Just like with any inside area, a gorgeous backyard is about those personal touches. Unlike with living rooms, however — in which furniture swaps and family accessories make a large impact — turning a sterile concrete slab into a distinctive exterior retreat takes more than just a modernized patio set; it takes a couple of distinctive design elements and a whole lot of creativity.
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Jim Coffman, president of Coffman Studio, began this Phoenix project. Initially a pool monopolized the garden; the homeowners needed it replaced with something helpful and low maintenance. Coffman attained this by developing a series of outdoor rooms with different functions. The new layout contains a dining room, living room, fire pit and yard, with good flow from 1 area to another.
Here is how to create the exact same cohesive, fun vibe in your own outdoor area.
Think about how you are going to use your yard. Do you like to entertain? Play football in the yard? Eat outside? Your preferences should dictate than anything else.
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And that will be enjoying it. Be sure to have something for everybody, including kids and pets, in your refreshed outdoor area. In this instance the homeowners have two large dogs, therefore Coffman included a faux lawn. The synthetic grass even has an antimicrobial treatment for fast cleanup.
Ceramic agave: custom, James Sudal; brown paint: Tea Bag, Dunn-Edwards; yellowish paint: Rubber Duckie, Dunn-Edwards; synthetic grass: ForeverLawn
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Properly divide your rooms. Resin panels on both sides of the fire pit help define that place, differentiating it from the outdoor living room. Dramatic uplights also enhance the nighttime ambience.
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Make an all-weather, weatherproof area. Coffman desired the homeowners to enjoy the garden rain or shine, so that he incorporated distinct colour variants: a fully covered dining space, a partially shaded living room and an open fire fire pit. The fire pit and uplights make the spot as pleasurable at night.
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Mix up your own materials. The customer loves rusted metal, therefore Coffman comprised a rusted fire pit and a pergola with a painted steel frame and a galvanized metal hat channel topper. He included Trex decking, stucco walls, resin panels, synthetic turf and acid-washed concrete to match — though not overwhelm — the industrial accents.
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Do not let strict HOA guidelines dissuade you. The homeowners reside in a growth and can not change or attach anything to walls that are shared, so Coffman obtained inventive. He incorporated pre-assembled yellow stucco walls for colour, character and spatial definition.
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Add an artistic focal point. This ceramic agave, that wasn’t a part of the initial plan, quickly became an integral part of the plan. For more character, the piece is paired with turquoise and yellow accents, colors pulled from favorite paintings within the home.
Ceramic agave: habit, James Sudal; deck: Trex; turquoise paint: Stone Bridge, Dunn-Edwards
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Leave a breathing space. Though it might be tempting to utilize every inch, do not: The terrace can easily look cluttered. Coffman purposely left some simple gardening space at the middle to prevent an overwhelming feel.