Expansive Contemporary Garden Ideas and Designs

Oak Tree Setting With Hillside Views, Landscape Renovation, Northern California

APLD 2021 Silver Award Winning Landscape Design. Galvanized troughs used for vegetables in the side yard. An expansive back yard landscape with several mature oak trees and a stunning Golden Locust tree has been transformed into a welcoming outdoor retreat. The renovations include a wraparound deck, an expansive travertine natural stone patio, stairways and pathways along with concrete retaining walls and column accents with dramatic planters. The pathways meander throughout the landscape... some with travertine stepping stones and gravel and those below the majestic oaks left natural with fallen leaves. Raised vegetable beds and fruit trees occupy some of the sunniest areas of the landscape. A variety of low-water and low-maintenance plants for both sunny and shady areas include several succulents, grasses, CA natives and other site-appropriate Mediterranean plants complimented by a variety of boulders. Dramatic white pots provide architectural accents, filled with succulents and citrus trees. Design, Photos, Drawings © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Putting Green

Land & Water Design

A Backyard Resort with a freeform saltwater pool as the focal point, a spa provides a spot to relax. A large raised waterfall spills into the pool, appearing to flow from the koi pond above. We extended a streambed to flow from behind the outdoor kitchen, all the way to the patio, to spill into the koi pond. A Sports Court at one end of the yard with putting greens meander throughout the landscape and the water features. A curved outdoor kitchen with a large Viking grill with a warming drawer to the sink and outdoor refrigeration. A Pavilion with large roof and columns unite the landscape with the home while creating an outdoor living room with a stone fireplace along the back wall, while still allowing views of the yard beyond.

Lake Oswego Custom Getaway

Grove Custom Homes

Photo of an expansive contemporary back xeriscape full sun garden in Portland with a retaining wall and concrete paving.

Black Bear

Environmental Designs, Inc.

We used a combination of precise boulder setting along with engineered concrete and steel walls to retain soil and artfully define spaces. Landscape Construction: Environmental Designs, Inc.; Landscape Architecture Design: MARPA

Formal Shade Garden - Spring in South Border

The Crafted Garden

Shade perennial border in spring using spring-blooming plants that will give way to maturing summer species. Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba', Camassia, Columbine. Design, execution, photo - Susan Irving

Arrival & Entry Space

Sundance Landscaping Limited

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary front garden in Calgary with a garden path and natural stone paving.

Botanical Bayou

Eco Outdoor AUS

Foster Rd

Field Landscape Architecture

Marion Brenner
Photo of an expansive contemporary back garden in San Francisco.

New Build Lake Minnetonka, MN

yardscapes Inc.

Newly constructed contemporary home on Lake Minnetonka in Orono, MN. This beautifully crafted home featured a custom pool with a travertine stone patio and walkway. The driveway is a combination of pavers in different materials, shapes, and colors.

Garden of Splendor

flora Distinctive Landscapes

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary back xeriscape full sun garden in Denver with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a metal fence.

Elevated Sky Garden Walk

Rosemarie Allaire Lighting Design

Steve Lerum
Inspiration for an expansive contemporary sloped formal full sun garden in Los Angeles with a garden path and decking.

Cor-Ten Cattails Sculptural Fence

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

Tom Crane
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary garden in Philadelphia.

Bardessono

Blank and Cables

As part of a collaboration project, Blank and Cables worked with archetects, designers and the Bardessono Hotel and Spa to create this large stone wheels that act as a centerpiece for the courtyard. Constructed from steel, the pieces were designed to withstand the harsh California sun as well as inclement weather. Photo Credit: Jason Liske

Atherton Complex

Blue Sierra Landscape Construction

New landscape remodel, include concrete, lighting, outdoor living space and drought resistant planting.
This is an example of an expansive contemporary back xeriscape full sun garden for spring in San Francisco with a fire feature, decomposed granite and a wood fence.

Villa Rio Verde, Marbella

Estuco Interiors S.L

Gary Edwards
Expansive contemporary garden in Malaga.

Gilston Road

Bartholomew Landscaping Ltd

Our clients had a potentially fabulous garden designed by landscape architects Del Buono Gazerwitz. Unfortunately there were significant problems with water ingress into the property where the garden was located above the swimming pool and Landscape works had not been completed. Bartholomew landscaping’s team of project managers and skilled craftsmen carefully lifted all of the roof garden to enable the fibre glassing team to apply their finishes. The paving and planting was then carefully reinstated to the highest possible standard. The water feature, walls, stairs and paving to the lightwell were also totally refurbished.

Spring 2012 Installation - Contempory

McKay Landscape Lighting

Regency Sub-Division. Photos by Tom Kessler Photography.
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary driveway garden in Omaha.

St. Helena Mountain Farmhouse

James McCalligan Architect

This is an example of an expansive contemporary back garden in San Francisco with a retaining wall and concrete paving.

Succulent Garden-agaves sculpture garden Drought Tolerant Garden

Bosler Earth Design

We kept the trees on the property and replaced the lawn and all other out dated sub tropical plants with Succulents Daniel Bosler Photography
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary front xeriscape garden in Los Angeles.

Cross Country Greenhouses

BC Greenhouse Builders Ltd

This estate greenhouse has double glass that lets the light shine out through the night. Photo: Bob Matheson
This is an example of an expansive contemporary back formal partial sun raised pond for summer in Vancouver with a pond and natural stone paving.

Expansive 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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