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    Our backyard: from drab to fab

    We had our back-yard redone. We’d been talking about it for awhile, but since it wasn’t an indoor space we needed to address, it was never high on our priority list until the rest of the interior stuff was done. However, since the space within the walls is finally where we want it to be, I started eyeing the forest of gloomy bushes in the back of our house. The boys are getting bigger, and I’d love for them to be able to play outside on our own property.

    When S and I talked about the back-yard this January, we had agreed, that our goal was to meet with a few landscape architects and come up with a design for the yard by April.  And then gather up the cash we’d need to make it happen. I’ll spare you the long story, but we got lucky and met our landscape guy at a Home & Garden show. Initially he came to bid on doing the stamped concrete work, but we then found out he can do it all, and since we totally clicked, he had a great portfolio and a price that couldn’t be beat, he was hired… and we decided we actually DO the yard, and not just the design.

    So here is the before:

    Dark, overgrown and you could’ve used some of the dips as barricade trenches in a battle.

    And here is the after:

    Different huh? We likey!

    My favorite feature is the chalkboard wall S put together. You can see it at the edge of the far wall in the overhead shot. I’ll let S write a post on that one separately though, since it’s totally his baby.

    And look. We apparently have a view. Who knew?

    Next up? Furniture. But that will have to wait until after we recover from Uncle Sam’s extended arm this tax season. Meanwhile, G is loving running back and forth on the deck unobstructed by chairs and tables. He’ll be a sad boy once the furniture comes in.

    9 responses to “Our backyard: from drab to fab”

    1. Jennifer says:

      Gorgeous, simply gorgeous! Absolutely an incredibly difference, I love that the deck it towards the back in order to take advantage of that beautiful view. The glass “fence” is brilliant. Love, love, love it all!

      • avalikelava says:

        I’m really happy with the glass railing. It was more expensive than, say, plexi, but it will last longer. The only thing that could’ve possibly made it better, but jury is out on this one, is if it were taller. Winds, in our neck of the woods, can really pick up and it will be interesting to see how we’ll handle a lunch outside .

        But glad you all approve.

    2. Katie says:

      Holy Amazing!! Love it!

    3. JoAnne says:

      Absolutely AWESOME. I can’t believe how much bigger it looks now that it’s opened up!!!! WOW!

    4. dadata says:

      Look nice, but seems to be hazardous for kids.

      How thick is the glass and how fast can you replace a panel to prevent kids from jumping down ?

      How tall is the railing?

      Ho long before G climbs over?

      • avalikelava says:

        The glass is 1/2 inch thick, and replacing it is possible, but not immediate
        The railing is taller than G
        Unclear how long before he climbs over. He’s expressed no interest in it. Quite frankly there’s no appeal to climbing over it, and well, if he does, we’re counting on the huge cactus plant underneath the deck will break his fall 🙂

    5. Wow. I remember when you first bought the house and we talked about how cool it would be to do something like that. It IS that cool! Is that a little door on the left side of the glass fence?

    6. Shane says:

      Yes, that’s a ‘gate’ that goes down to the canyon side. Primarily to be able to get balls that fly over the railing. I didn’t want me or the kids to have to jump the railing. It’s about a 10′ drop from the top of the railing down the ground along the edge of the deck.

    7. […] remodeled our back-yard. G rides his bike there; we enjoyed the little veggies we planted in the spring (… well, as […]

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