This is an example of a mid-sized modern backyard xeriscape in Seattle with gravel.

John Beaudry
This is an example of a large mediterranean side yard partial sun xeriscape for summer in San Diego with a garden path and gravel.

Modern Landscape

This is an example of a small modern backyard shaded xeriscape for spring in Austin with gravel.

p House

User

Inspiration for an expansive modern backyard patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature, gravel and a roof extension.

Water Rill Garden, East Riding

Lizzie Tulip Garden Design

A contemporary water rill garden, calm, peaceful and light, with crisp diamond cut sandstone paving, rendered planters, contrasting gravel which glitters in the sun, flanked by Beech and Hornbeam hedging. The gardens surround an 18th Century farmhouse, open to the public between April and September each year. For more information please visit stillingfleetlodgenurseries.co.uk

Vista Residence

Shapiro Didway

Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard garden in Portland with gravel.

San Juan Island Residence | 13

Broadhurst + Associates

The Upper Shade Garden The small enclosed Shade garden occupies the site of the former owners’ “kitchen” garden. It was here, protected from the deer by rock and wire fencing, that the two elderly ladies grew vegetables and flowers for the house.

Rowayton Meditation Garden

Northeast Horticultural

Owen McLaughlin
Photo of a large asian backyard partial sun formal garden in New York with a garden path and gravel.

Modern Landscaping

Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design

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.

Gravel Paths

Island Gardens Company

Traditional garden in Seattle with gravel.

Stunning Contemporary

Knight Architects LLC

Renovation of a ranch with a great room and kitchen opening up to new conrete terrace with built in fireplace, grill and planter.Pete Weigley
This is an example of a contemporary backyard patio in New York with no cover and gravel.

Kentfield Artist's Garden

Avant Garden

Hog wire fence surrounding dog run with dog house. photo by Galen Fultz
Traditional sloped shaded garden in San Francisco with gravel.

Eclectic Landscape

Arterra Landscape Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard garden in San Francisco with a vegetable garden and gravel.

Grace Design Associates

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Back from the ashes!! Burned in the Tea Fire. Lovely Mediterranean Garden. * Builder of the Year: Best Landscape and Hardscape for Santa Barbara Contractors Association

Russian River Studio

Cathy Schwabe Architecture

South view from lower terrace. Cathy Schwabe Architecture. Photograph by David Wakely
Inspiration for a contemporary sloped garden in San Francisco with gravel.

Spiritual Garden

Daryl Toby - AguaFina Gardens International

Inspiration for a mid-sized country backyard garden in Detroit with gravel.

Country Garden Wiltshire

Iron Butterfly Design

Woodland planting and boulder
Design ideas for a large country backyard garden in Other with with path and gravel.

Contemporary Townhouse Garden

Plantology Ltd

Contemporary townhouse wildlife garden, with meandering gravel paths through dynamic herbaceous planting with corten water features.
Mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun formal garden in West Midlands with with flowerbed and river rock.

Kenilworth Natural Garden

Hart Garden Design

Front gardens can often be a missed opportunity - with a bit of thought they can become places that welcome you home and provide valuable space for nature. In this Kenilworth garden, the old broken driveway was replaced with gravel to improve appearance and drainage. By removing a section of the lawn, a curved pathway to the front door was installed leaving space for a new planting bed. A water bowl has been added and a surrounding section of lawn is allowed to grow long in the summer months to further attract wildlife. The garden is now a very private space, filled with birds using the hedging to nest and shelter.

Bighorn Palm Desert luxury home modern entrance landscape design

Whipple Russell Architects

Bighorn Palm Desert luxury home modern entrance landscape design. Photo by William MacCollum.
Design ideas for a large modern front yard full sun formal garden in Los Angeles with with pond, gravel and a wood fence.

