Few garden elements inspire serenity and relaxation like a trickling fountain. Water features can also screen outdoor sounds, add a focal point and welcome birds and butterflies. While fountains can be as elaborate and lavish as your space and budget allow, the following 15 examples show how you can reap all the benefits in a smaller footprint.
1. Beautiful Bluestone
In Brookline, Massachusetts, Michael D’Angelo Landscape Architecture redesigned this courtyard as part of a whole-landscape overhaul. “To help drown out the surrounding urban sounds and create some interest in the space, we introduced a water feature,” D’Angelo says. The solid bluestone block features a stainless steel runnel that sends a stream of water into a base of river rocks (with a hidden recirculating basin below).
In Brookline, Massachusetts, Michael D’Angelo Landscape Architecture redesigned this courtyard as part of a whole-landscape overhaul. “To help drown out the surrounding urban sounds and create some interest in the space, we introduced a water feature,” D’Angelo says. The solid bluestone block features a stainless steel runnel that sends a stream of water into a base of river rocks (with a hidden recirculating basin below).
2. Peaceful Vision
Modern Japanese garden design inspired this tranquil courtyard by Epoch Landscapes in London. “The element of water is a vital component in Japanese gardens,” designer Efstathios Lazarides says. The granite basin, handmade in Japan, perfectly suits the space’s size and reinforces its design influence.
Modern Japanese garden design inspired this tranquil courtyard by Epoch Landscapes in London. “The element of water is a vital component in Japanese gardens,” designer Efstathios Lazarides says. The granite basin, handmade in Japan, perfectly suits the space’s size and reinforces its design influence.
3. Garden Art
This sleek spherical fountain keeps a low profile and adds soft, serene sound to a shady side yard in Seattle. The fountain keeps all the attention on the three laser-cut aluminum panels behind, which Board & Vellum worked with the homeowners to design.
This sleek spherical fountain keeps a low profile and adds soft, serene sound to a shady side yard in Seattle. The fountain keeps all the attention on the three laser-cut aluminum panels behind, which Board & Vellum worked with the homeowners to design.
4. Spanish Pool
A fire pit and tiled fountain wall anchor this backyard lounge by Colossus Mfg. in Sacramento, California. The black-and-white porcelain tiles reinforce the modern-meets-Spanish Colonial Revival style that designer and homeowner Christina Valencia was going for and tie in with the home’s decor and color scheme. “We wanted it to be present but not be overwhelming,” Valencia says. The catch basin allows the kids to sit and splash in the water on hot days.
A fire pit and tiled fountain wall anchor this backyard lounge by Colossus Mfg. in Sacramento, California. The black-and-white porcelain tiles reinforce the modern-meets-Spanish Colonial Revival style that designer and homeowner Christina Valencia was going for and tie in with the home’s decor and color scheme. “We wanted it to be present but not be overwhelming,” Valencia says. The catch basin allows the kids to sit and splash in the water on hot days.
5. Garden Whimsy
A colorful freestanding fountain anchors the central pathway in this whimsical walled garden in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Amy Martin Landscape Design, which the homeowners found on Houzz, ingeniously wired the fountain to a switch on the post of the front arbor gate. When you enter the garden, you can flip the switch to turn on and enjoy the fountain during your garden journey.
A colorful freestanding fountain anchors the central pathway in this whimsical walled garden in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Amy Martin Landscape Design, which the homeowners found on Houzz, ingeniously wired the fountain to a switch on the post of the front arbor gate. When you enter the garden, you can flip the switch to turn on and enjoy the fountain during your garden journey.
6. Welcoming Wildlife
Nestled among native sages on a patch of gravel, this concrete water feature adds soothing, subtle sound to an expansive landscape by Molly Wood Garden Design in Orange County, California. Birds, bees, butterflies and even the owners’ dogs flock to the fountain for refreshment.
“The water comes out of a copper pipe and flows onto a platform and then recirculates through a small [gap] on the sides. This is helpful because the fountain water can get dirty quickly in this spot, and you don’t have to constantly work to keep it clean,” Wood says. Any spillover can water the plantings.
Nestled among native sages on a patch of gravel, this concrete water feature adds soothing, subtle sound to an expansive landscape by Molly Wood Garden Design in Orange County, California. Birds, bees, butterflies and even the owners’ dogs flock to the fountain for refreshment.
“The water comes out of a copper pipe and flows onto a platform and then recirculates through a small [gap] on the sides. This is helpful because the fountain water can get dirty quickly in this spot, and you don’t have to constantly work to keep it clean,” Wood says. Any spillover can water the plantings.
