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Lucy Willcox Garden DesignThis Courtyard was transformed from being an Astro Turf box to a useable, versatile Outdoor Room!
Small contemporary back patio in London with a bbq area, tiled flooring and a pergola.
Small contemporary back patio in London with a bbq area, tiled flooring and a pergola.
Emma O'Connell Garden DesignBespoke wooden circular table and bench built in to retaining wall with cantilevered metal steps.
Design ideas for a small contemporary back patio steps in London.
Design ideas for a small contemporary back patio steps in London.
Karen Rogers at KR Garden DesignWalpole Garden, Chiswick
Photography by Caroline Mardon - www.carolinemardon.com
Design ideas for a small traditional patio steps in London with brick paving.
Design ideas for a small traditional patio steps in London with brick paving.
Tierra Madre Fine GardensPhoto by Samantha Robison
Design ideas for a small classic back patio in Other with natural stone paving, a pergola and fencing.
Design ideas for a small classic back patio in Other with natural stone paving, a pergola and fencing.
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & DesignThis shade arbor, located in The Woodlands, TX north of Houston, spans the entire length of the back yard. It combines a number of elements with custom structures that were constructed to emulate specific aspects of a Zen garden. The homeowner wanted a low-maintenance garden whose beauty could withstand the tough seasonal weather that strikes the area at various times of the year. He also desired a mood-altering aesthetic that would relax the senses and calm the mind. Most importantly, he wanted this meditative environment completely shielded from the outside world so he could find serenity in total privacy.
The most unique design element in this entire project is the roof of the shade arbor itself. It features a “negative space” leaf pattern that was designed in a software suite and cut out of the metal with a water jet cutter. Each form in the pattern is loosely suggestive of either a leaf, or a cluster of leaves.
These small, negative spaces cut from the metal are the source of the structure’ powerful visual and emotional impact. During the day, sunlight shines down and highlights columns, furniture, plantings, and gravel with a blend of dappling and shade that make you feel like you are sitting under the branches of a tree.
At night, the effects are even more brilliant. Skillfully concealed lights mounted on the trusses reflect off the steel in places, while in other places they penetrate the negative spaces, cascading brilliant patterns of ambient light down on vegetation, hardscape, and water alike.
The shade arbor shelters two gravel patios that are almost identical in space. The patio closest to the living room features a mini outdoor dining room, replete with tables and chairs. The patio is ornamented with a blend of ornamental grass, a small human figurine sculpture, and mid-level impact ground cover.
Gravel was chosen as the preferred hardscape material because of its Zen-like connotations. It is also remarkably soft to walk on, helping to set the mood for a relaxed afternoon in the dappled shade of gently filtered sunlight.
The second patio, spaced 15 feet away from the first, resides adjacent to the home at the opposite end of the shade arbor. Like its twin, it is also ornamented with ground cover borders, ornamental grasses, and a large urn identical to the first. Seating here is even more private and contemplative. Instead of a table and chairs, there is a large decorative concrete bench cut in the shape of a giant four-leaf clover.
Spanning the distance between these two patios, a bluestone walkway connects the two spaces. Along the way, its borders are punctuated in places by low-level ornamental grasses, a large flowering bush, another sculpture in the form of human faces, and foxtail ferns that spring up from a spread of river rock that punctuates the ends of the walkway.
The meditative quality of the shade arbor is reinforced by two special features. The first of these is a disappearing fountain that flows from the top of a large vertical stone embedded like a monolith in the other edges of the river rock. The drains and pumps to this fountain are carefully concealed underneath the covering of smooth stones, and the sound of the water is only barely perceptible, as if it is trying to force you to let go of your thoughts to hear it.
A large piece of core-10 steel, which is deliberately intended to rust quickly, rises up like an arced wall from behind the fountain stone. The dark color of the metal helps the casual viewer catch just a glimpse of light reflecting off the slow trickle of water that runs down the side of the stone into the river rock bed.
To complete the quiet moment that the shade arbor is intended to invoke, a thick wall of cypress trees rises up on all sides of the yard, completely shutting out the disturbances of the world with a comforting wall of living greenery that comforts the thoughts and emotions.
KD LandscapePergola design by John Algozzini and Cara Buffa.
Design ideas for a small contemporary back patio in Chicago with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a pergola.
Design ideas for a small contemporary back patio in Chicago with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a pergola.
VanElders Design Studio - Stantec Kansas CityPre-reveal camera work. Photo by VanElders Design Studio.
This is an example of a small modern back patio in Kansas City with decomposed granite and a pergola.
This is an example of a small modern back patio in Kansas City with decomposed granite and a pergola.
Susan Cohan GardensCustom trellis stained Benjamin Moore Yorktowne Green HC-133 are supports for espaliered apple trees and a backdrop for a small deer resistant perennial bed.
Pro-Land Landscape Construction Inc.A compact yet comfortable contemporary space designed to create an intimate setting for family and friends.
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in Toronto with an outdoor kitchen, concrete paving and no cover.
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in Toronto with an outdoor kitchen, concrete paving and no cover.
Zones Landscaping Auckland Central Kate RyanCustom made lazer cut screens in corten steel to make a feature o an unused garage wall.
Inspiration for a small contemporary courtyard patio in Auckland with a fireplace, decking and a pergola.
Inspiration for a small contemporary courtyard patio in Auckland with a fireplace, decking and a pergola.
inovasis designAn inner city sanctuary in Surry Hills providing cantilevered concrete benches, innovative planting solutions and an outdoor log fireplace for year round entertaining.
True indoor/outdoor living with our second landscape design for this young family.
Ventures DesignPhoto of a small traditional back patio in Detroit with an outdoor kitchen, brick paving and a pergola.
Land Studio CLand Studio C
Inspiration for a small contemporary back patio in San Francisco with a fire feature and concrete slabs.
Inspiration for a small contemporary back patio in San Francisco with a fire feature and concrete slabs.
Graham Atkins-Hughes PhotographyGraham Atkins-Hughes
Inspiration for a small nautical back patio in New York with brick paving and no cover.
Inspiration for a small nautical back patio in New York with brick paving and no cover.
Design ideas for a small contemporary back patio in Chicago with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a pergola.
Van Zelst IncPhoto by Linda Oyama Bryan
Small traditional back patio in Chicago with decomposed granite and no cover.
Small traditional back patio in Chicago with decomposed granite and no cover.
Revive Landscape DesignCopyright Protected by: Lori Brookes Photography
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in San Diego with concrete paving, no cover and an outdoor kitchen.
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in San Diego with concrete paving, no cover and an outdoor kitchen.
Susan Cohan GardensRaised bluestone patio with custom trellis.
Design ideas for a small traditional back patio in Newark with natural stone paving and fencing.
Design ideas for a small traditional back patio in Newark with natural stone paving and fencing.
Southwest Fence & DeckPhoto of a small bohemian back patio in Dallas with an outdoor kitchen, concrete slabs and a roof extension.
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