Hardscaping
good ideas from the Chelsea Flower Show: 1) curving, diagonally-laid brick walkway. 2) chunky, sculptural cement wall emerges from plantings. 3) black steppe water feature. Not so good: golf putting green swath plopped between walkway and steppe water feature cheesifies two elegant features, fails to invite waterside lounging, should be replaced with low, mounded flora or rock garden
Could reinterpret this blackened japanstyle fence for northern climate with blackened wood middle rail, & blackend or golden-stained vertical boards. Hang or slot *replaceable/removable* bamboo panels along top half, &/or plant trellis panels (eg. along bottom half). For economy: 1) Lay out posts in polyhedral formation so no curved wood is required. 2) Small tile roof should be omitted, leaving 1-2' notched posts to protrude up from fence, support string garden lights or solar lanterns. This fence would look great with brass or golden wood fixtures.
bluestone path embedded in gravel mix
pleasant stone and wood material mix across layers
Lovely curving metal staircase could descend from upper deck
low, stacked rock wall planting beds edge curved path. "gravel" path is chip seal applied to asphalt.
Cor-ten retaining wall for raised beds, or layering
green roof, pergola for grapes, beamed wood soffits
elegant black fencing
The green layers, including leggy, flower-topped grass, are an important screen for the industrial corrugated metal fence
zipline from the upper back deck down to the garden
skinny pool 30' x 5' . Would a skinny pool be possible as a deep plunge pool?
good yellow-gray walkway color and pattern
traditional japonaise gateway rendered in dark-stained wood, features superficial wood gridwork
fencing style. Short fences don't work in N America, though.
minimalist landscaping, but the green chairs and yard-spanning lighting are effective
layered adobe-style planter fence
More patio and less garden than I'd like, but quite nice materials.
This is a prize-winning, maximalist landscaping ideal.
These trellises are painted an ugly (and soon to be dingy) colonial white, but the good idea behind high trellis screens atop the fence is to block out alley wire infrastructure views, while preserving light and breezes in a small yard. These benefits could be accomplished with a high black or stained-wood trellis screen.
open nook is very gracious with upholstered U-shaped seating and large, perforated metal ball lamp over table, saltillos. Ceiling slope & planted, open sides permit lower, cozy ceiling
seating & storage wall
Fence w breeze topper. Lots of built structure holds the deer, Sasquatch at bay.
4 lanterns dangling from the shallow corner pergola make the scene less spare. I'd like tighter slats across that corner, though. Also: a concrete-block raised garden bed wall can be sided with wood, if it's designed with brackets to hold the lumber horizontally. You'd get the durability of the concrete blocks, with the aesthetics of wood, plus EZ replacement when the wood rots.
inviting modern hot tub sunk into limestone patio with corner fire island. The fire island is too decorative, would be more inviting if lower and conducive to conversation.
all class.
backyard plunge pool, in Tahoe Blue plaster
Ideal nook constructed with modern slats and view windows over geometric, large-format cement tiles with pebbled seams. Tiered ceiling.
slim-slat high screen
I would prefer a higher roof
cozy and pleasant
curved but well-defined brick paths provide highly-functional access to veggie beds.
taller screening/climbing panels and planter boxes in front of fence
6' high fence, with 9-12' posts allow you to add a screen topper
mixed materials, consistent color palette in this modern design. While aesthetic, blue stone field seems useless, should be reduced to a swath framing tree patches.
modern sculpted-natural mix
This plunge pool is pretty awesome, but a little too forbidding. Vines trailing down the steep wall would be better.
charming
add curves to a narrow lot
Galvanized metal feed troughs for raised beds.
for a narrow lot: low, curving, stone-rimmed path treatment, framed by layers of plants.
Outdoors, low-pressure sodium lights, minimal and pointed downward, are a better choice for creating comfortable spaces for people, birds and other animals, and avoiding light pollution.
corrugated metal fence abutting eastern neighbor's house. $156 for 48"x72"hot rolled weathering steel at Metal Supermarket.
I don't love the outdoors furniture, but the intermittent black fences and sitting/raised bed masonry I do.
Q