Photo by Andreas von Einsiedel einsiedel.com

Russell Abraham

An indoor lap pool and spa with beautiful glass walls. Photo Credit "Julia Heine/McInturff Architects."

Surrounded by 30 year old trees, the homeowners were looking for an organic, modern, low maintenance finish to their outdoor environment. Utilizing the pre-existing mature apple tree in the backyard VisionScapes developed a tranquil retreat that extended the sq.ft of the home through a series of terraced concrete and wood decks. Pathways and patio systems were locally sourced from a quarry on the edge of the Rocky Mountains. Photo credit: Jamen Rhodes

Photographer :Yie Sandison

Greg Premru Photography

Mr. Bharat Aggarwal

This classic San Francisco backyard was transformed into an inviting and usable outdoor living space. A few steps down lead to a lounging area, featuring drought-friendly and maintenance-free artificial grass as well as a cozy, custom-built natural gas fire pit surrounded by a Redwood bench. Redwood fencing, low-voltage LED landscape lighting, drip irrigation, planting and a water feature completed the space.

Ed Ritger Photography

Image by 'Ancient Surfaces' Product: 'Indoor Courtyard stone elements' Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com Central Mediterranean courtyards within homes of all major South European design styles, featuring antique stone pavers, fountains, columns and more...

Image by 'Ancient Surfaces' Product: 'Indoor Courtyard stone elements' Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com Central Mediterranean courtyards within homes of all major South European design styles, featuring antique stone pavers, fountains, columns and more...

Embodying the owner’s love for modern ranch house architecture, this innovative home, designed with Feldman Architecture, sits lightly on its site and connects outwards to the Preserve’s landscape. We located the structure at the lowest point between surrounding hills so that it would be as visually inconspicuous as possible. Rammed earth walls, built using earth excavated from the site, define outdoor living spaces and serve to retain the soil along the edges of the drive and at patio spaces. Within the outdoor living spaces surrounding the buildings, native plants are combined with succulents and ornamental plants to contrast with the open grassland and provide a rich setting for entertaining, while garden areas to the south are stepped and allowed to erode on the edges, blending into the hillside. Sitting prominently adjacent to the home, three tanks capture rainwater for irrigation and are a clear indication of water available for the landscape throughout the year. LEED Platinum certification. Photo by Joe Fletcher.

Bringing the indoors out with this Air plant designed shower by Brandon Pruett. This is an extremely low maintenance since the shower will hydrate the air plants so no need to water them.

Photography by SpaceCrafting

Designed to make the most of a steep site, this private home in Sydney’s south has created great spaces to enjoy the view of the water. The design features a covered main pavilion with a fully equipped kitchen including a sink, fridge and wood fire pizza oven. Designed for entertainment it also includes a large dining area, sunken spa and wall mounted TV. O the same level of the pavilion is a sunken fire pit area nestled underneath a large existing Frangipani. Travel down a set of steel stairs and you come to an inviting blue pool with wet edge spill over out to the bay. The curves of the pool and lower lawn area designed to add interest when viewing from above. A generous lounge and nearby pool pavilion provides plenty of places to relax by the pool and the cantilevered section of the pavilion, with feature timber panelling, ensures that there is shade poolside and look fantastic next to another mature Frangipani. The overall look and feel of the project is sleek and contemporary, with plants chosen to emphasise the shapes of the design and to add contrasting colours. This project is definitely a great place entertain and relax whilst enjoying the view of the water. Rolling Stone Landscapes

Andrea Ferrari http://www.andreaferraristudio.com/