Small Garden Ideas and Designs
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Fi Boyle Garden DesignUpper rear terrace is framed by a low stone wall. Borders set into the paving soften the hard landscaping.
Small classic side garden in Dorset.
Small classic side garden in Dorset.
Peter Reader LandscapesA close up view of the semi-formal bed.
This is an example of a small contemporary back partial sun garden in London.
This is an example of a small contemporary back partial sun garden in London.
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & DesignThis garden house was designed by owner and architect, Shirat Mavligit. The wooden section of outer wall is actually the outer section of a central volume that creates an enlarged open space bisecting the home interior. The windows create a view corridor within the home that allows visitors to see all the way through to the back yard.
Occupants of the home looking out through these windows feel as if they are sitting in the middle of a garden. This architectural theme of volume and line of site is so powerful that it became the inspiration for the modern landscape design we developed in the front, back, and side yards of the property.
We began by addressing the issue of too much open space in the front yard. It has no surrounding fence, and it faces a very busy street in Houston’s Rice Village Area. After careful study of the home façade, our team determined that the best way to set aside a large portion of private space in front of the home was to construct a landscape berm.
This land art form adds a sense of dimension and psychological boundary to the scene. It is built of core 10 steel and stands 16 inches tall. This is just high enough for guests to sit on, and it provides an ideal sunbathing area for summer days.
The sweeping contour of the berm offsets the rigid linearity of the home with a softer architectural detail. Its linear progression gives the modern landscape design a dynamic sense of movement.
Moving to the back yard, we reinforced the home’s central volume and view corridor by laying a rectilinear line of gravel parallel to an equivalent section of grass. Near the corner of the house, we created a series of gravel stepping pads that lead guests from the gravel run, through the grass, and into a vegetable garden.
The heavy use of gravel does several things. It communicates a sense of control by containing the vitality of the lawn within an inorganic, mathematically precise space. This feeling of contained life force is common in modern landscape design. This also adds the functional advantage of a low-maintenance space where only minimal lawn care is needed. Gravel also has its own unique aesthetic appeal. Its dark color compliments both the grass and the house, providing an ideal lead-in to the space of the vegetable garden.
This same rectilinear geometry was applied to the side yard, but the materials were reversed to add dramatic effect. Here, the field is gravel, and the stepping pads are made from grass. Heavy gauge steel planters were set into the gravel to house separate plantings of Zoysia. The pads run from the library to the kitchen, allowing visitors to travel between the two as if they are walking on a floor decorated with grass.
The lawn in all three yards is planted with Zoysia grass. This species of grass is frequently used in modern landscape design because it requires only moderate amounts of water to retain its exceptionally fine texture. When mowed, it presents a clean, well-manicured lawn that compliments the conservatism of the home.
THE KING'S MASONSFlagstone Front Walkway in Herringbone Pattern
Photo of a small traditional front formal partial sun garden in DC Metro with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Photo of a small traditional front formal partial sun garden in DC Metro with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Karen Rogers at KR Garden DesignWalpole Garden, Chiswick
Photography by Caroline Mardon - www.carolinemardon.com
Design ideas for a small traditional courtyard partial sun garden for spring in London with an outdoor sport court and brick paving.
Design ideas for a small traditional courtyard partial sun garden for spring in London with an outdoor sport court and brick paving.
Ross Land StudioAn unused area of lawn has been repurposed as a meditation garden. The meandering path of limestone step stones weaves through a birch grove. The matrix planting of carex grasses is interspersed with flowering natives throughout the season. Fall is spectacular with the blooming of aromatic asters.
LandArtThis garden showcases the amazing results you can achieve if you design your kitchen extension and garden together at the same time, especially if you will have large glass sliders looking at into the garden.
This garden’s transformation started as bare bones block-wall & dilapidated fence. Designed for a young family in Cabinteely. The small footprint is tasked with serving multiple roles: from kids play areas to evening entertainment space, storage shed, privacy buffer to the surrounding houses as well as being the aesthetic backdrop to a new glass-wall extension.
Bearing in mind the compact area the privacy screening is selected as slimline evergreen Espaliers along the back wall, effectively blocking out all onlooking windows to the rear. This drastically improves the privacy of not just the garden but also the client’s kitchen & family area. Living with kids through the Irish seasons means that the lawn is not just essential to keep in place for play but to also ensuring it is usable throughout the year. A space like this justifies the use of artificial lawn so come rain, hail or shine the garden is never off limits.
