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.

A multi leveled retaining wall that wraps around the side yard creates a screen with pockets of color.
Inspiration for a traditional garden in Grand Rapids with with lawn edging.

Photo of an expansive beach style backyard full sun garden for summer in Vancouver with with privacy feature, with a gate, with lawn edging, with path, a wood fence and concrete pavers.

Mid-sized modern backyard full sun xeriscape in Santa Barbara with gravel, a wood fence and with lawn edging for spring.

Embracing the organic, wild aesthetic of the Arizona desert, this home offers thoughtful landscape architecture that enhances the native palette without a single irrigation drip line. Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Clint Miller Architect Landscape Contractor: Premier Environments Photography: Steve Thompson

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

This customer wanted a pathway that could be used with no upkeep and no tripping hazards.
Small modern front yard partial sun driveway in Austin with with lawn edging and gravel.

Giardino esterno
This is an example of a large country front yard full sun formal garden for winter in Florence with with lawn edging, brick pavers and a wood fence.

A great example of a front yard makeover that turns a simple sloped front yard with old dead grass and a couple of trees into a functional, beautiful stepped yard that still incorporates some grass but also stepped raised planters, natural rock, and wide substantial concrete steps and sitting areas for tremendous curb appeal!!!

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape for spring in Perth with with lawn edging and decking.

Inspiration for a small mediterranean backyard formal garden in DC Metro with gravel and with lawn edging.

Inspiration for a mid-sized country backyard full sun garden in Denver with with lawn edging and a wood fence.

This unique pair of spaces serve as open green space and entertainment area for a complex of mixed-use buildings in Chicago. Formal garden incorporating colorful perennials, and new lawn provide respite for residents. On the opposite courtyard, a new large paver patio areas softened with plantings will offer an entertainment space.

Transitional backyard garden in Austin with with lawn edging.

The raised yard is separated from the terrace area with a rugged fieldstone wall and stone steps. A Leonard
Expansive traditional backyard garden in Boston with with lawn edging.

Brian Sipe architectural design and Rob Hill - Hill's landscapes and Don edge general contractor. koi pond in front yard with floating steppers, bluestone and beach plantings

This Montecito front yard was transformed with artificial turf, boulder edging, planting, landscape lighting and more. Synthetic grass was cut to fit around a boulder edging. The boulders were from the mudslide tragedy in 2018. This landscape was rebuilt and renewed. Landscaping and stone edging surround this loop driveway.

Summer Garden in Ranelagh Dublin 6 by Amazon Landscaping and Garden Design 014060004 Amazonlandscaping.ie
Mid-sized backyard partial sun formal garden in Dublin with with lawn edging, natural stone pavers and a stone fence for summer.

Intelligently Mixing Hardscapes A blend of small blackstar gravel, large, chunky blackstar gravel, and turf come together with a definitive border of metal edge, adding contrast and visual interest in the hardscape. The smaller blackstar gravel area acts as a wonderful overflow parking area, and the size of the gravel allows for effective mulching and spread of these new plantings. Beneath the gravel, honeycomb NDS gravel pavers add stability to the space and discourage gravel shifting and wash-out.