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Contemporary Garden Ideas and Designs

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West Coast English Retreat
West Coast English Retreat
Tierra Madre Fine GardensTierra Madre Fine Gardens
Inspiration for a small contemporary back partial sun garden in Other with a flowerbed and natural stone paving.
Townhouse garden
Townhouse garden
Neil Jones DesignNeil Jones Design
Using a refined palette of quality materials set within a striking and elegant design, the space provides a restful and sophisticated urban garden for a professional couple to be enjoyed both in the daytime and after dark. The use of corten is complimented by the bold treatment of black in the decking, bespoke screen and pergola.
Modern Oasis
Modern Oasis
Mom's Design BuildMom's Design Build
With an existing pool and retaining walls, we took this space and made it more modern offering many various spaces for lounging, enjoying the fire, listening to the water feature and an upper synthetic turf area for playing games. It is complete with bluestone pavers, a modern water feature and reflecting pool, a raised ipe deck, synthetic turf, glass railings, a modern, gas fire bowl and a stunning cedar privacy wall!
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Cross Country Greenhouses
Cross Country Greenhouses
BC Greenhouse Builders LtdBC Greenhouse Builders Ltd
Our Cross Country Cape Cod 12x16 Double Glass greenhouse. Raised on a 24" rock wall, this beautifully appointed greenhouse is designed with automatic roof vents, support truss system and commercial storefront door.
View to house
View to house
Natasha Nuttall Garden DesignNatasha Nuttall Garden Design
An urban oasis in East London. This space has been transformed into a lush garden perfect for indoor-outdoor living. This garden has been designed so that it is divided into 3 distinct areas, each surrounded by lush. abundant planting. closest to the house a dining patio with a large built in parasol for sunny and slightly rainy days, a second patio area with sofa and chairs offers a great space for coffee, working and drinks near the outdoor kitchen and BBQ area. The substantial built in benches at the rear of the garden offers a wonderful space for relaxing and entertaining with dappled shade from the overhead pergola and plants in summer and warmth of the fire pit on colder nights.
Floating Bench garden
Floating Bench garden
Living Colour GardensLiving Colour Gardens
This is an example of a small contemporary back full sun garden for summer in London with natural stone paving and a potted garden.
Pathways, Patios & Stonework
Pathways, Patios & Stonework
Green EleganceGreen Elegance
Medium sized contemporary side partial sun garden in Dallas with a garden path and natural stone paving.
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Fulham Garden
Fulham Garden
Tom Howard Garden Design and LandscapingTom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back full sun garden fence in London with natural stone paving.
Beach Contemporary
Beach Contemporary
Living Gardens Landscape DesignLiving Gardens Landscape Design
Succulent wall
Small contemporary back garden in Orange County with a living wall.
Mountain View Contemporary
Mountain View Contemporary
Skyline design studioSkyline design studio
Inspiration for a contemporary side garden in San Francisco.
An East Bay Garden
An East Bay Garden
Simmonds & Associates, Inc.Simmonds & Associates, Inc.
This property has a wonderful juxtaposition of modern and traditional elements, which are unified by a natural planting scheme. Although the house is traditional, the client desired some contemporary elements, enabling us to introduce rusted steel fences and arbors, black granite for the barbeque counter, and black African slate for the main terrace. An existing brick retaining wall was saved and forms the backdrop for a long fountain with two stone water sources. Almost an acre in size, the property has several destinations. A winding set of steps takes the visitor up the hill to a redwood hot tub, set in a deck amongst walls and stone pillars, overlooking the property. Another winding path takes the visitor to the arbor at the end of the property, furnished with Emu chaises, with relaxing views back to the house, and easy access to the adjacent vegetable garden. Photos: Simmonds & Associates, Inc.
Shoreline Contemporary
Shoreline Contemporary
RW Anderson HomesRW Anderson Homes
The setting of this backyard is so natural. Each view and path beckons you further in.
This is an example of a contemporary garden in Seattle.
Contemporary Townhouse Garden
Contemporary Townhouse Garden
Plantology LtdPlantology Ltd
Contemporary townhouse wildlife garden, with meandering gravel paths through dynamic herbaceous planting with corten water features.
Medium sized contemporary back formal full sun garden in West Midlands with a flowerbed and decorative stones.
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Decking
Decking
Natasha Nuttall Garden DesignNatasha Nuttall Garden Design
An urban oasis in East London. This space has been transformed into a lush garden perfect for indoor-outdoor living. This garden has been designed so that it is divided into 3 distinct areas, each surrounded by lush. abundant planting. closest to the house a dining patio with a large built in parasol for sunny and slightly rainy days, a second patio area with sofa and chairs offers a great space for coffee, working and drinks near the outdoor kitchen and BBQ area. The substantial built in benches at the rear of the garden offers a wonderful space for relaxing and entertaining with dappled shade from the overhead pergola and plants in summer and warmth of the fire pit on colder nights.
The Entertaining Terrace
The Entertaining Terrace
Simon Orchard Garden DesignSimon Orchard Garden Design
Design ideas for a contemporary garden in Hampshire.
A Zen Space
A Zen Space
Georgia Lindsay Garden DesignGeorgia Lindsay Garden Design
Basalt water feature rippling.
Design ideas for a contemporary garden in London.
English Modernist in Santa Monica
English Modernist in Santa Monica
Bosler Earth DesignBosler Earth Design
Medium sized contemporary back xeriscape garden in Los Angeles with decomposed granite.

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.
Woodland Garden- Los Feliz
Woodland Garden- Los Feliz
Ketti Kupper Conscious Life DesignKetti Kupper Conscious Life Design
Decomposed Granite path between Giant Sequoias leads to repurposed, reshaped and stained rear concrete slab. Micro-climate appropriate plants complete the picture. Photo by Ketti Kupper.
Fremont Firepit
Fremont Firepit
Mark S. Garff, Landscape ArchitectMark S. Garff, Landscape Architect
In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth. Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography
Haus WH
Haus WH
Ferreira | Verfürth ArchitektenFerreira | Verfürth Architekten
Fotos: Julia Vogel, Köln
This is an example of a large contemporary side partial sun garden for summer in Dusseldorf with a potted garden and concrete paving.
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