Living Alfresco
With your imagination as your guide, follow the lead of many homeowners who have transformed their backyards into outdoor "rooms." They have made these spaces as important to their families' quality of life as their kitchens and family rooms are.
When Richard and Rachel Peardon recently remodeled their French country-style home in the foothills of Woodland Hills, Calif., the project didn't start and stop with the interior. Rather, it incorporated a backyard makeover that extended far beyond the obligatory swimming pool and spa to include a full outdoor kitchen with a wood-fired oven, a covered stone terrace, multiple seating areas and a dream list of other outdoor amenities.
"We used to travel and do a lot away from home, but we don't do that as much because we can't find a place with a better environment than we have here," says Richard Peardon, who works in the construction industry. "I can't go anywhere to be more peaceful."
Peardon speaks for thousands of homeowners in America who have discovered the joy and tranquility of vacationing in their own backyards.
The current drive to create the ultimate backyard originated with the "nesting" phenomenon of the 1990s - when dual-income families were so exhausted at the end of the day that they wanted nothing more than to relax in the comfortable surroundings of their own homes. At the same time, empty-nesters were reaping the rewards of a good economy and were spending record amounts on home theater systems, professional-grade kitchens and luxurious bathrooms.
Now this trend has spilled over to the backyard. Not long ago, the design community heralded, "What's in is out and what's out is in," which emphasized the blurring of the lines between a home's interior and its exterior. People started to bring stone, glass and metal furnishings into their homes and to move designer fabrics and upscale furnishings to the outdoors.
"The line between the house and the outdoor space continues to disintegrate," adds Julie D. Taylor, author of Outdoor Rooms. "Many designers are using the same, or similar, materials both on the interior and exterior to extend the house to the outdoors. It breaks down the barrier and gives a feeling of a larger house."
Peggy Husmann of Bradenton, Fla., took that concept to the extreme when she moved her family of four children into their new $1.6-million home. One corner of the family room features two sliding doors that literally open up the entire room to the pool and spa area.
In Florida, many pools have screened enclosures to keep pests out and reduce the likelihood of insects or birds getting into the house. Husmann's pool area also features a wet bar, a gas fireplace and a built-in barbecue. From within the house, a 30-ft. wall of windows provides unobstructed views of the pool and spa area and of the trees and lake that lie beyond.
The Cost Factor
Of course, the typical homeowner is not living in a multimillion-dollar home. So how much can you expect to spend on your ultimate backyard? According to landscape designers and builders, the cost estimate is anywhere from 10 - 15 percent of the home's value. So, if you have a $200,000 home, you should budget $20,000 - $30,000 for your backyard. If it's a $2-million home, then the ultimate backyard could cost up to $300,000.
"If we have people who are concerned about 'overdoing' it, I use 10 percent as the rule of thumb," offers Todd Hubbard of Leisure Water Pools in Sarasota, Fla., a division of Lee Weatherington Homes, which built Husmann's house. "If you have a $350,000 home, it's nothing to spend $35,000 or more on the pool area by the time you add an outdoor kitchen and dining area.
"Clearly, the "ultimate" yard for someone in the middle of the economic scale is quite different from that of someone at the upper end. Nevertheless, a person with a modest household income can still create an enviable backyard: Instead of a tile-lined pool and a raised spa with bluestone decking, the options can include a portable hot tub/spa or an aboveground pool. Instead of a fully-functioning outdoor kitchen, alfresco meals can be created on a stainless steel gas grill. And, instead of spending $10,000 on multiple groupings of high-end outdoor furniture, a homeowner can spend about $1,000 at discount stores. The ultimate backyard can be achieved with any price range.
The point is that cost should not get in the way of creating the ultimate backyard because there is a lot that can be done at every level of income. Like beauty, "ultimate" is in the eye of the beholder.
Blending Indoors and Outdoors
In the Sunbelt, where outdoor living is a year-round luxury, outdoor kitchens are in high demand. "The outdoor kitchen-fully loaded-is a big trend right now," Taylor remarks. "You'll find kitchens that approach professional-quality levels. The built-in factor is key, as it creates a real 'room' rather than just a yard with appliances." For those who live in cooler climates, where such an investment may not pay off, built-in barbecues are in high demand.
Robert and Patricia Schofield, who have taken early retirement in Boulder City, Nev., opted for a modest stainless steel barbecue grill on a rolling cart - but they spared no expense on the rest of their backyard. A 12-ft. ceiling with three ceiling fans covers the patio, which is accessible from the master bedroom, formal dining room and the family room.
Meanwhile, additional seating areas have been incorporated into the rest of the yard, creating multiple outdoor rooms with different views of the surrounding mountains and a vanishing-edge pool, which appears to flow into a distant Lake Mead. The Schofields chose a natural-looking pebbled finish for their pool and spa so that the backyard would blend into the surrounding desert. Two rock waterfalls also merge seamlessly with the landscape.
"The backyard should feel like a collection of outdoor rooms," reiterates landscape designer Katie Spitz, of Katherine Spitz Associates in Marina del Rey, Calif. These "rooms" can be differentiated by plantings and a purpose to create cozy areas for relaxation or to open spaces for entertaining. "That way, the backyard can be used the way we use our homes, accommodating different moods and activities, from quiet and meditative to active and noisy." Spitz says that hot tubs and spas can easily be hidden in "secret" gardens or ferny dells, creating a very rustic and romantic outdoor room.
A hot tub or spa can also be a dramatic focal point. For a model home in Pleasant Grove, Utah, Backyards of America partially sank a portable hot tub beneath a large trellis. The expansive patio, partially enclosed by a colorful retaining wall, was outfitted with a bistro table and chairs and a stainless steel barbecue grill. For greater privacy, many hot tub/spa owners opt for a prefabricated redwood, cedar or polymer gazebo. Models range in size, with some just large enough to contain the hot tub/spa, and others that are spacious enough to accommodate not only the hot tub, but also additional furnishings, such as a bar and stools. Sliding, tinted windows enable users to create an open-air sensation or a closed environment, depending on the situation. Many models offer skylights that permit sunlight during the day and stargazing at night.
Whether hidden in a secret garden or placed front and center, some element of moving water is a must for any ultimate backyard, Spitz advises. "We love using water emitters that send thin lines of water arching over the pool or spa. This is probably the newest amenity that we've seen," she adds.
Today's water features are soothing, attractive and affordable. Newer, modern designs in waterfalls and spray fountains are especially elegant.
Finishing Touches
Like frosting on a cake, creative landscaping and a variety of plantings can dress up any backyard. There is no such thing as an ordinary pool once flowerbeds and evergreen bushes surround it. And, planters are a must to soften the look of wooden decks or concrete patios.
"We use lots of large pots to animate decks and terraces," Spitz says. "Large pots look more dramatic than small pots." Another finishing touch is lighting, which is important to make the yard alluring at night. "I'm a fan of moonlighting-directing lights up and down from trees," Spitz comments.
To light their large patio, the Schofields employed 24 recessed lights, wired in two sections, and put both on dimmer switches, enabling them to produce just the right amount of light for any occasion. After investing so much in the ultimate backyard, it makes sense to illuminate it for nighttime enjoyment. So, why are more homeowners investing so much time, effort and finances creating their ultimate backyard? "The simple reason is that using our backyard has become a lifestyle," says Robert Schofield. "We spend a lot of time there and we wanted to create something absolutely stunning. We're so glad we did."
Article originally written by Alan E. Sanderfoot for Pool & Spa Living magazine.