Project 1
Trent Lloyd Landscape Design
Newburyport, MA, USA
New York City meets New England in this small, urban yard in the seaside town of Newburyport.
Design Statement: Trent Lloyd Landscape Design transformed a small, urban yard into a stylish and functional space for an active and social family living in the seaside town of Newburyport, MA. The professional couple with two young gymnast daughters wanted an outdoor space for playing and entertaining that also captured the essence of their favorite New York City hotel terrace that has a sophisticated and relaxed vibe. The designers used strong horizontal lines, bold materials, subtle textures and swaths of green to create a soothing space with a simple and modern feel. The outdoor eating area and lounge, just outside the kitchen, is defined by handsome 6′ charcoal limestone treads. Behind it, a flawless stamp of grass, just long enough to toss a lacrosse ball, and behind that, a custom fence with long horizontal cedar boards encloses the space in privacy. Cool, low-lying Maine slate walls beautifully contrast with a green planting palette defined by Pachysandra, boxwoods, and maple trees. The stone walls bookend a small pocket where friends and family relax in the sun during the day and with drinks at night. The side yard, formerly a bland utility area, was transformed by a series of rustic, modern play structures, custom built from over-sized Port Orford cedar post that sit on recycled rubber mulch, a soft landing for the kids. The result is a child’s place by day, one that grows up at night.
The shed – and existing eye sore – was transformed with chartreuse paint and a simple palette of Pachysandra, boxwoods, and an ornamental maple.
The play structures made from Port Orford cedar, galvanized metal hardware, and rope create a natural and beautiful space for play.
The old utility area transformed into a playful space for the gymnast children – monkey bars, parallel bars, a balance beam, a swing, and an art table provide hours of fun.
Shades of grey and texture. Maine slate, charcoal limestone, and smooth black pebbles create a soothing space with a simple and modern feel.
Project 2
Elizabeth Roberts Design / Ensemble Architecture, DPC
Brooklyn, NY, USA
Brooklyn Townhouse Garden
Design Statement: The Brooklyn Townhouse garden features a custom retaining wall that is lined with hand-made Heath ceramic tile and a tub that was original to the house. The tub was installed with hot water for hot baths under the stars.
Claw-foot garden tub with running hot water
Handmade tile clad retaining wall with garden beyond
Project 3
tatiana barhar/Carlos Zubieta
Venice, CA, USA
Casa de Familia
Design Statement: I love soft plants and a layered look,” Bahar said. “Our house is so architectural, and I wanted to make sure whatever we planted was more organic-feeling. I love throwing California poppies and chamomile seeds in with the wild bunch grass.” So much of the family’s life spills outdoors – cooking, dining, sitting around the fire pit, playing bocce ball, gardening in the raised planter boxes – the expanded home feels much larger than its 1,750 square feet.
20 foot ficus with a-frame tree house
Project 4
WE Design
New York, NY, USA
Chelsea Rooftop Terrace
Design Statement: On this rooftop terrace, lush plantings create private outdoor rooms for dining and entertaining, while preserving views out to the Manhattan skyline. A custom outdoor kitchen, new green roof, and thoughtful lighting all play important roles in establishing this previously underutilized rooftop as a lively space at all times of day.
View of continuous seating bench with storage below
Detail of continuous seating bench in open position showing storage trunks below
View of outdoor kitchen
Detail view of step light at green roof
View showing interior butler’s pantry
Project 5
CWB Architects
Brooklyn, NY, USA
Boerum Hill Row House
Design Statement: By transforming the backyard of this Brooklyn brownstone, the garden level became a light-filled hangout space that was reconnected to the exterior.
View back toward the house from the rear planter at the garden
View of the renovated garden from the parlor floor level
2nd view from the parlor floor level
Project 6
Jacob Cottage
Swansea, United Kingdom
Outdoor kitchen or ‘Man Cave’
Design Statement: This is our outside kitchen that was borne out of two necessities: firstly to turn a previously overgrown and unused area into something useful and secondly to find a place where we could cook fish without stinking the house out. We felt it important that the kitchen was sympathetic to the style of the house, which is a Victorian cottage, and so tried to use reclaimed or recycled materials. The retaining wall was built from old bricks that were found on the land during renovation and the area was then filled with gravel. For the walls we used reclaimed scaffolding planks so that it wasn’t too pristine and the table is an old work bench from the garage – both are battered and have old paint splatters which add character. We wanted to raise the area in order that it stood out from the rest of the garden and so back filled it with several tonnes of hardcore that were hacked off the house when we renovated. We are growing herbs in the kitchen to use when cooking and the surrounding border and gardens has lots of ingredients that can be foraged throughout the year such as wild garlic, berries, and elderflower. Most of the items on display are car boot or charity shop finds such as the Clint oil painting. The kitchen is west facing so is the last place in the garden to catch the evening sun – perfect for a sloe gin sundowner.
