Design ideas for a traditional sloped xeriscape in Minneapolis.

This 22-year-old gunite pool needed a facelift. A nonfunctioning waterfall, uncomfortable spa and grass as its patio were the reasons the client called Bill Renter from the Deck & Patio Company of Huntington Station New York. The first step was to demolish the existing spa, waterfall, wood retaining wall and rock coping. Next, the new acrylic spa was installed. A seven foot high moss rock waterfall and boulder coping were installed beautify and retain the sloping woodland behind the pool. Because of the natural setting of the pool, careful consideration was given to the patio material. The designers suggested a tumbled pavingstone and wall system called techno-bloc. The colors of the patio were a blend of a tan color and a natural grey color to tie in with colors of the boulders used. The patio has the look of natural stone, but it is cool even on hot summer days and has the durability of a paver patio. This new technology in the paving and matching wall systems insures a lifetime of easy car for these surfaces. The final touch was the colorful landscape which is beautiful despite the challenge of a mostly shady woodland setting. http://www.deckandpatio.com/DP_Blog/?p=1182 Deck and Patio Company www.deckandpatio.com

Verdance Fine Garden Design
Asian backyard patio in San Francisco.

Bliss Garden Design
Photo of an australian native contemporary backyard shaded garden in Seattle.

60' contemporary lap pool set in woodland setting with ledge outcrops and ornamental bamboo plantings. Cascading stairs lead to a lower fire pit area and continue into the pool below. Stainless steel fountains and ornamental grasses frame the pool edge. Photography: Michael Lee

Photo of a mediterranean sloped garden in San Diego with natural stone pavers.

A grass path through a rock garden featuring a large rock fountain.
Mid-sized modern courtyard partial sun garden in Los Angeles with gravel and with lawn edging for spring.

The original objective was to design an efficient, mountain contemporary cabin with emphasis on light, layout and landscape. Each form delivers natural light to its respective space while contributing to the composition as a whole. Local granite flows in and out bringing the natural environment into the home. A detached pavilion and covered patios with opening wall doors provide living area for all seasons. The low pitch contemporary shed roof forms balance with the mountain gables and timber details. The contemporary roof forms bathe the rustic stone and wood material palate in sunlight creating a warm, inviting space. Photo by Matt Waclo.

Forestell Designed Landscapes
Photo of an eclectic garden in Toronto with a water feature.

Garden allee path with copper pipe trellis Photo by: Jeffrey Edward Tryon of PDC
Design ideas for a small contemporary courtyard shaded formal garden for summer in Philadelphia with gravel.

Landscape Architect: Howard Cohen Photography by: Bob Narod, Photographer LLC
Mid-sized traditional sloped garden in DC Metro with brick pavers.

Inspiration for a traditional two-storey white exterior in Providence with wood siding.

Small asian courtyard garden in Hamilton with a water feature and gravel.

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard patio in Portland with natural stone pavers, a water feature and a gazebo/cabana.

I thought I would share with everyone this magnificent turn of the century Tudor style Castle, which was the host site for this years 2012 Mansion in May. Enjoy!!!

This is an example of a contemporary infinity pool in DC Metro.

Fall in a Palo Alto Garden re-design. I designed a Willow Arch for this garden re-design project to go with the Willow furniture purchased for the new Secret Garden. The old lawn will be replaced with a low-water, no mow variety.

Durston Saylor
Inspiration for a large traditional two-storey black exterior in New York with wood siding, a gable roof, board and batten siding and shingle siding.

Creating spaces for mini-golf, swimming, bocce ball, tennis, a patio, and a water feature requires thoughtful planning. When done properly, the result is functional as well as as aesthetically pleasing. Windsor's professional design staff follows careful design criteria when combining spaces for recreation, entertainment, and relaxation. This challenging site gave us the opportunity to transform an area beside the driveway into a putting green and bocce court. Reconfiguring the driveway and lawn made room for a restful sitting area to enjoy the beautiful sound of the waterfall and pond. This project earned Windsor Companies a Merit Award for Excellence in Landscape Design from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association. Photos by Paul Crosby.