Houzz Logo Print

Expansive and Small Garden Design Ideas

Entertainers Delight
Entertainers Delight
Tech Scapes Australia LandscapingTech Scapes Australia Landscaping
Water feature designed for the middle of the turning circle.
Design ideas for an expansive tropical front yard garden in Sydney.
West Coast English Retreat
West Coast English Retreat
Tierra Madre Fine GardensTierra Madre Fine Gardens
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard partial sun garden in Other with with flowerbed and natural stone pavers.
Wild Wing
Wild Wing
Deep Seeded Landscape and Design, Inc.Deep Seeded Landscape and Design, Inc.
Inspiration for an expansive arts and crafts front yard full sun driveway in Denver with with rock feature and mulch.
Private Garden designed by John Davies
Private Garden designed by John Davies
CED Stone GroupCED Stone Group
Private garden designed by John Davies, using our black basalt paving, silver grey granite aggregate and cedagravel.
Design ideas for a small modern backyard garden in London with a water feature and natural stone pavers.
Mudd
Mudd
The Pond GnomeThe Pond Gnome
The new waterfall is now a place that the birds REALLY enjoy!
Photo of a small mediterranean backyard full sun garden in Phoenix with with pond.
French Country Modern
French Country Modern
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & DesignExterior Worlds Landscaping & Design
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.
Landscape
Landscape
Michael Flaugh, Landscape Architect, P.L.Michael Flaugh, Landscape Architect, P.L.
Photo of a small tropical front yard partial sun garden in Miami with a water feature and gravel.
Cottage Garden, Aptos
Cottage Garden, Aptos
Elemental Design GroupElemental Design Group
This coastal garden is a vibrant oasis of sustainable beauty. It features a welcoming wood entry deck that serves as a charming focal point and offers a seamless transition from the indoors to the outdoors. The garden showcases an array of colorful drought-tolerant perennials, thoughtfully chosen not only for their vibrant blooms but also for their ability to attract and nourish local pollinators.
Woodland Garden- Los Feliz
Woodland Garden- Los Feliz
Ketti Kupper Conscious Life DesignKetti Kupper Conscious Life Design
Decomposed Granite path between Giant Sequoias leads to repurposed, reshaped and stained rear concrete slab. Micro-climate appropriate plants complete the picture. Photo by Ketti Kupper.
Fremont Firepit
Fremont Firepit
Mark S. Garff, Landscape ArchitectMark S. Garff, Landscape Architect
In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth. Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography
Townhouse garden
Townhouse garden
Neil Jones DesignNeil Jones Design
Using a refined palette of quality materials set within a striking and elegant design, the space provides a restful and sophisticated urban garden for a professional couple to be enjoyed both in the daytime and after dark. The use of corten is complimented by the bold treatment of black in the decking, bespoke screen and pergola.
Ornamental grasses in foreground, low water plants and paths in background
Ornamental grasses in foreground, low water plants and paths in background
June Scott DesignJune Scott Design
Succulents, grasses and low-water shrubs with vivid foliage give this coastal garden a rich, textured look with minimal maintenance. Photos by Daniel Bosler
Laurelhurst Modern Garden
Laurelhurst Modern Garden
Northwest Native Landscapes LLCNorthwest Native Landscapes LLC
Dramatic plant textures, modern hardscaping and sharp angles enhanced this mid-century modern bungalow. Soft plants were chosen to contrast with the sharp angles of the pathways and hard edges of the MCM home, while providing all-season interest. Horizontal privacy screens wrap the front porch and create intimate garden spaces – some visible only from the street and some visible only from inside the home. The front yard is relatively small in size, but full of colorful texture.
Cor-Ten Cattails Sculptural Fence
Cor-Ten Cattails Sculptural Fence
Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.
Tom Crane
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary garden in Philadelphia.
Katy texas 2
Katy texas 2
Roland William LandscapesRoland William Landscapes
Design ideas for an expansive traditional front yard partial sun garden for summer in Houston with natural stone pavers.
Saratoga Extreme Backyard Make over
Saratoga Extreme Backyard Make over
Creative EnvironmentsCreative Environments
With the solar heater on the roof for the swimming pool and the outdoor fire pit, this view in the yard shows off most of the outdoor living spaces. From the cozy fire you can survey the full back yard. A glass of wine, the bocce court just to the right and the warmth of the fire in the evening time. Michael Tebb and his team put their special touch on each part of the back yard that Peter Koenig laid out in design.
Private Residence Capitola, CA
Private Residence Capitola, CA
Elemental Design GroupElemental Design Group
Discover the epitome of coastal charm with our street-side garden that harmoniously blends beauty and sustainability. Nestled near the ocean, this garden stands as a testament to nature's resilience. Against a backdrop of a striking blue painted fence that mirrors the nearby ocean, a vibrant display of drought-tolerant perennials thrives.
Fence at Suburban Oasis
Fence at Suburban Oasis
Princeton Design CollaborativePrinceton Design Collaborative
Garden allee path with trellis Photo by: Jeffrey Edward Tryon of PDC
Design ideas for a small contemporary courtyard shaded formal garden for summer in Philadelphia with gravel.
Southwest Portland 2
Southwest Portland 2
Scot RagsdaleScot Ragsdale
Small traditional backyard shaded garden in Portland.
Lounging Area by the Pool
Lounging Area by the Pool
Terra Ferma LandscapesTerra Ferma Landscapes
The clients loved the highly detailed paving and grass pattern for their pool deck area.
Expansive contemporary backyard full sun formal garden in San Francisco with natural stone pavers.

Expansive and Small Garden Design Ideas

1