A couple by the name of Claire and Dan Boyles commissioned Exterior Worlds to develop their back yard along the lines of a French Country garden design. They had recently designed and built a French Colonial style house. Claire had been very involved in the architectural design, and she communicated extensively her expectations for the landscape. The aesthetic we ultimately created for them was not a traditional French country garden per se, but instead was a variation on the symmetry, color, and sense of formality associated with this design. The most notable feature that we added to the estate was a custom swimming pool installed just to the rear of the home. It emphasized linearity, complimentary right angles, and it featured a luxury spa and pool fountain. We built the coping around the pool out of limestone, and we used concrete pavers to build the custom pool patio. We then added French pottery in various locations around the patio to balance the stonework against the look and structure of the home. We added a formal garden parallel to the pool to reflect its linear movement. Like most French country gardens, this design is bordered by sheered bushes and emphasizes straight lines, angles, and symmetry. One very interesting thing about this garden is that it is consist entirely of various shades of green, which lends itself well to the sense of a French estate. The garden is bordered by a taupe colored cedar fence that compliments the color of the stonework. Just around the corner from the back entrance to the house, there lies a double-door entrance to the master bedroom. This was an ideal place to build a small patio for the Boyles to use as a private seating area in the early mornings and evenings. We deviated slightly from strict linearity and symmetry by adding pavers that ran out like steps from the patio into the grass. We then planted boxwood hedges around the patio, which are common in French country garden design and combine an Old World sensibility with a morning garden setting. We then completed this portion of the project by adding rosemary and mondo grass as ground cover to the space between the patio, the corner of the house, and the back wall that frames the yard. This design is derivative of those found in morning gardens, and it provides the Boyles with a place where they can step directly from their bedroom into a private outdoor space and enjoy the early mornings and evenings. We further develop the sense of a morning garden seating area; we deviated slightly from the strict linear forms of the rest of the landscape by adding pavers that ran like steps from the patio and out into the grass. We also planted rosemary and mondo grass as ground cover to the space between the patio, the corner of the house, and the back wall that borders this portion of the yard. We then landscaped the front of the home with a continuing symmetry reminiscent of French country garden design. We wanted to establish a sense of grand entrance to the home, so we built a stone walkway that ran all the way from the sidewalk and then fanned out parallel to the covered porch that centers on the front door and large front windows of the house. To further develop the sense of a French country estate, we planted a small parterre garden that can be seen and enjoyed from the left side of the porch. On the other side of house, we built the Boyles a circular motorcourt around a large oak tree surrounded by lush San Augustine grass. We had to employ special tree preservation techniques to build above the root zone of the tree. The motorcourt was then treated with a concrete-acid finish that compliments the brick in the home. For the parking area, we used limestone gravel chips. French country garden design is traditionally viewed as a very formal style intended to fill a significant portion of a yard or landscape. The genius of the Boyles project lay not in strict adherence to tradition, but rather in adapting its basic principles to the architecture of the home and the geometry of the surrounding landscape. For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

Inspiration for a large transitional backyard partial sun outdoor sport court for summer in Chicago with with waterfall and natural stone pavers.

With this SNAPSPORTS® Home Game Court, family and friends can play many sports on just 'One Court™' - Basketball, Pickleball, Volleyball, Inline Hockey, Tennis, Futsal, and more. Home court features: ? LED lighting for nighttime playevolution® PS surfacing which serves up a superior level of grip, so the ball bounces correctly and consistently for all sports, including Pickleball. ? DuraSlam® adjustable basketball goal ? Mult-Sport Game Net Systems and Court Lines ? LED lighting for nighttime play

Photo of a mid-sized country backyard partial sun outdoor sport court for summer in San Francisco with gravel.

This is an example of a contemporary sloped full sun outdoor sport court in Other.

The owners of this sprawling estate wanted a beautifully flowing landscape that incorporated the elements important to them. Once a vacant field, an apple orchard now layers in the back of the property with a sports court neatly nestled in. A large lawn panel then fills the space up to the pool where hand chiseled stone walls with soft plantings abutting them create a perfect ambiance around the pool.

Photo of a large traditional backyard partial sun outdoor sport court for summer in Austin with with outdoor playset and concrete pavers.

Photo of a mid-sized eclectic side yard outdoor sport court for summer in Ottawa with natural stone pavers.

This is an example of a large contemporary backyard partial sun outdoor sport court for summer in Other with with outdoor playset.

You want the best for your family, but no family is just like the other. We have an extensive range of customizable features that will make your backyard court or home gym unlike any other.

Rebecca Lindenmeyr
Small country backyard full sun outdoor sport court in Burlington for summer.

Walpole Garden, Chiswick Photography by Caroline Mardon - www.carolinemardon.com
Design ideas for a small traditional courtyard partial sun outdoor sport court for spring in London with brick pavers.

Design ideas for a large arts and crafts backyard partial sun outdoor sport court in New York with a retaining wall.

Sport Court St. Louis Sport Court Powergame in Evergreen and Bright Blue with White Basketball Lines and Black Multi-Sport Game Lines
Inspiration for a large traditional backyard partial sun outdoor sport court for spring in St Louis with with outdoor playset.

New paver patio and retaining wall with a firepit and plantings. Old backyard had only a small cramped wooden deck with no plantings.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern backyard shaded outdoor sport court in Boston with concrete pavers.

Scott Mehaffey, landscape architect
Photo of a small midcentury courtyard partial sun outdoor sport court for summer in Chicago with gravel.

Design ideas for a large traditional front yard partial sun outdoor sport court in New York with natural stone pavers.

Inspiration for a large country backyard full sun outdoor sport court in San Francisco with gravel.

Entry courtyard with formal boxwood planting with shrubs, grasses and daylilies.
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard partial sun outdoor sport court in Other with natural stone pavers.