This is an example of a small contemporary backyard patio in Other with gravel and a pergola.

The goal of this landscape design and build project was to create a simple patio using peastone with a granite cobble edging. The patio sits adjacent to the residence and is bordered by lawn, vegetable garden beds, and a cairn rock water feature. Designed and built by Skyline Landscapes, LLC.

This is an example of a small courtyard patio in Other with gravel.

Photo of a small traditional backyard patio in Seattle with gravel and no cover.

Modern glass house set in the landscape evokes a midcentury vibe. A modern gas fireplace divides the living area with a polished concrete floor from the greenhouse with a gravel floor. The frame is painted steel with aluminum sliding glass door. The front features a green roof with native grasses and the rear is covered with a glass roof. Photo by: Peter Vanderwarker Photography

This shade arbor, located in The Woodlands, TX north of Houston, spans the entire length of the back yard. It combines a number of elements with custom structures that were constructed to emulate specific aspects of a Zen garden. The homeowner wanted a low-maintenance garden whose beauty could withstand the tough seasonal weather that strikes the area at various times of the year. He also desired a mood-altering aesthetic that would relax the senses and calm the mind. Most importantly, he wanted this meditative environment completely shielded from the outside world so he could find serenity in total privacy. The most unique design element in this entire project is the roof of the shade arbor itself. It features a “negative space” leaf pattern that was designed in a software suite and cut out of the metal with a water jet cutter. Each form in the pattern is loosely suggestive of either a leaf, or a cluster of leaves. These small, negative spaces cut from the metal are the source of the structure’ powerful visual and emotional impact. During the day, sunlight shines down and highlights columns, furniture, plantings, and gravel with a blend of dappling and shade that make you feel like you are sitting under the branches of a tree. At night, the effects are even more brilliant. Skillfully concealed lights mounted on the trusses reflect off the steel in places, while in other places they penetrate the negative spaces, cascading brilliant patterns of ambient light down on vegetation, hardscape, and water alike. The shade arbor shelters two gravel patios that are almost identical in space. The patio closest to the living room features a mini outdoor dining room, replete with tables and chairs. The patio is ornamented with a blend of ornamental grass, a small human figurine sculpture, and mid-level impact ground cover. Gravel was chosen as the preferred hardscape material because of its Zen-like connotations. It is also remarkably soft to walk on, helping to set the mood for a relaxed afternoon in the dappled shade of gently filtered sunlight. The second patio, spaced 15 feet away from the first, resides adjacent to the home at the opposite end of the shade arbor. Like its twin, it is also ornamented with ground cover borders, ornamental grasses, and a large urn identical to the first. Seating here is even more private and contemplative. Instead of a table and chairs, there is a large decorative concrete bench cut in the shape of a giant four-leaf clover. Spanning the distance between these two patios, a bluestone walkway connects the two spaces. Along the way, its borders are punctuated in places by low-level ornamental grasses, a large flowering bush, another sculpture in the form of human faces, and foxtail ferns that spring up from a spread of river rock that punctuates the ends of the walkway. The meditative quality of the shade arbor is reinforced by two special features. The first of these is a disappearing fountain that flows from the top of a large vertical stone embedded like a monolith in the other edges of the river rock. The drains and pumps to this fountain are carefully concealed underneath the covering of smooth stones, and the sound of the water is only barely perceptible, as if it is trying to force you to let go of your thoughts to hear it. A large piece of core-10 steel, which is deliberately intended to rust quickly, rises up like an arced wall from behind the fountain stone. The dark color of the metal helps the casual viewer catch just a glimpse of light reflecting off the slow trickle of water that runs down the side of the stone into the river rock bed. To complete the quiet moment that the shade arbor is intended to invoke, a thick wall of cypress trees rises up on all sides of the yard, completely shutting out the disturbances of the world with a comforting wall of living greenery that comforts the thoughts and emotions.

This is an example of a small beach style backyard patio in Los Angeles with a container garden, gravel and a roof extension.

patio garden with low water design Designer and photographer Marilyn Guidroz
Inspiration for a small backyard patio in San Diego with a container garden, gravel and no cover.

Benefiting from varied stone and gravel hardscapes, this back yard is used in many ways. Transitions are marked with a change in structure of paths, walls, and features. The dining area is defined by a seat wall that ends where the fire feature area starts. Garden beds surround the space as an accent, softening the space. A rugged yet warm design for a relatively small back yard. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan

Photo: Chris Snook © 2014 Houzz
This is an example of a small scandinavian patio in London with gravel and no cover.

This riverfront property received a major facelift while keeping with the traditional style of the home. Working between an existing bulkhead and a covered patio off the back of the house, we incorporated various design elements to add plenty of "rooms" for the homeowners to entertain in. The linear pool features an elevated inset spa, with infinity edge. The pool deck, landing, and cabana floor are travertine. Brick stairs and walls match the existing brick from the property. A linear fire pit sits in a sunken gravel patio, to create a more intimate space and soften the feel of the hardscape surround. Raised planters break up space and add a bright pop of color, encouraging butterflies and birds to visit often. Photo by Josh Mauser

Design ideas for a small country backyard patio in Bridgeport with gravel, a vegetable garden and no cover.

We redesigned this walled courtyard space to reflect an updated sense of the clients' traditional aesthetic with some contemporary lines and accents. Stone planks create rhythm, draw the eye to the focal point, the fountain, and spread the eye out to make the space feel wider. Swaths of low perennials create a colorful and textural pattern while round boxwood provide structure, height and rhythm. Shrubs soften the brick wall, while espaliered magnolias frame the fountain. Tree-form hydrangeas placed in front of the magnolias will provide seasonal color. Photo taken just after installation, March, 2017 by Jay Sifford.

This is an example of a small contemporary backyard patio in London with a water feature, gravel and no cover.

GTDM Photo
Inspiration for a small transitional courtyard patio in Houston with a water feature, no cover and gravel.

A barren and underutilized concrete yard was transformed into a beautiful urban garden.
This is an example of a small transitional backyard patio in Philadelphia with a vertical garden, gravel and no cover.

Steel + Cedar arbor shades this entrance courtyard, while blooming COR-TEN planters brighten up the space.
This is an example of a small modern courtyard patio in Other with a container garden, gravel and a pergola.

patio garden with low water design Designer and photographer Marilyn Guidroz
Inspiration for a small backyard patio in San Diego with a container garden, gravel and no cover.

Small country backyard patio in Ottawa with a fire feature, gravel and no cover.