With this project we have a typical back yard with large lawn area and no level area designated for seating or entertaining. The lawn was uneven and wide open with no sense of enclosure or privacy.

Our client enjoys gathering with friends and outdoor grilling. So we installed a new dining and entertaining patio with curved seat wall. The wall and adjoining planting bed divide the yard into play lawn and level social gathering area. The seat wall also provides additional seating space for large parties or sitting around a fire pit. The patio extends into the space between the garage and house where there is an area for grill use. This grill area is separate from the seating area but remains unobstructed for sight and conversation.

In the “before” photos below you will see a typical “Forgotten” back yard with weeds, awkwardly planted trees, a poorly sited utility shed, and grading issues. It all adds up to a space where the entertaining area is not attractive and uncomfortable to use.

A  modest amount of professional landscaping support who made just a few changes has opened up the yard and created various “use rooms”.  The “after” photo below demonstrates the effects of installing a simple gravel seating area, surrounded by planting beds.  The result is the creation of a tranquil reading and contemplation space while correcting the grading problems.  In this transformation process, the storage shed was moved to the underutilized side yard, leaving the relatively flat portion of the yard for a play lawn to be enjoyed by the household’s children. The transformed yard can now provide many activity choices for entertaining friends and family.

How Good Design Can Change Your Lifestyle…

Small changes can often make a big impact. The typical backyard patio is often a small concrete slab surrounded by lawn. Generally people don’t go past the edge of the patio so it ends up as annoying useless space. In this example, the Homeowners’ were frustrated by the lack of space for cooking and didn’t even have room for a outdoor seating. By removing the lawn, a much larger more functional patio was created. Now the Homeowners and their family and friends can enjoy the fun of having people over for a barbeque or evening conversations around the fire pit. Not only is this more beautiful space but less maintenance as well.

How Good Design Can Change Your Lifestyle…

When our Landscape Consultants and Designers go out to meet with our clients they make a careful evaluation of what exists and question the homeowners on how those elements are working for them. In this project the hot tub had good access from the house, the deck was well maintained and there was no reason to remove those functional pieces. The deck just extended too far into the landscape and having a fire pit in the middle of a wood deck isn’t the best idea in terms of safety. You can see the dog pen area and no plants are screening the existing cedar fence.

In the finished project all of those issues were taken care of. Planting in front of the wood fence makes us feel like we are in a garden. The flagstone patio is a new element and draws the family further into their landscape. Also the pet area is now screened and not intruding into the wonderful entertaining space.

How Good Design Can Change Your Lifestyle…

This project turned a neglected side yard into a wonderful inviting garden. One of the basic concepts of design is to understand the circulation pattern. In this before picture the “wedding cake” stairs were not only dangerous but illustrates how the circulation was taking up to much precious space in this landscape. This homeowner was interested in having a garden retreat. The finished project shows how a relatively small space can be successfully designed to include positive circulation paths, water feature, gathering space, and containers that were important to this family.

How Good Design Can Change Your Lifestyle…

This picture shows a common situation…a well worn deck and a hot tub next to it.

This family wanted better access to the hot tub, a low maintenance deck, a safe play space for small children and inviting areas to encourage use of more of the property. The newly designed multi-level deck is made of Trex so it is easily maintained. Gates were installed between the areas to keep children and pets safe. The hot tub was never moved…we built the new deck around it. This space looks so much more inviting with the forest view and beautiful deck. The Montana flagstone patio draws guests from the deck out into the landscape. Altogether this was a successful project.