Outdoor Living Under $100,000

The goal of this project was to create more living space in an unusable backyard with severe slopes and disjointed spaces. A deck was added off the existing back door and carried around the corner of the house to provide both shaded and unshaded sitting areas, a cooking space, and outdoor dining. Composite material with hidden fasteners provided a streamlined look.

For the remainder of the backyard, a cohesive landscape was needed with simple, easy-to-maintain elements and a custom play area for the grandchildren. With the existing cedar tree and small retaining wall, it was decided to split the two spaces for different functionalities. In the upper backyard, off the deck, a two-tier retaining wall was installed for a flat grassy area for the kids to play. The lower backyard made the most sense for the adult entertainment space. The client requested a Pennsylvania bluestone patio with a fire pit. The stonework used the existing organic nature of the stones like a puzzle with poly sand between to avoid unwanted weed growth. The stone bench around the fire pit was created freestyle with a slight curve to be a permanent seat with a backrest. 

A customized play space was created using innovative green tiles made from used tires. The tiles were set over a compacted gravel base. The wood border was added for easier installation of the play squares and to separate the bed spaces. In the bed spaces, the plants were kept relatively simple with a variety of colors to meet the client's preferences.