its purple blooms. To finish off the landscaping, we needed to address the ravine behind the house. We built a retaining wall to contain erosion. Aesthetically, we crafted it so that the wall has a sharp upper edge, a modern motif right where the landscape meets the land.

Inspiration for a small front yard full sun garden in Other with with lawn edging and natural stone pavers.

Large contemporary backyard formal garden in Seattle with mulch and with lawn edging.

Garden grass circles, a fun approach to decreasing amount og grass and conserving water
Photo of a contemporary garden in San Diego with mulch and with lawn edging.

Pivot Gate extends the architecture of the home and conceals the side utility yard . photo by Jeffery Edward Tryon
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury backyard partial sun xeriscape for summer in Philadelphia with with a gate, mulch and a metal fence.

This estate is a transitional home that blends traditional architectural elements with clean-lined furniture and modern finishes. The fine balance of curved and straight lines results in an uncomplicated design that is both comfortable and relaxing while still sophisticated and refined. The red-brick exterior façade showcases windows that assure plenty of light. Once inside, the foyer features a hexagonal wood pattern with marble inlays and brass borders which opens into a bright and spacious interior with sumptuous living spaces. The neutral silvery grey base colour palette is wonderfully punctuated by variations of bold blue, from powder to robin’s egg, marine and royal. The anything but understated kitchen makes a whimsical impression, featuring marble counters and backsplashes, cherry blossom mosaic tiling, powder blue custom cabinetry and metallic finishes of silver, brass, copper and rose gold. The opulent first-floor powder room with gold-tiled mosaic mural is a visual feast.

Landscape Logic created a very colorful but drought-tolerant and low-water use garden in the front yard. It has accent landscape lighting to showcase the plants and trees at night.

After completing a stunning modern renovation of the interior, this young couple and their one year old son were ready to tackle the back yard. After refurbishing the "Spool" and designing a contemporary plant palette, the end result allowed a place to entertain family and friends. Photo by Rich Cox/ Rich Cox Photography

43 panels of our Fence style #1 and three garden gates as a new perimeter fence for this residence
Inspiration for a front yard formal garden in Detroit with with a gate and a wood fence.

Wrought iron gate and fence installation in Mountain View, CA. Custom design for these amazing clients! For more details please contact us (669) 261-0466 or visit www.valley1gates.com

New White Picket Fence installed in Bay Shore, NY
Photo of a traditional garden in New York with with a gate and a vinyl fence.

Design ideas for a small transitional front yard full sun driveway for summer in Los Angeles with concrete pavers, with a gate and a wood fence.