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Small Contemporary Garden Ideas and Designs

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Garden with Integral Fountain
Garden with Integral Fountain
UserUser
Sausalito Patio Remodel With Natural Stone and Built in Grill/BBQ and Fence
Sausalito Patio Remodel With Natural Stone and Built in Grill/BBQ and Fence
Dig Your Garden Landscape DesignDig Your Garden Landscape Design
The compact front landscape of this Sausaltio home underwent a major transformation. Much of the failing concrete retaining walls were removed to gain more patio space. Ledger stone veneer was installed on existing walls. A new built-in BBQ/grill with full range bluestone for counter tops, patio floor and stairs. I also designed a contemporary, stepped, horizontal redwood fence along both sides of the sloped driveway. Low water plantings including low light succulents were included in this contemporary facelift. Photos: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design
Landscaping Projects
Landscaping Projects
Gove Landscape ConstructionGove Landscape Construction
Simple water feature with plants.
Chic Boutique
Chic Boutique
UserUser
Isola Garden Design
Wrigleyville Residential Roof Deck
Wrigleyville Residential Roof Deck
Rooftopia, LLCRooftopia, LLC
After removing an old wooden deck and re-sealing the roof membrane, we installed a low maintenance porcelain paver floor on a pedestal system to increase drainage, air circulation and overall weight dispersion of the garden elements. We fabricated custom cedar planter boxes with a cedar and steel railing to add height for increased safety. As you enter the space, the focal point of the garden is a sleek, modern water feature with a pretty Mexican pebble and tigerwood base. The unique outdoor kitchen is comprised of Tigerwood, cedar and stainless hardware. Tigerwood cladding on the door of an existing stand alone grill, creates the illusion of a built in grill, with beautiful cedar countertops on either side. Landscape lighting and an irrigation system keep the garden stunning day and night. Jenn LassaJenn Lassa
Greenwich Fountain and Slate
Greenwich Fountain and Slate
CH Burnham Inc.CH Burnham Inc.
C.H. Burnham Inc. was brought in by a fellow general contractor, who after being given more work, was not given any more time to complete the project. We stepped in, created a plan to address the unique situation and got to work. Due to the location of the fountain and the neighbor wanting to preserve their fence, the forming of the fountain was a challenge. In lieu of traditional methods, we used threaded bolts to hold the forms together and braced them, not only to absorb the outward pressure on one side but to support the entire form. Designed by Siol Studios, this was not an ordinary fountain. The various design elements – from the vertical and horizontal reveals to the waterproof troughs – everything required finish carpentry precision. As you will see in the final photo, our adherence to those tolerances made this more water sculpture than fountain.
Contemporary Lake Living
Contemporary Lake Living
Embassy Landscape GroupEmbassy Landscape Group
Garden Design in Wandsworth, South West London
Garden Design in Wandsworth, South West London
Kate Eyre Garden DesignKate Eyre Garden Design
Kate Eyre Garden Design
Vegetable Gardens
Vegetable Gardens
The Ardent Gardener Landscape DesignThe Ardent Gardener Landscape Design
Just installed this week! Still needs to grow in! Custom made Corten Steel Hexagon Herb Garden beds. Raised up to waist high, can be reconfigured if desired, but loving the honeycomb effect here. Full of perennial herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme, French tarragon.
Outdoor Shower
Outdoor Shower
Construction Marketing, LLCConstruction Marketing, LLC
Ritherdon
Ritherdon
Clara BeeClara Bee
A small but effective barrel sauna overlooking the planted wall.
Typical Residential Projects
Typical Residential Projects
Richard P. Rauso, ASLA, Landscape ArchitectsRichard P. Rauso, ASLA, Landscape Architects
Richard P. Rauso, ASLA
Close up of fountain
Close up of fountain
Juli Ordower Landscape ArchitectureJuli Ordower Landscape Architecture
The bubbling fountain provides a tranquil backdrop to the shade garden.
Urban Townhome Dallas / Oak Lawn / Uptown- with 3rd Floor Terrace
Urban Townhome Dallas / Oak Lawn / Uptown- with 3rd Floor Terrace
David Rolston Landscape ArchitectsDavid Rolston Landscape Architects
AFTER - View from Second Floor Balcony Patrick L. Boyd
Weatherby Lake Residence
Weatherby Lake Residence
Embassy Landscape GroupEmbassy Landscape Group
Small garden enhanced visually with horizontal Western Red Cedar Slatted Screens
Small garden enhanced visually with horizontal Western Red Cedar Slatted Screens
Silva Timber ProductsSilva Timber Products
Western Red Cedar Slatted Screens create an architectural look that provides visually interesting shadow lines and texture within outdoor spaces. A well designed and carefully built screen can provide a wonderful focal point for an outdoor space, so choosing the correct material is paramount. No other material compares to Western Red Cedar in terms of appearance, with beautiful warm colours and tight grain patterns providing a stunning natural material. Garden Designer: Blue Tulip Garden Design Landscaper: Green Belt Landscapes
Maltese Road
Maltese Road
Aralia: Innovation in Landscape DesignAralia: Innovation in Landscape Design
An award winning Victorian garden design that featured in ITV’s ‘Britain’s best gardens’ programme. The design features Victorian paviours, a metal pergola, a slate bench and traditional raised brick beds. Unusual down-lighting and a mixture of cottage garden and architectural planting complete the design. Photography by John Glover
Young Residence
Young Residence
Urban LandscapeUrban Landscape
Jeri Koegel
Liacos Residence
Liacos Residence
eScape Landscape ArchitectureeScape Landscape Architecture
This contemporary native garden design, with a series of elements i.e. seating/water feature & screening, provided a usable, comfortable, stylish courtyard to the front yard and main entry to the house. The careful thought put into the design & detail of the cantilevered bench and custom timber work to ensure the transition from the concept design to the built outcome. Steel edging to the reflection pool to achieve a clean crisp edge through laser cut steel work. Photography Kate Brockhurst
Small Spaces
Small Spaces
Outside SpaceOutside Space
Anna Todd Photography

