Inspiration for a modern garden in Los Angeles with a water feature.

Photograph by Clark Davis
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern two-storey grey house exterior in Los Angeles with mixed siding and a flat roof.

Takoma Park MD General Contractor: Added Dimensions Photo: Julia Heine / McInturff Architects
Photo of a modern three-storey black exterior in DC Metro.

Modern patio in Minneapolis with concrete slab and no cover.

Design ideas for a modern patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature.

Modern backyard garden in Melbourne.

Russelll Abraham
Photo of a large modern backyard rectangular lap pool in San Francisco with tile.

Photos: Alan DeSisto
Inspiration for a modern one-storey exterior in Los Angeles.

Inspiration for a large modern backyard rectangular lap pool in Barcelona with concrete slab.

Our Houston landscaping team was recently honored to collaborate with renowned architectural firm Murphy Mears. Murphy Mears builds superb custom homes throughout the country. A recent project for a Houston resident by the name of Borow involved a custom home that featured an efficient, elegant, and eclectic modern architectural design. Ms. Borow is very environmentally conscious and asked that we follow some very strict principles of conservation when developing her landscaping design plan. In many ways you could say this Houston landscaping project was green on both an aesthetic level and a functional level. We selected affordable ground cover that spread very quickly to provide a year round green color scheme that reflected much of the contemporary artwork within the interior of the home. Environmentally speaking, our project was also green in the sense that it focused on very primitive drought resistant plant species and tree preservation strategies. The resulting yard design ultimately functioned as an aesthetic mirror to the abstract forms that the owner prefers in wall art. One of the more notable things we did in this Houston landscaping project was to build the homeowner a gravel patio near the front entrance to the home. The homeowner specifically requested that we disconnect the irrigation system that we had installed in the yard because she wanted natural irrigation and drainage only. The gravel served this wish superbly. Being a natural drain in its own respect, it provided a permeable surface that allowed rainwater to soak through without collecting on the surface. More importantly, the gravel was the only material that could be laid down near the roots of the magnificent trees in Ms. Borow’s yard. Any type of stone, concrete, or brick that is used in more typical Houston landscaping plans would have been out of the question. A patio made from these materials would have either required cutting into tree roots, or it would have impeded their future growth. The specific species chosen for ground cover also bear noting. The two primary plants used were jasmine and iris. Monkey grass was also used to a small extent as a border around the edge of the house. Irises were planted in front of the house, and the jasmine was planted beneath the trees. Both are very fast growing, drought resistant species that require very little watering. However, they do require routine pruning, which Ms. Borow said she had no problem investing in. Such lawn alternatives are frequently used in Houston landscaping projects that for one reason or the other require something other than a standard planting of carpet grass. In this case, the motivation had nothing to do with finances, but rather a conscientious effort on Ms. Borow’s part to practice water conservation and tree preservation. Other hardscapes were then introduced into this green design to better support the home architecture. A stepping stone walkway was built using plain concrete pads that are very simple and modern in their aesthetic. These lead up to the front stair case with four inch steps that Murphy Mears designed for maximum ergonomics and comfort. There were a few softscape elements that we added to complete the Houston landscaping design. A planting of River Birch trees was introduced near the side of the home. River Birch trees are very attractive, light green trees that do not grow that tall. This eliminates any possible conflict between the tree roots and the home foundation. Murphy Mears also built a very elegant fence that transitioned the geometry of the house down to the city sidewalk. The fence sharply parallels the linear movement of the house. We introduced some climbing vines to help soften the fence and to harmonize its aesthetic with that of the trees, ground cover, and grass along the sidewalk.

Side view from southwest. John Clemmer Photography
Design ideas for a modern shed and granny flat in Atlanta.

Paul Warchol
Inspiration for a modern three-storey exterior in Seattle.

Location: Austin, Texas, United States 5 star green rated home through Austin's prestigious Green Builder Program. The house has solar panels, rainwater collection and an electric car charging station. The pool is in the front of the house inside an entry courtyard.

Girasole Sonoma
Design ideas for a modern pool in San Francisco with decking and a pool house.

Photography: © ShadesOfGreen
Photo of a modern pool in San Francisco with decking.

Inspiration for a large modern two-storey white exterior in Austin with wood siding and a flat roof.

Photo of a modern exterior in Los Angeles with wood siding.

This modern lake house is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The residence overlooks a mountain lake with expansive mountain views beyond. The design ties the home to its surroundings and enhances the ability to experience both home and nature together. The entry level serves as the primary living space and is situated into three groupings; the Great Room, the Guest Suite and the Master Suite. A glass connector links the Master Suite, providing privacy and the opportunity for terrace and garden areas. Won a 2013 AIANC Design Award. Featured in the Austrian magazine, More Than Design. Featured in Carolina Home and Garden, Summer 2015.

Modern side yard garden in DC Metro.