Bring Your Outdoor Space to Life

Does your backyard feel empty or uninviting? You’re not alone! Many Bay Area homeowners have outdoor spaces that don’t feel welcoming, making it less tempting to spend time outside. Whether it’s enjoying your morning coffee, hosting family and friends, or just relaxing at the end of the day, the right garden design can completely change how you use and enjoy your home.

At Avant Garden, we create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces that match your style and needs. Whether you dream of a lush retreat, a sleek modern space, or a garden filled with fresh herbs and vegetables, we’ll bring your vision to life.

Avant Garden specializes in creating beautiful, functional outdoor spaces designed just for you. We take your style, needs, and vision to craft a garden that feels like an extension of your home. See how the right design can completely transform your outdoor space and the way you enjoy it.

Let’s bring your dream garden to life! Book a consultation with Avant Garden to create a space that’s both stunning and welcoming, blending seamlessly with the natural beauty around you.

What is Garden Design?

Garden design is all about planning and shaping outdoor spaces to make them both beautiful and useful. It’s more than just picking plants—it’s about creating a space that works for you, with things like winding paths, cozy seating areas, or a peaceful water feature. A well-designed garden not only makes your home look better but also gives you a place to relax and enjoy nature.

Our Design Approach

At Avant Garden, we offer a variety of garden styles to match your taste and lifestyle. Whether you love classic English gardens, clean and modern designs, or something more natural and wild, we’ll create a space that feels just right for you. We also specialize in California native plants, organic gardens, and edible landscapes—great options for a beautiful, low-maintenance, and eco-friendly yard. Explore below for examples of different garden design styles.

Modern Contemporary Garden Design Styles

Modern, contemporary garden designs are the way to go for those who prefer a sleek, minimalist look. These gardens emphasize clean lines, geometric shapes, and a restrained color palette, all contributing to a sense of tranquility and order. Avant Garden can incorporate elements like polished stone pathways, minimalist water features, and strategically placed lighting to create a sophisticated outdoor space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

The use of native grasses and succulents can add texture and interest without overwhelming the simple design, offering a low-maintenance solution that is also eco-friendly. Additionally, incorporating vertical gardens or green walls can maximize space and bring a touch of nature into urban settings. Whether you have a small patio or a large backyard, a modern contemporary garden can transform your outdoor area into a serene retreat.

English Garden Design Style

English gardens are known for their lush, romantic look, evoking a sense of timeless beauty and tranquility. They often feature winding pathways that invite leisurely strolls, colorful flower beds bursting with seasonal blooms, and charming focal points like arbors and fountains that add an element of surprise and delight. These gardens are designed to look natural and free-flowing, mimicking the countryside's casual elegance and creating an idyllic retreat from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Avant Garden can create an English garden with diverse plants and herbs carefully selected to thrive in your environment. Imagine aromatic lavender and rosemary lining the paths, vibrant roses climbing over trellises, and a variety of perennials providing color throughout the year. This type of garden isn’t just beautiful—it’s a feast for the senses, with soothing scents, rich textures, and a welcoming atmosphere you’ll love spending time in.

California Native Plant Gardens

California Native Plant Gardens are not only beautiful but also environmentally friendly. These gardens utilize plants indigenous to California, making them well-suited to the local climate and soil conditions. This results in a low-maintenance garden that conserves water and supports local wildlife, including bees, butterflies, and birds. Such gardens play a crucial role in preserving the ecosystem and maintaining biodiversity.

Avant Garden specializes in designing native plant gardens, featuring species like vibrant California poppies, sturdy manzanita, and delicate blue-eyed grass. These gardens create a sustainable landscape that thrives year-round, offering visual appeal and ecological benefits with minimal upkeep. Whether in urban spaces or sprawling backyards, native plant gardens can transform any area into a natural beauty and sustainability sanctuary.

Organic Gardens

Organic gardens focus on natural cultivation methods, avoiding synthetic chemicals and pesticides. These gardens are ideal for those who prioritize health and environmental sustainability. By using compost, mulch, and crop rotation, organic gardens can thrive without the need for harmful substances. Avant Garden can help you create an organic garden with natural pest control methods and nutrient-rich soil amendments, ensuring your plants get all the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy.

An organic garden yields healthy produce and promotes biodiversity and soil health, creating a more balanced and resilient ecosystem. Whether you are growing vegetables, fruits, or flowers, an organic approach contributes to a cleaner environment and a healthier lifestyle.

Edible Gardens

Edible gardens are a practical and rewarding addition to any home. They are designed to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs that you can harvest and enjoy fresh from your backyard. Not only do they provide a sustainable source of fresh produce, but they also enhance the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space.

Avant Garden designs edible gardens that maximize space and productivity, incorporating raised beds, vertical gardens, and companion planting techniques. To create a thriving garden, Avant Garden considers factors such as soil quality, sunlight exposure, and irrigation needs. Imagine stepping outside to pick fresh tomatoes, basil, and strawberries for your meals—An edible garden brings this to life, turning your backyard into a plentiful and inviting space.

Avant Garden’s Success and Expertise

With over 30 years of experience, Avant Garden has established itself as a leading landscape design company in Northern California. The owner, Galen Fultz, has been featured in numerous publications, including Better Homes and Gardens, California Home and Design, and the HGTV Channel. He founded the Marin Gardening School in 1996 and has taught landscape design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Galen is frequently invited to speak at local nurseries and garden-related events, sharing his expertise and passion for gardening.

Happy clients say it best. One shared, "I have used Avant Garden on several projects, and I am very pleased with the results. Galen is both a horticulturist and an artist. His vision is full-scope: practical and beautiful. I recommend him without reservation."

Another client said, "From our first contact, Galen was a delight to work with. He listened well, amplified my ideas into a wonderfully workable design for a garden courtyard in San Francisco, and oversaw the installation. Could not have been more pleased with Galen's expertise and workable manner."