A small piece of land at the front or back of one’s house can have multiple memories attached to it. It is a place for informal meetings, parties, and other semi-private gatherings. Backyard and front yard designing fall under the category of landscape designing. From modern to traditional and vibrant to mellow, the design of a backyard involves creating a personal and subjective design as per client requirements with less maintenance.
Irrespective of the size of the land the aim is to create a transformable space for every occasion. A good backyard design also increases the property value with an appreciable outdoor space for both relaxing and entertaining.
1. Coogee Residence, Australia | Beautiful backyard
The backyard was to be repaired and redesigned with access to the terrace garden and studio placed at the end of the steep garden. It is designed by the CALDESIGN firm with additional pathways and outdoor furniture. Low-maintenance sub-tropical plants were placed along the edges.
The homeowners’ travel inspirations from Bali, Indonesia have been brought to life in the design. Mixed hardwood timber is used for the deck space, doors, and stairs.
2. Sherman Oaks hilltop home, USA
The house has a 1959 mid-century modern origin which had to be maintained while redesigning the backyard of the hilltop home with a splendid view of the California mountains. The designers of Fer Studio added a carport, cabana, and gym with a private patio while preserving its post-and-beam construction. The long pool compliments the horizontality of the site.
3. Calton Avenue house, England | Beautiful backyard
The elegant Edwardian London house has a brick facade that is accentuated with a small front green patch with narrow slate paved paths leading to the house. There are two car parks with a triangular green patch separating the entrance.
The plants are lush green adding a great tone to the entire façade of the house with the grey tone of the slate pavement. The fence separating the adjacent site is built with red cedar battens. The plants include local varieties like roses, blue spires, and purple clematis.
4. Mornington Garden, Australia
Designed for a family that loves to spend time outdoors during the summer months, is a large outdoor garden with a pool. The ambiance created is of a coastal garden with plantings from Mongolia like the Kalamata Olive trees and other perennial species. Concrete and Australian limestone are the key materials used giving it a rugged but modern look.
5. Belvedere Road Backyard, England | Beautiful backyard
Designed by Kate Eyre Gardens, the yard is a formal design with a multi-tiered garden with specific areas. The upper tier has a simple slate patio for relaxing and entertaining. The lower tiers are accessed by slate steps leading to a deck space. The end of the site has an orchard. Both the tiers are flanked with flower beds on both sides.
6. Camberwell, Australia
Built for a private residence in the middle of Camberwell is a small outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining. The garden is manicured and has deck space with green patches in between. It has a large fireplace, kitchen, and a lap pool with mellow water features. The materials chosen go along with the architectural style of the residence.
7. The Haven Home, USA
The landscaping of the residence was done to create a semi-formal setting with an outdoor fireplace, a koi pond, a waterfall, and an outdoor dining area. Tall evergreen trees were used to create privacy and seclusion. Bird feeders were installed to attract birds into the garden.
The koi fish pond was a great challenge as construction and maintenance were not easy. What was once a plain driveway is now a peaceful koi pond.
8. North Turramurra Pool, Australia | Beautiful backyard
The project aimed to transform a barren backyard into a resort-like pool area. The design included the use of concrete and limestone to create a sleek modern look. The site was not apt for the growth of plants so instead potted plants are used for aesthetics.
The stepped pool is connected to the living room and can be viewed from the bedroom. The relaxing pool area is used to induce a vacation feeling throughout the year.
9. Cobble hill homes, USA
A mix of 19th- and 20th-century brownstone and brick rows in the suburbs have a narrow plot of land for outdoor activities in front of each house. The design proposed by Flo gardens firm included plum trees inspired by the book and movie, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, wooden floors, and pergolas.
The softscape, however, could not be functional due to less sunlight and privacy. They opted for tall potted plants and shade-tolerant birch trees.
10. Slate and Steel Design, Notting hill | Beautiful backyard
The use of two materials to blend and accentuate the ‘jungle effect’ was the main of the design proposed by Living Colour Gardens. The water feature in the center is made up of stainless steel and produces a chute sound while functioning along with the planted trellis in the background that looks like a recreation of a waterfall.
Peacock slate slabs are used for paving with a granite border. The plantings used are orange blossom shrubs, New Zealand flax, and yellow-eyed grass.