Hawthorne District Back Yard Transformation
residential
residential
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DESIGN GOALS
The previous owner of the house was a DIY kind of guy, who’s first choice of a paving material was brick which not only paved the ground from the back the house to the rear property line, but was also used in a retaining wall and a raised planter in the middle of the back yard. The old brick had become uneven, crumbling and slippery in the winter. The clients wanted it gone and they wanted a new, contemporary design. They had long ago decided they needed a better, private place to entertain, dine and relax. They wanted not only a patio to accommodate a table for six, but a lounge area for the same number of guests, as well as a separate small sitting area for two, in the sunniest spot in the yard for morning coffee. They wanted to retain but rebuild a few raised beds for herbs and vegetables. And lastly, the gutter-less roof extension on the garage poured buckets of rain on to the existing patio during downpours and needed managing. |
CHALLENGES
This project began with a complete demolition of the existing back yard including the removal of a dying ornamental cherry tree, a run of existing fencing and all of the original old brick. Access was limited. And no one really knew what we would find after demolition. Because of the size of the back yard (approximately 35’ x 25’), the incorporation of all the functions we wished to include was tricky Several small elevation changes required containment with a new retaining wall using a new material. |
SOLUTION
Once the old brick was removed, some grading was done to even out the major areas to accept the new 24” square concrete pavers. A gutter was installed on the roof overhang with a rain chain which solved water flow problems. New contemporary, cedar fencing and gate was installed around the perimeter. The raised bed which ran along the back property line, was increased in width to give plantings more room and to push the new patio farther away from the property line for privacy. Because of the size of the yard, to increase voice privacy, a bubbler water feature was installed. And much to the delight of the owners, it now attracts all sorts of small birds and bees. The new paver patio is scaled to accommodate dining, grilling and lounging. And the lighting which primarily for way-finding also lends an understated ambiance in the evenings. Although, the owners are gardeners, Celilo Gardens was asked to choose plants which required only moderate maintenance so the clients could spend more time enjoying their new space and less time working in it. Therefore, plants were selected more for their foliage color, contrast, texture, and all-around seasonal interest and less for their blooming ability. The plant palette that was created is also an even distribution of deciduous and evergreen plant materials. Lastly, even Mocha, the pup, gave the finished project her approval. At Celilo, we just love happy clients, even those with tails. WORDS FROM THE CLIENT.... "Good friends were here not long ago for dinner outside, and even though they’ve been here earlier this year and last year, he said “This looks like sunset magazine.” " |