To achieve multiple uses within the garden we have carefully set the size of the terrace. The terrace protrudes into the lawn just enough to feel generous without compromising the overall balance. By keeping the levels of the lawn & terrace flush with one another allows them be treated as one continuous surface.
A limestone border draws the eyeline around the overall perimeter of this compact space. To ensure that the hard landscaping does not dominate we have foliage between each surface, slim flower beds in front of the shed & freestanding pots of luscious evergreens by the floor-to-ceiling windows. This ensures a lush view onto the garden throughout the year.
Magic Garden DreamsOne of the small fountainscapes we offer.
Photo of a small world-inspired back full sun garden in San Diego with a water feature and brick paving.
Photo of a small world-inspired back full sun garden in San Diego with a water feature and brick paving.
Amanda ShipmanAmanda Shipman
Small country back full sun garden for summer in Hertfordshire with a garden path and brick paving.
Small country back full sun garden for summer in Hertfordshire with a garden path and brick paving.
Nature with StyleA welcoming entry using poured in place concrete and stone with minimal planting.
Design done in conjunction with West Bay Landscape
Design ideas for a small modern front full sun garden in San Francisco with a garden path and concrete paving.
Design ideas for a small modern front full sun garden in San Francisco with a garden path and concrete paving.
Acorn Ponds & WaterfallsLandscape Water Feature Design & Installation Rochester NY Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls
Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls brought this Rochester (NY) front yard landscape to life with the installation of this stunning custom designed water feature which consists of bubbling urns, waterfalls, led lighting and beautiful aquatic plants. The sound of water running softly through this lovely water feature provides a relaxing sound that inspires relaxation which makes you want to sit down, relax, and enjoy all the simple pleasures life has to offer. Not only are water features lovely, they will make any space look more aesthetically pleasing and are the next best thing to living on a lovely lake or a sparking fish pond.
This water feature has bubbling urns which can be installed with multiple sizes in groupings or we can design & install your water feature to have only one gorgeous stand alone urn. We love installing these beautiful urns in pondless waterfalls as well as in streams and fish ponds while adding LED lighting to them. Another cool feature is the addition of FIRE to the top of our fountains which really enhances the whole garden and makes the house stand out from the rest.
The owners can sip their morning coffee on the porch and see a myriad of lovely birds and other pretty wildlife stop by for a quick sip of water. It’s a simple pleasure, but it brings a smile to the lives of our Western NY clients in Rochester & Buffalo New York (NY) and we love what we do.
Our unique water features are also easy to maintain! Homeowners worry their new custom water feature requires ample work to maintain, but they do not. Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls design experts are happy to discuss seasonal care of water features with our clients to ensure they’re being cared for properly, no matter the season.
Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls can help you design and install a beautiful water feature to add that peace and tranquility to your outdoor spaces. For large or small projects, there are always solutions to adding a water feature in your garden weather you are thinking about installing a pondless waterfall, one of a kind fish pond, custom water feature or large recreational pond. Acorn works with you from beginning to end so you can have a worry free addition to your backyard.
Barbara Samitier GardensAnna Batchelor
Design ideas for a small contemporary back xeriscape full sun garden for spring in London with a vegetable patch and natural stone paving.
Design ideas for a small contemporary back xeriscape full sun garden for spring in London with a vegetable patch and natural stone paving.
A Small Green SpacePhoto: Megan Maloy www.meganmaloy.com
Design ideas for a small modern back partial sun garden in New York with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Design ideas for a small modern back partial sun garden in New York with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Ian Moore DesignIan Moore
Inspiration for a small modern back formal partial sun garden for summer in San Francisco with gravel.
Inspiration for a small modern back formal partial sun garden for summer in San Francisco with gravel.
This is an example of a small contemporary courtyard full sun garden for summer in Los Angeles with gravel and a desert look.
The Garden BuildersPro Colour Photography
Inspiration for a small contemporary back partial sun garden for summer in London with a living wall and natural stone paving.
Inspiration for a small contemporary back partial sun garden for summer in London with a living wall and natural stone paving.
Construction Landscape, LLC.Melbourne Beach front entry driveway planting.
Inspiration for a small world-inspired front driveway garden in Orlando.
Inspiration for a small world-inspired front driveway garden in Orlando.
The Garden BuildersBen Robert - Blooming Photography
Photo of a small contemporary back garden in London.
Photo of a small contemporary back garden in London.
Small Garden Ideas and Designs
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