The backyard’s emphasis on nature is mirrored in the front of the home, which also underwent extensive landscaping by Considered Design. The owners and Parish wanted to “tone everything down” and turn the home into a backdrop for a natural setting.

An Introduction to Landscape Design: Cover the history of landscape architecture and learn how to cultivate your own backyard oasis.

The landscaping appears to be based on the mullet principle: business in the front, as seen here (manicured grid lawn, with native vegetation sprouting in careful symmetry), party in the back (sunflowers and wild mountain grass growing in harmonious chaos).

One of the best parts about having a designer is having the courage to take the leap into a bold statement. A patterned entry wallpaper let's you say "...it's perfectly alright to be jealous" - without actually having to say it. Photo by Chellise Michael Photography.

The best way to make a small space work is to find the hidden gems. The high ceilings, exposed brick and ridiculous skylight in this Chelsea one-bedroom gave us a pretty good foundation to go mountain-man modern. Photo by Chellise Michael Photography.

Walls are overrated. Instead we mounted a ceiling track and suspended a 13-foot piece of art that slides to become the bedroom wall. Viola—instant privacy! Photo by Chellise Michael Photography.

When this client said she'd impulse bought a 12-foot, reclaimed bookcase from across the street, we chuckled. Photo by Chellise Michael Photography.

If the shade is ugly, throw it away. Sometimes bending the rules a little allows for a creative surprise—and that's what good design is all about. Photo by Francisco Aguila

You don't like to wake up surrounded by your favorite things? Photo by Francisco Aguila.

Mixing mid-century modern with the iconic brick of downtown Manhattan is a sure fire way to live "bachelor-chic". Photo by Chellise Michael Photography.

"Having a seat" in the reception area of Codeacademy’s New York office isn't like having a seat at your dentist's. Worn leather coupled with local art and a splash of green gives you the sense that this startup has arrived. Photo by Chellise Michael Photography.

Maybe we just like being dramatic but creating vignettes throughout a home is a great way to introduce a variety of living environments. Photo by Chellise Michael Photography.

A bedroom is the best place to be moody. Use a saturated color (put down the off-white!) and a satin finish (preserves the light) on the walls—we promise you won't regret it. Photo by Chellise Michael Photography.

Noa Santos, founder of HomePolish. Photo by Chellise Michael Photography.

Just because you're working from home in your pajamas doesn't mean you can't look good. Vintage pieces bring a sense of richness and sophistication into a room making you feel productive even if you're just on Facebook. Photo by Chellise Michael Photography.

Krisel was also known for his boldly modern approach to landscape. The Menrad residence, shown here, features a distinct geometric design. The architect, working in the harsh Palm Springs climate, relied on hardscape elements—setting a precedent for drought-tolerant landscape design.

In another section of the yard, Cooper added varying-sized circular cement stepping stones, which lead toward an elevated planter filled with California-native plants.

Plants found in the surrounding landscape were used to obscure the lines between designed and natural worlds.

Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award-winning landscape designer Margie Ruddick, who collaborated with the New York architect Steven Harris on a master plan for the Shillim Institute in India’s Western Ghats mountains, will join landscape architect Hank White onstage for Stewards of Landscape, a discussion on how landscape architects view the future of conservation and stewardship, from a large-scale, civic perspective as well as a citizen level. (ASLA CEU)

Create a picturesque setting with this Landscape Dinner Set designed by Doiy Design. Each piece is completely removable and when finished, could perhaps double as a temporary plaything. (Pin).

A verdant tundra that the architect dubbed the “courtyard” separates Bullitt’s house from his 900-square-foot studio. The space, which is planted with Bog Myrtle, bearberry, and other native plants, “reinforces...the dominance of the landscape over the building,” the architect says. “The end result was an exceedingly naturalized setting.”

A small terrace outfitted with an H55 easy chair by Björn Hultén offers a view of the San Francisco Bay.

The ever-changing, lush wooded surroundings of Minnesota, such as those experienced at this 8,000-square-foot Type Variant House outside of Minneapolis designed by Coen and Partners, are right near the small town of New Richland.

This "local prefab" home on the Isle of Skye is made mostly from materials sourced in northern Scotland. The timber-framed model, meant to evoke the simple agrarian barns of the area, can be constructed on-site in as little as a day and is designed for affordability.

A great way to get started is by doing some research. Have you seen their portfolio of past projects? Do you feel that your aesthetic matches the type of work they do? Can you ask friends for referrals?

Urban Garden for Durst Organization, Bank of America building, New York, NY, 2010. Landscape design: Margie Ruddick with WRT. Artist: Dorothy Ruddick. Design architecture: Cook + Fox Architects; Architect of record: Adamson. Fabricator: Mosaiculture Internationale de Montréal. Photo: Sam Oberlander

Sustainable features like green roofs, rainwater collection, and stormwater retention are integrated throughout the design. The project as a whole achieved a LEED Platinum rating. Photo by Bruce Forster.

Shillim Retreat, Maharashtra, India, 2012. Landscape design: Margie Ruddick. Architecture: Steven Harris Architects, Khanna Schultz, Writer Corporation. Photo: Khanna Schultz

Philadelphia-based landscape designer Margie Ruddick takes to the Sustainable Design stage at Dwell on Design Saturday, June 22 at 11:30 a.m. In the following slideshow, we share a handful of projects that were recognized by the Cooper-Hewitt in awarding her a National Design Award for Landscape Architecture. Read a Q&A with Ruddick here. Queens Plaza, Long Island City, NY, 2012. Landscape design: Margie Ruddick. Urban design: Marpillero Pollak Architects, Michael Sorkin 2003–04. Architecture: Marpillero Pollak Architects. Environmental artist: Michael Singer Studio. Lighting design: Leni Schwendinger Light Projects. Civil engineer: Langan; Traffic engineer: Eng Wong Taub. Photo: Margie Ruddick/WRT

In the project narrative published on asla.org, Mayer/Reed States: "For most homeless people coming off the street, it's hard to take the first step. We asked ourselves, how would we draw people in from sidewalks, vacant lots, doorways and undersides of bridges? We came to understand the symbolic and physical importance of passing through a gateway to enter the courtyard and seek help." Photo by Bruce Forster.

Artist Masayuki Nagase created these stone pieces in the courtyard.

Front Walkway - A Hidden Service Entrance Door in the Cedar Siding uses a keyfob to electronically open the door.

The ASLA jury lauded the Commons's landscape design and stated the following on their website: "This is an SRO that is humane and treats people with dignity. The space is open and inviting and there is a nice use of material. The gate ornamentation signifies the decision of the residents not to be homeless. The space is laid out like a home and is very well-resolved." Photo by Bruce Forster.

Large windows allow the Commons' staff to surpervise activity outside.

The studio divided the outdoor spaces into a series of rooms, mimicking the circulation of a family home. The courtyard is adjacent to the men's shelter. Photo by Bruce Forster.