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.

The patio was separated from the vehicular area by a living fence to provide some privacy while allowing for air and light to penetrate. All the plants are native and provide year round interest and a verdant feel to the space.

This garden design in Castleknock was transformed from the typical dull garden, that comes with all new builds in housing estates these days, into a contemporary oasis. Our client wanted to enjoy her garden from morning sunrise right through to sunset, so we designed two patios, positioned to get the full benefit of the sun throughout the day. Like most new builds in housing estates, the garden and kitchen of the house are quite overlooked from the terrace of houses to the rear. For more privacy we incorporated a ‘Hedge in the Sky’ of evergreen Espalier Elaeagnus. We also made sure that there were generous planting areas left along all borders and that the lawn was framed with porcelain strips, for effortless lawn maintenance. Stepping stone pavers create an elegant design element in the small garden, guiding the way to the shed.

This small, north-east facing garden, measuring around 100 m2, was in need of a complete transformation to bring it into line with the owner's interior style and the desire for an outdoor room experience. A series of bi-folding doors led out to a relatively small patio and raised lawn area. The objective was to create a design that would maximise the space, making it feel much larger and provide usable areas that the owners could enjoy throughout the day as the sun moves around the garden. An asymmetrical design with different focal points and material contrasts was deployed to achieve the impression of a larger, yet still harmonious, space. The overall garden style was Japanese-inspired with pared back hard landscaping materials and plants with interesting foliage and texture, such as Acers, Prunus serrula cherry tree, cloud pruned Ilex crenata, clumping bamboo and Japanese grasses featuring throughout the garden's wide borders. A new lower terrace was extended across the full width of the garden to allow the space to be fully used for morning coffee and afternoon dining. Porcelain tiles with an aged wood effect were used to clad a new retaining wall and step risers, with limestone-effect porcelain tiles used for the lower terrace. New steps were designed to create an attractive transition from the lower to the upper level where the previous lawn was completely removed in favour of a second terrace using the same low-maintenance wood effect porcelain tiles. A raised bed constructed in black timber sleepers was installed to deal with ground level changes at the upper level, while at the lower level another raised bed provides an attractive retaining edge backfilled with bamboo. New fencing was installed and painted black, a nod to the Japanese shou sugi ban method of charring wood to maintain it. Finally, a combination of carefully chosen outdoor furniture, garden statuary and bespoke planters complete the look. Discrete garden lighting set into the steps, retaining wall and house walls create a soft ambient lighting in which to sit and enjoy the garden after dark.

Photo of a small beach style front yard garden in Detroit.

Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard partial sun garden in Other with gravel.

An inner city oasis with enchanting planting using a tapestry of textures, shades of green and architectural forms to evoke the tropics of Australia. Sensations of mystery inspire a reason to journey through the space to a raised deck where the family can enjoy the last of the evening sun.

Inspiration for a small scandinavian backyard shaded garden for spring in Other with with privacy feature, natural stone pavers and a stone fence.

AFTER
Inspiration for a small transitional backyard formal garden in Sacramento with with path.

El jardín después de la reforma.
Photo of a small modern backyard shaded garden in Madrid.

Vegepods and a climbing trellis planted with cucumbers and Passion fruit provide a place for a vegetable garden.
Small eclectic front yard full sun xeriscape in Los Angeles with natural stone pavers and a stone fence for spring.

Beautiful stone path leading to the exterior service area.
Small modern side yard shaded xeriscape in Christchurch with with path, river rock and a wood fence for winter.

One of the small fountainscapes we offer.
Photo of a small tropical backyard full sun garden in San Diego with a water feature and brick pavers.

El jardín después de la reforma.
Small modern backyard shaded garden in Madrid.

3D rendering for a landscape design project in Claremont, CA.
Photo of a small mediterranean front yard partial sun xeriscape for spring in Los Angeles with a fire feature, natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

This is an example of a small contemporary side yard partial sun garden for spring in Boston with with rock feature and river rock.

Repeated use of Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum', Stachys byzantina and Rosmarinus officinalis
Small country backyard partial sun xeriscape in London with with privacy feature and natural stone pavers for summer.

Red jar fountain with stones, seating, decomposed granite and California native plantings.
Photo of a small arts and crafts front yard full sun xeriscape for spring in Los Angeles with decomposed granite.

In this urban context, we were tasked with finding a low-maintenance landscape solution for our client who travels extensively for work. Our award-winning design created a new seating area centered around a fire pit with bench seating and built-in LED lights to create a destination in the landscape. Our design incorporated low-maintenance materials and hearty plantings to create a serene escape from the city that requires very little upkeep. Large planters display seasonal annuals and frame the raised deck area.