7. Urban Sanctuary
Fountains are especially welcome in urban yards or on busy streets, as their gentle sound adds privacy and helps drown out surrounding noise. This water feature in a Brooklyn Heights, New York, backyard, surely creates a more secluded feel. Outside Space NYC Landscape Design also made every inch count with a combined water feature and planter design.
Fountains are especially welcome in urban yards or on busy streets, as their gentle sound adds privacy and helps drown out surrounding noise. This water feature in a Brooklyn Heights, New York, backyard, surely creates a more secluded feel. Outside Space NYC Landscape Design also made every inch count with a combined water feature and planter design.
8. Cozy Nook
The stylish fountain in this Somerville, Massachusetts, yard looks like it was designed to perfectly fit the space. In reality, it was the other way around. Gilmore Landscape Architecture, which renovated the entire backyard, perfectly sized this nook for the off-the-shelf water feature the homeowners bought. The sound of running water enhances the space and muffles noise from the public bike path that runs behind the property.
The stylish fountain in this Somerville, Massachusetts, yard looks like it was designed to perfectly fit the space. In reality, it was the other way around. Gilmore Landscape Architecture, which renovated the entire backyard, perfectly sized this nook for the off-the-shelf water feature the homeowners bought. The sound of running water enhances the space and muffles noise from the public bike path that runs behind the property.
9. Aged to Perfection
This tiled fountain in La Honda, California, almost feels like the remnant an ancient hidden garden. The amazing thing is that it’s completely new. The team at Fergus Garber Architects carefully selected and installed the materials to create the old-world feel the homeowners wanted, letting everything weather and patina for added character.
This tiled fountain in La Honda, California, almost feels like the remnant an ancient hidden garden. The amazing thing is that it’s completely new. The team at Fergus Garber Architects carefully selected and installed the materials to create the old-world feel the homeowners wanted, letting everything weather and patina for added character.
10. Touch of Class
This traditional fountain, complete with cast lion head, lends a classic look to a planted courtyard in Chicago. French doors leading to the interiors mean the soothing sound can be enjoyed indoors as well as on the patio.
11. Restful Retreat
The tranquil splash of water adds a cooling effect to this yard in sunny Phoenix. The pool’s small size and position in the shade means less water is lost to evaporation.
12. Cool Welcome
A babbling fountain welcomes visitors to this courtyard by EcoScapes Landscaping in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The water feature, reminiscent of a granite millstone, adds character and interest to the space even when it’s not running.
A babbling fountain welcomes visitors to this courtyard by EcoScapes Landscaping in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The water feature, reminiscent of a granite millstone, adds character and interest to the space even when it’s not running.
13. Fire and Water
This deck in London by Simon Orchard Garden Design radiates a romantic ambiance with its lush living wall, soft outdoor lighting and sculptural fountain. “The sound from the water feature coupled with the warmth of the fire feature create a perfect space for entertaining and relaxing,” Orchard says. The Orchard-designed fountain features three copper pipes that drip water into a trough below. (The trough and wall were finished to give them a rusty steel look.)
This deck in London by Simon Orchard Garden Design radiates a romantic ambiance with its lush living wall, soft outdoor lighting and sculptural fountain. “The sound from the water feature coupled with the warmth of the fire feature create a perfect space for entertaining and relaxing,” Orchard says. The Orchard-designed fountain features three copper pipes that drip water into a trough below. (The trough and wall were finished to give them a rusty steel look.)
14. Splash of Blue
This elegant fountain adds a jolt of color to a quiet corner in a San Juan Capistrano, California, yard (and also pops against the pink-flowering bougainvillea). The glossy blue hue pulls in the inlaid tile on the patio and pedestal where the fountain rests.
15. Long View
As part of a redesign at this historical property, Outdoor Lifestyles repurposed a birdbath from the Connecticut landscape’s original 1926 design into a fountain. “It made for a great long view from different angles throughout the garden and from the park across the street,” landscape designer Drew Kenny says. “We custom-built a basin and plumbed the birdbath for optimal sound and effect.”
As part of a redesign at this historical property, Outdoor Lifestyles repurposed a birdbath from the Connecticut landscape’s original 1926 design into a fountain. “It made for a great long view from different angles throughout the garden and from the park across the street,” landscape designer Drew Kenny says. “We custom-built a basin and plumbed the birdbath for optimal sound and effect.”
Content provided by Annie Thornton at Houzz.com
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