Outdoor Design Ideas with Gravel and River Rock

Australian and New Zealand outdoor living is hard to rival – the warm, temperate climate encourages the year-round enjoyment of backyards, courtyards, patios, verandahs and balconies. These alfresco areas, sometimes referred to as outdoor rooms, are so ubiquitous with the Australian and New Zealand lifestyles that they are now being treated the same way as any other room in the house in terms of architecture and landscape design. Modern backyards and gardens are now extensions to the home. Even cooking is moving outside with many Australians and New Zealanders including outdoor kitchens in their home designs. Unlike the rest of your home, however, a backyard, patio or verandah needs regular attention, to ensure it doesn’t become overgrown with plants, or look drab when the weather turns. But clever decisions can reduce the level of maintenance needed to keep your alfresco areas and outdoor furniture looking fresh and neat. Browse the photos on Houzz for landscape architecture ideas, and engage with the outdoor specialists of your favourite picks, so you can make the most of your home’s outdoor living spaces.

How do I decide on my landscape design?

Before you dive head first into planning your outdoor areas, consider the site in which your home sits. Understanding your soil type, topography and climate will ensure you make the most of your site. Plants, for example, should grow comfortably in the climate and soil conditions, and complement the existing landscape. Next, take into account how you will use your outdoor areas and how much maintenance you can sustain. More hardscape – paths, walls, steps and decks – generally means easier upkeep. If you have children, you will want to divide your backyard into areas: you could opt for an entryway, entertaining area and play area. A sheltered area is usually a must, too, whether in the form of a pergola, awning or arbour. How much you entertain may dictate whether you want to include an outdoor kitchen, or even an outdoor bar. Outdoor specialists – landscape architects, landscape designers and garden designers – will be able to take your outdoor areas to the next level. Just browse Houzz professionals for a full list of experts in your area.

How do I create an outdoor room?

Outdoor rooms take the comfort of the indoors outside. No longer just a covered area in the backyard, outdoor rooms have a visible connection to the spaces within the home. Laser-cut screens could create a sense of enclosure for a modern veranda. Or, a patio could be an extension of your living room, with leather or upholstered chairs substituted with outdoor-suited materials. Even the smallest of spaces can be transformed into outdoor rooms. An inner-city balcony, for example, could squeeze in a couple of chairs, a drinks table and a stylish shelving unit. Outdoor kitchens are one of the most popular types of outdoor rooms in Australia and New Zealand. They, too, can come in many forms, however many outdoor kitchens like to spill out from the interior. Those that stand their own often have a built-in barbecue, bar fridge, built-in sink and plenty of storage. A wood-fired pizza oven is just the cherry on top!

How can I get the most out of my front yard?

Your front yard doesn’t have to act purely as a transitional zone. A front fence can create privacy from a busy road and, in turn, open up the option of having a small courtyard in which you can entertain or relax in. Not having a fence, on the other hand, can make your front yard appear bigger, and will show off the architecture of your home. If this is the case, you may want to create a structural feature out of something like your letterbox. Pathways should be easy to navigate, well-lit and obstacle-free. Add more functionality to your front yard with a bench seat or herb garden; or keep your focus on creating a welcoming entry with a water feature, sculpture or garden art.

What small backyard ideas will maximise my space?

Small backyard ideas are plentiful on Houzz. You’ll notice terracing is popular in small backyards as it adds dimension and visually expands a small plot into distinct, separate spaces. Consider using large pots to break up the space, creating different points of interest, too. Next, think vertically. Tall plants are a great way to add height to a small backyard, or consider using a trellis, arbour or pergola to draw the eye up. Other small backyard ideas include complementing your interior with the same colours and style to make it feel more like its own living room; installing smart lighting that creates a backdrop or gently illuminates the area; and creating a focal point to distract the eye from the limited square meterage.

What retaining wall options are available?

A retaining wall isn’t just functional, but can add aesthetic value to your outdoor areas, too. Which retaining wall designs are best suited to you will depend of your budget, the incline of your slope, local regulations and the aesthetic you want to achieve. Timber sleeper retaining walls are the most common retaining wall, because they are relatively affordable; however, they do have limited longevity. If life expectancy is an issue, consider concrete sleepers, or clad the timer slats in Corten steel panels. A boulder rock bank is the most cost-effective type of retaining wall, and with the inclusion of plants, is often the most natural looking, too. Corton steel blades or rendered masonry walls can retain a small dip in your landscape and make an eye-catching feature, while masonry walls and drystone walls are the most expensive options, but do tend to look the best.