The why
This couple was looking to create their dream landscape now that the kids had grown up and were out of the house. They completed extensive renovations to the inside of the home and the landscape was starting to look tired and mismatched with the house. They loved the outdoors but didn't feel they had the space outside to enjoy it, and wanted it to feel like that could vacation at home instead of travelling to a different part of the world.
So we had to change that. We wanted to draw make the transition from inside to outside as smooth as possible, and maximize the yards functionality. That way, they would be spending more time connected with nature doing every day things, not just entertaining guests. But one thing was clear, they didn't want the time outside constantly spent maintaining the yard. And although there were some existing trees and hedging that blocked views to the neighbours, they wanted the yard to feel even more private - more like their own little sanctuary to relax in.
"How to make a backyard feel completely secluded?"
This backyard didn't just need to be private, it needed to feel like its own world. It is an extension of the home, but once that threshold into the landscape was crossed we wanted people to feel like they were the only ones in the neighbourhood. Some very simple design principles were applied to accomplish this. The raised outdoor tile deck was designed to create seamless flow from inside to out, and the louvered roof structure made it feel like a cozy outdoor room instead of just a open patio. The seating height garden wall along the outside as well as the step down into the rest of the yard both break the yard out into specific uses. The rest of the yard feels like a little oasis that the homeowners can use to catch some rays or read a book. The large stepping stones lead to small patio that, once sitting in it, almost feels like a small private island without being disconnected from the rest of the yard. We didn't have to start from scratch either. Utilizing tall hedging and existing trees also helped to ensure the yard felt closed off from its neigbouring properties.
"How to design a small yard for maximum usability?"
We had to incorporate a lot of uses into this yard. Guests gathering around a firepit, functional outdoor cooking, and dining space all needed to be incorporated under a cover which would extend use during rainy summer days and colder fall evenings. careful consideration went into how much light was still flooding into the windows on the back of the house, so we designed in a louvered roof structure that could be left open to allow more light, or closed to provide shade and shelter. The garden wall was designed at dining and lounge seat height, so that during larger gatherings there is some informal seating available or the owners can add more dining tables with bench seating. During the times that the homeowners want to enjoy the sun, they can sneak away to the sunniest part of the yard and relax in the lounge chairs, or spend some time
"How to create a low maintenance backyard?"
A lot of homeowners want the beauty of a high-maintenance garden without doing the actual maintenance. Which is understandable, we want time to enjoy our yards. There are a few ways to accomplish this, but we incorporated low-maintenance materials, mass garden plantings, and seating walls. Materials like outdoor tile, composite decking, and concrete block are very easy to keep looking nice. One further low-maintenance material that was utilized is artificial lawn. This couple was planning for the future and keeping mobility in mind, so not having to drag the lawnmower to the back in order to keep the yard looking nice was a big stress relief for them. Planting in large blocks is another great low-maintenance strategy. Instead of planting in groups of 1, 3 and 5, we can decrease maintenance by planting in larger groups so it allows beautiful swaths of colour to grow together without looking overgrown. Lastly, a garden wall with taller plantings in behind it blocks the view to the soil or bark mulch, so if little weeds grow in the garden you can't really see them unless you are up close and looking behind the wall. Not to mention that it gives the homeowners a spot to sit and lean over while you're pruning or weeding.
the result
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