Small Contemporary Garden Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed contemporary garden is as important as the emphasis we place on the designs of our interiors. After all, our grounds (however modest) frame our homes and contribute to first impressions not only of our houses, but also of the households within. Options for garden designs can be as elaborate or low maintenance as your lifestyle and preferences permit – consider both your aspirations for how it should look and how much time you can invest in garden maintenance. Consulting a gardener or landscape designer will ensure you have a garden that suits your lifestyle, the local climate and soil conditions. But don’t forget that with Houzz your first stop can be collecting images of garden ideas and designs you love in order to inspire your garden plans and potentially share them with a landscape gardening professional.

How do I come up with a contemporary front garden design?

The priority for a front garden is kerb appeal. Begin by considering the area immediately around and leading up to your front door. You may want to opt for front garden designs that blend well with the style of your home – for example, abundant foliage and flowerbeds will perfectly complement a period property, whereas man-made materials, geometric shapes and contrasting textures are great ideas for a contemporary garden design. Even if your front garden is a small space, keep it tidy – if you have more space, make the most of it with garden ideas and features such as a manicured lawn, gravel driveway, water feature or garden fencing. If you don’t have the time or commitment to devote to gardening, then neatly pruned hedges, statement paving, hanging baskets, garden benches and outdoor lighting are all decorative, low maintenance garden ideas for your contemporary front garden design.

How should I design my contemporary back garden?

Back gardens typically offer more space than front garden designs and serve a more recreational purpose, so it’s important to know how you want to spend time in your garden before you design it in order to build in the features that you will enjoy. If you love relaxing in the garden and dining al fresco, think about patios, decking, garden furniture and BBQs. For the more horticulturally-inclined, incorporate flower beds, greenhouses or vegetable garden designs. Your landscape gardening professional can help you install structures such as sheds, pergolas and gazebos that complement your garden design, and artfully-placed garden ideas such as lawn edging and lighting will add definition to your chosen design.

How do I create a low maintenance garden?

The great news is, gardens aren’t exclusively for the green-fingered. Whether you’re not horticulturally-inclined or simply don’t have the time for a bit of landscape gardening, you can still have a contemporary garden design that looks the way you want by making some smart design choices. While many of us favour low maintenance gardens like urban gardens, roof terraces and patio gardens, lovers of greenery don’t need to sacrifice grass for paving slabs. Whatever you want from your garden, there are a variety of gardening solutions that can be built in to make life easier. For example, labour intensive features such as vegetable patches, greenhouses and flower beds can be optimised with an automatic irrigation system. These can be offset with fuss-free garden ideas such as hard landscaping, including gravel, paving or decking, and hard-wearing evergreens that require minimal upkeep. You might even consider replacing your garden fencing with slow growing hedging, which can be maintained less regularly than wooden fence panels. If having a lawn is important, there are different types of grasses in varying degrees of durability and maintenance. You may choose to take a more relaxed approach to your lawn – “wild” garden designs can have great charm if the grasses and flowers are chosen carefully. If you prefer a manicured lawn, it’s a good idea to invest in a “mulching” lawn mower that will recycle clippings and remove the need for cleaning up. Finally, there isn’t a more low maintenance garden lawn than artificial grass which can look highly realistic and keep your garden looking green. Garden ornaments are a great way to add interest to your low maintenance garden design – go for smart garden ideas such as solar garden lights which are both decorative and functional. Find some of the most popular design ideas on Houzz.
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