Outdoor kitchen ‘Man Cave’ wall view
Outdoor kitchen ‘Man Cave’ Workbench
Outdoor kitchen ‘Man Cave’ front view
Outdoor kitchen ‘Man Cave’ staff plank shelves
Outdoor kitchen ‘Man Cave’ garden mint
Outdoor kitchen ‘Man Cave’ storm lantern
Project 7
Noelle Moreno
San Francisco, CA, USA
Back yard Multi Purpose Party & Kids AREA
Design Statement: A dirt plot is what we had and we created a space with custom hand poured oversized pavers to allow the kids to play b-ball and soccer yet let us entertain. A built in bench and 2 fireplaces keep the place cozy. We expanded the deck stairs to add to more seating and paired some Mexican outdoor chairs for a punch of color.
Mexican style rocking outdoor bu Innuit in yellow and black add pops of color. Widened deck stairs make extra bench seating when needed
Easy to entertain…was able to hosts a baby shower for 30 with ease
Built in bench and raised garden beds give a clean yet functional look
Hand poured pavers give a great look yet let the kids play basketball and soccer
Biergarden tables are easy to pull out to entertain dinner parties and modern fireplace keeps everyone warm during cold SF nights
This is the “before” what we had before we completed the project in only a few weeks!
Project 8
dean isidro photography
Flanders, NY, USA
20 pierson road
Design Statement: small out building
view from pool
french seating
cerused oak cabinets
reclaimed lath
french doors
indigo art
Project 9
Hsu McCullough
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Boise Residence
Design Statement: Located on a corner lot adjacent to two alleys, Hsu McCullough maximized the exterior gardens and living spaces while maintaining an overall privacy with property edges of exterior wood walls, Cherry Laurels and Pepper Trees. Exterior living spaces are deposited over multiple levels of wood deck and at grade including an outdoor Living Room below the Yuccas, a Dining Terrace below the Pine tree, and a firepit below the Poplar tree. All exterior living spaces, driveway with motorized vehicular gate and detached accessory structure are connected with interchanging paths of flagstone, broken concrete and decomposed granite with Sage and Lavender edges.
Boise Residence-Looking West with exterior Dining Terrace deck and exterior Living Room deck with chaise lounge connected to Master Bedroom
Boise Residence-Looking East at exterior Dining Terrace deck with accessory structure, driveway and exterior wood wall that screens trash and compost bins beyond
Boise Residence-Looking Northeast at exterior Dining Terrace deck with driveway and exterior wood wall that screens trash and compost bins beyond
Boise Residence-Looking West with exterior Dining Terrace deck and exterior Living Room deck with chaise lounge connected to Master Bedroom at dusk
Boise Residence-Looking Northeast at firepit with exterior Dining Terrace deck beyond
Boise Residence-Looking Northwest at firepit with exterior Living Room deck beyond at dusk
Project 10
Leslie & Woody Pirtle
New Paltz, NY, USA
Garden Room
Design Statement: We wanted to design a quiet contemplative space for sitting and reading.
A quiet place to sit in the room.
View from above the garden room. The chicken coop lies beyond the room.
Approach to the garden room. Climbing hydrangea covers the exterior walls.
Entrance to garden room. Tree stump seating in front of the firebox.
A diagonal view across the room.
Project 11
Todd Schliemann
Shelter Island, NY, USA
Our Outdoor Shower
Design Statement: I have always wanted an outdoor shower for my 1866 Shelter Island farmhouse. My partner on the other hand prefers tubs. So, as I took a break from the renovation of the main house, we decided to have both. A nice shiny 7-foot plumbed galvanized horse trough, a stainless steel shower with foot wash and hose bib, a rolled galvanized self supporting enclosure, an old door found in the shed, IPE floor, and a few annual plants, trim a few trees, and I had it. We dug a four-foot pit below, tossed in some old bricks cluttering the “North Forty,” and it drains back into the soil. A propane fired quick recovery heater in the shed supplies the hot water. We have to flush it yearly, but a small price to pay. Throughout the day, the sun plays with our outdoor room, and it is a joy at the beginning of the day, or the end. Now, back to the house.
We have access from both sides, this is the front porch.
A tub and a shower, just what we needed. Oh, and some plants of course.
We hid it behind the shed and garage.
The light mid day is warm and wonderful.
