Project 03 - Backyard Backdrop
The backyard backdrop deserves a before and after comparison. This space took the longest the complete because even though it was a small yard, it was a big project! When we moved in, the yard was the least kid-friendly space you could imagine. A deck with no rails took up over half the space and the entire ground - including under the deck - was covered in rocks. With Cam's background in labor and construction we knew we could DIY this space. Four truckloads of rock later we had a blank canvas to work with.
In the summers Cam and I loved to have date nights at breweries, sitting on their patios with flights of new local beers. For us that was one of our favourite spaces to spend time just the two of us. And it wasn't just the beer that brought us there, it was the atmosphere. The patios were always humming with conversation, laughter and community. This is where our inspiration came from for our backyard, and the atmosphere I wanted to create for our family.
It started with the flower boxes. Cam built them to frame out the bottom of the garage. We finished the deck and patio that same summer and put in grass. It wasn't a finished space, but it was usable and the kids loved it out there. After spending a full season in the space we knew it needed something more. The tall garage wall drew your eye the moment you stepped into the yard, and not in a good way. It was a dull tan color which matched the exterior of the house, and at the time the fence and deck were not stained so everything just looked kind of dirty all the time. We needed color, texture and dimension, 3 things that are necessary when doing an outdoor project.
I had been dreaming about the trellis design for a while, but was too afraid to mention it to Cam because it would mean more work for him and I wasn't sure if he would agree with the design. To my surprise, I was wrong; he loved the idea! I told him my plans on a Friday and by Sunday we had it completed. The pergolas were an easy decision after that, capping off the door and window. I painted the exterior doors black to match the trellis, and we planted hops vines that would eventually climb the entire wall of the garage. The whole look turned out even better than I could have imagined and made our time spent here with family that much sweeter.
