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Hot Backyard Design Ideas to Try Now

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The results are in! Backyards are back and better than ever. Check out these hot backyard design ideas and find out which trends homeowners are clamoring for right now.   Gardens: Totally Organic Experiences   Gardens are among the most sought-after outdoor design elements overall, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects' 2013 Residential Design Trends Survey. The ASLA asked residential landscape architects to rate the expected popularity of outdoor design elements for the year and gardens are a front-runner at 94%. Proof that the local food movement is gaining traction? The survey also predicts an increase in people opting for fruit and vegetable gardens (76.4% popularity) and that organic gardens are becoming more in-demand (up to 65.3% versus 61.2% in the 2011 survey). Fire Pits: Burning Up the Charts The popularity of gardens may seem a bit predictable. The real breakout stars of the ASLA survey are fire pits (like this one built by Carter Oosterhouse) and fir

Beautiful Backyard Ideas

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Whether you're designing with plants, a pool or a porch, we've got some design ideas for your backyard that'll blow you away.    By Mia Shulman Geometric Pool Make a splash with a pool that plays up design.  Sleek Patio Set Consider the colours of your garden and pick a patio set that complements. Calming Elements A fountain creates the relaxing sound of running water, perfect for homeowners who love taking outdoor naps. Cool Under a Canopy You'll be made in the shade with a breezy canopy Mix & Match Mix colours, leaves and throw a few herbs in for good measure, too!   Perfect Pergola A pergola creates a space to entertain, without the big budget of a deck reno.   A Romantic Patio Create ambiance with a fire pit and dreamy flowers. Small Space Gardening Create a "backyard" in a condo on a tiny terrace. Secret Garden A patio set tucked away behind blooms makes for enchanted outdoor entertaining. Hanging Planters Bring colour to every corner of your backyard

Lines and Curves in Landscape Design

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See how carefully placed lines and curves add size and structure to a garden. Using S Curves S-curved lines are fluid and offer great scope for informal and naturalistic designs. They take the eye from one side of the garden to the other, amplifying the space and making small gardens appear larger. Using C Curves   C-curved lines are fluid and offer great scope for informal and naturalistic designs. They take the eye from one side of the garden to the other. Flowing lines also create a sense of momentum and movement. Snakes and Curves     This small town garden shows how a flowing S-curve can extend and trick the eye into thinking the space is larger than it is. A circular pool slots perfectly into the first curve, forming a pleasing coupling of line and shape. Snaking Path This flowing S-curved bed can extend the route through a yard, and trick the eye into thinking the space is larger than it is. This stone mulch bed wanders lazily through the lawn. Cross Shaped Design Crosses lead t

Backyard design guide

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Glam up your backyard with inspiration from these amazing landscaping and design ideas.   7 ways to design a sustainable garden Incorporate recycled materials and resource-minded practices for a stylish, earth-friendly retreat   Incorporating earth-friendly elements     In Bob Buchbinder and Lynn Pearson’s San Francisco backyard, gently curving paths link several stylish spaces—indoor, outdoor, and in between. Many of the materials are recycled; most of the plants need little in the way of care or even water. Design: James Pettigrew and Sean Stout, Organic Mechanics, San  Francisco. Rescued shed To some eyes, this weathered structure would have been a teardown. With new windows and wiring, though, it’s now a backyard getaway. Low-water plants Easy-care honey bush (Melianthus major) and a potted Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Saligna Aurea’) flank a small bench. Salvaged stone The 16-foot-diameter patio is made of granite remnants—mostly dumpster finds—mixed with metal sewer ca