This yard, developed for HGTV's "Landscape Smart," began with little more than a drab field of flagstone and a decrepit slab of concrete. On a tight budget and even tighter timeline, Verdance designed a "modern play garden" that reflects the homeowners' contemporary design aesthetic yet accommodates their young son's activities. The flagstone was reused atop the existing patio, filled in with river pebbles for additional texture. Terra cotta pots enclose this outdoor living room for an urban effect, while their hue echoes in vibrant shelves built into the repainted fence. The lush play area features a custom-built sandbox replete with a perimeter of bench seating. Irreverent plantings, a spartan fountain designed with reclaimed materials, and a transition "bridge" of timbers and river cobblestones complete the plan with clean lines and modern forms that at once stimulate and soothe the senses. (Construction specifications and installation by others.)

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