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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Garden
  3. Type: Formal Garden

World-Inspired Formal Garden Ideas and Designs

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New Pool Construction (Landscape)
New Pool Construction (Landscape)
Natural View Landscape IncNatural View Landscape Inc
Landscape installation on a new pool construction. Low maintenance with ample color, palm trees, new irrigation and landscape lighting.
Medium sized world-inspired back formal and private full sun garden in Other with mulch.
A Japanese-Inspired Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland
A Japanese-Inspired Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland
Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio (JMMDS)Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio (JMMDS)
A pair of world travelers with a deep love of Japan asked JMMDS to design a Japanese-inspired landscape that would complement the contemporary renovation of their home in Edinburgh, Scotland. JMMDS created a plan that included a handsome cut-stone patio, meandering stepping stone paths, sweeping bed lines, stony mounds, a grassy pool of space, and swaths of elegant plantings. JMMDS was on site during the installation to craft the mounds and place the plants and stones. Julie Moir Messervy set out the ancient pieces of gneiss from Scotland’s Isle of Lewis. With the planting design, JMMDS sought to evoke the feeling of a traditional Japanese garden using locally suitable plants. The designers and clients visited nurseries in search of distinctive plant specimens, including cloud-pruned hollies, craggy pines, Japanese maples of varied color and habit, and a particularly notable Japanese snowbell tree. Beneath these, they laid drifts of sedges, hellebores, European gingers, ferns, and Solomon’s Seal. Evergreen azaleas, juniper, rhododendrons, and hebe were clustered around the lawn. JMMDS placed bamboos within root-controlled patio beds and planted mondo grass, sedums, and mosses among the stepping stones. Project designers: Julie Moir Messervy, Principal; Erica Bowman, Senior Landscape Architect Collaborators: Helen Lucas Architects, Steven Ogilvie (garden installers) Photography: Angus Bremner
Bayside Zen Garden | Bayside, WI
Bayside Zen Garden | Bayside, WI
LandCrafters, LLCLandCrafters, LLC
The back of the house has a large bank of windows that extend from the dining area to the main living area; so there is a very strong indoor outdoor connection. Curving planting beds filled with green plants of varied textures enclose the new bluestone patio. To the right is the Tea House which is a major focal point in the rear portion of this Zen Garden.
Zen Garden
Zen Garden
The Garden Artist LLCThe Garden Artist LLC
Blu Fish Photography
Design ideas for a medium sized world-inspired back formal partial sun garden for autumn in Boise.
Garden
Garden
Grand Designs NY, Home of Design & RemodelingGrand Designs NY, Home of Design & Remodeling
Design ideas for a medium sized world-inspired back formal partial sun garden for summer in New York with a pond and natural stone paving.
Courtyard Oasis
Courtyard Oasis
sticks and stones Landscape Designsticks and stones Landscape Design
Photo by Peter Brennan
Inspiration for a small world-inspired courtyard formal full sun garden for summer in Sydney with brick paving and a retaining wall.
Japanese Modern
Japanese Modern
Sacred Space Garden Design IncSacred Space Garden Design Inc
Photo of a medium sized world-inspired back formal full sun garden in Orange County with a water feature and natural stone paving.
Private Residence II
Private Residence II
Scott Landon – Modern Antique StoreScott Landon – Modern Antique Store
Design ideas for a medium sized world-inspired back formal and private partial sun garden in Orange County.
Stillhouse Bluff Residence
Stillhouse Bluff Residence
Arielle C. Schechter, AIAArielle C. Schechter, AIA
A view from inside the entry courtyard at twilight shows the connection to the outdoors from the main rooms of the residence. On the left, the living room opens up to the water garden, as does the office space across the pond. Duffy Healey, photographer.
Retaining Walls
Retaining Walls
Creative Fences & DecksCreative Fences & Decks
Photo of a medium sized world-inspired back formal partial sun garden in Portland with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Meditation Garden
Meditation Garden
Blissful Gardens & Green Dragon DesignBlissful Gardens & Green Dragon Design
Tony Lopez-Cepero
This is an example of a medium sized world-inspired back formal partial sun garden for summer in Austin with a garden path.
Classic: Shadywood
Classic: Shadywood
Harold Leidner Landscape ArchitectsHarold Leidner Landscape Architects
This private residence and backyard retreat in Dallas, Texas features an expansive natural pool and water feature with the addition of a new outdoor pool pavilion for outdoor entertaining. This new pavilion features detailed wood columns, a slate roof, stone fireplace, Big Ass fan, built-in seat benches and an outdoor shower on the backside. Lush landscaping and a personal putting green are also additional amenities provided to this outdoor space.
Bonsai Pavilion
Bonsai Pavilion
Altura ArchitectsAltura Architects
Our client has a large collection of bonsai trees and wanted an exhibition space for the extensive collection and a workshop to tend to the growing plants. Together we came up with a plan for a beautiful garden with plenty of space and a water feature. The design also included a Japanese-influenced pavilion in the middle of the garden. The pavilion is comprised of three separate rooms. The first room is features a tokonoma, a small recessed space to display art. The second, and largest room, provides an open area for display. The room can be accessed by large glass folding doors and has plenty of natural light filtering through the skylights above. The third room is a workspace with tool storage. Photography by Todd Crawford
Fencing and Gates
Fencing and Gates
Prodigy DesignProdigy Design
Los Felize Entry Gate with an Asian twist!
Photo of a large world-inspired front formal partial sun garden in Los Angeles with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Frame For A Garden
Frame For A Garden
Garden Structures & MoreGarden Structures & More
I again use the same exotic wood and copper elements.
Design ideas for a small world-inspired side formal partial sun garden for summer in Minneapolis with a water feature and gravel.
Small interior Zen garden
Small interior Zen garden
The Japanese GardenThe Japanese Garden
This zen garden is located on a central courtyard that connects the kitchen of the house, with the living - dining area and main access hall. As you can see it is glazed on several sides, each view after concluded the work is slightly different. This time, only put a lamp in Japanese style to give the night lighting environment. This is a sample of a Zen garden that carries an implicit minimalist in design. The conditions in the house are basically clear and minimalist tones, it is for that reason that it was decided to this design. Few elements, well distributed, with a mix of different textures, from coarse gravel and dark gray color, contrasting with the white gravel and raked; allows us to balance the wabi sabi and the scene.
Japanese Pacific Northwest Hilltop Residence
Japanese Pacific Northwest Hilltop Residence
Angela Prater DesignAngela Prater Design
Inspiration for a world-inspired courtyard formal garden in Other with a rockery.
Garell
Garell
David Hertz & Studio of Environmental ArchitectureDavid Hertz & Studio of Environmental Architecture
Inspiration for a large world-inspired back formal partial sun garden for spring in Other with a pond and concrete paving.
CA Moon Valley Nurseries
CA Moon Valley Nurseries
Moon Valley NurseriesMoon Valley Nurseries
Design ideas for a large world-inspired back formal full sun garden in Orange County with natural stone paving.
Princeton Junior League Showhouse & Gardens
Princeton Junior League Showhouse & Gardens
Ronni Hock Garden & LandscapeRonni Hock Garden & Landscape
Large world-inspired courtyard formal partial sun garden for spring in Philadelphia with a garden path and concrete paving.

World-Inspired Formal Garden Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed world-inspired 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 world-inspired 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 world-inspired front garden design.

How should I design my world-inspired 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 world-inspired 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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