Custom fence with high privacy walls, and built in planters.
This is an example of a large contemporary backyard patio in San Francisco with a container garden, concrete slab and no cover.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard patio in Little Rock with a container garden, concrete slab and no cover.

Design ideas for a mid-sized mediterranean backyard patio in San Francisco with a container garden, concrete slab and a pergola.

Asier Rua
This is an example of a mediterranean side yard patio in Other with a container garden, concrete slab and a pergola.

Acceso al patio de la vivienda. La iluminación rasante invita a conocer el resto del proyecto.
Small contemporary backyard patio in Other with a container garden, concrete slab and a roof extension.

When this homeowner’s neighbor removed two, two- story-high Ficus trees, her side-yard became baron and sunbaked. Concrete covers virtually the whole area from the house to the property line, but because the side-yard has a lot of foot traffic and serves as a sitting area to the basement apartment, the owner did not want to remove any of the concrete. The solution was to put up fencing to block the view of the neighbor’s house, then upcycle wine barrels and 55-gallon drums into huge planters. The drums are large enough to accommodate a full-sized tree and provide the added advantage of giving height to smaller trees to provide further screening of the neighbor’s house. Everything was painted in bright colors to give the space a cheery Caribbean feel. The neighbor’s tree removal ended up as a blessing in disguise, because what had been a drab trough-way was transformed into a happy patio.

olivier, sauge, cornus alba, paillage galets marbre blanc, claustra persienne en alu credit photos @boigontier
Small contemporary patio in Marseille with a container garden and concrete slab.

Playful accents with a dart board and bright cherry red accent table. Patterned pillows from Dyphor Brooklyn and a Coyuchi blanket make this space lounge worthy!

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary courtyard patio in Bengaluru with a container garden and concrete slab.

Asian style counter display, Jerry Pavia photographer
This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean courtyard patio in San Diego with a container garden, no cover and concrete slab.

Every home improvement project can feel like going into battle, but the sweet taste of victory is enough to make it worthwhile. If you ever feel intimidated by homes and gardens in magazines, don’t fret – you can turn your home into a beautiful beacon with easy curb appeal updates! Kevin and Annette Klingel are some of our favorite weekend warriors, and their latest project proves that anything is possible when it comes to dressing up your front garden. The Klingels recently gave their home and front garden a major renovation and entered their photos in the Window Box Contest. When we saw the gorgeous before and after pictures, we knew we had to get the inside scoop on their process and uncover their best curb appeal ideas. Curb Appeal – Before and After Before the renovation, the Klingels had a charming South Bend, Indiana rambler that was tidy and traditional, if a little unassuming. Deciding it was time for a much-needed update, the Klingels replaced their old green roof with a black barrel roof to match the style of their home. They also made a needed replacement and changed out the sidewalk and front stoop to a new version in classic black. After those dramatic changes, the Klingels just couldn’t stop! Loving the contrast between the new black roof and stoop and their cream house, they painted their shutters black. And here’s where we come in – Annette wanted to incorporate her love of flowers into the new home design and found the perfect planters and window boxes to match the shutters. They purchased ten black window boxes in a classic and chic design to put around their outside windows. The Klingels also used tall black planters around the entrance to the house. The window boxes and planters each received the same plant treatment – red, yellow, and orange impatiens with flowing ferns for a bright punch of color. Paired with hanging baskets and a few other accents, the Klingels house is now a masterpiece. From Drab to Fab The Klingels love their warm and inviting new front entrance, and the neighbors do too. Instead of getting overlooked, their house now stands out and is the star of their busy street, where it is seen by lots of people everyday. They have received tons of compliments about their new look – a crisp and clean front garden that stays true to the style of the home and neighborhood. The Klingels’ curb appeal update wasn’t without its challenges, but the end product is amazing, and as Annette says, definitely worth the time. The Klingels recommend starting with the necessary replacements and finding beautiful matching pieces to add curb appeal. With a little patience, elbow grease, and the help of a great garden supply store like Hooks & Lattice, you too can have the home of your dreams. Photos: Kevin & Annette Klingel

Fall and Summer photographs of containers designed for a longtime client.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard patio in Seattle with a container garden, concrete slab and no cover.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard patio in New York with a container garden, concrete slab and no cover.

This spacious, multi-level backyard in San Luis Obispo, CA, once completely underutilized and overtaken by weeds, was converted into the ultimate outdoor entertainment space with a custom pool and spa as the centerpiece. A cabana with a built-in storage bench, outdoor TV and wet bar provide a protected place to chill during hot pool days, and a screened outdoor shower nearby is perfect for rinsing off after a dip. A hammock attached to the master deck and the adjacent pool deck are ideal for relaxing and soaking up some rays. The stone veneer-faced water feature wall acts as a backdrop for the pool area, and transitions into a retaining wall dividing the upper and lower levels. An outdoor sectional surrounds a gas fire bowl to create a cozy spot to entertain in the evenings, with string lights overhead for ambiance. A Belgard paver patio connects the lounge area to the outdoor kitchen with a Bull gas grill and cabinetry, polished concrete counter tops, and a wood bar top with seating. The outdoor kitchen is tucked in next to the main deck, one of the only existing elements that remain from the previous space, which now functions as an outdoor dining area overlooking the entire yard. Finishing touches included low-voltage LED landscape lighting, pea gravel mulch, and lush planting areas and outdoor decor.

This new shady, relaxing covered porch becomes an outdoor room for entertaining friends and family. The existing materials like shingles were removed and reworked to tie in the new structure seamlessly. New gutters and shingles finish off the new covered porch. Sign of a good addition project: it blends right in!

Design ideas for a mid-sized mediterranean backyard patio in San Luis Obispo with a container garden, concrete slab and a roof extension.

Benjamin Harcom Photography
Photo of a mid-sized country backyard patio in London with a container garden, concrete slab and a pergola.

Design ideas for a small eclectic backyard patio in Los Angeles with a container garden, concrete slab and an awning.

After completing an interior remodel for this mid-century home in the South Salem hills, we revived the old, rundown backyard and transformed it into an outdoor living room that reflects the openness of the new interior living space. We tied the outside and inside together to create a cohesive connection between the two. The yard was spread out with multiple elevations and tiers, throughout which we used to create “outdoor rooms” with separate seating, eating and gardening areas that flowed seamlessly from one to another. We installed a fire pit in the seating area; built-in pizza oven, wok and bar-b-que in the outdoor kitchen; and a soaking tub on the lower deck. The concrete dining table doubled as a ping-pong table and required a boom truck to lift the pieces over the house and into the backyard. The result is an outdoor sanctuary the homeowners can effortlessly enjoy year-round.