We bought this house for the backyard and a little over two years later it’s finally USABLE!!!! So excited to share our colorful, California backyard reveal with you all today. I know it’s been a long time coming! Ha! We started dreaming about what this space could be like the day we moved in, but didn’t break ground on it until this past spring.
This renovation is the first one that cost FAR more than we expected, so we really took our time as we narrowed down and focused in on our top priorities after estimates started to come in. We still want to add a few things to it down the line, but for now we are just SO SO thrilled with how it turned out and spend almost every evening out here. I’ll break it all down for you below, along with some cost estimates and the things we’re loving (and even regretting!).
But first some before and afters…
Quite a difference, huh!?!
Landscaping + Plants
Look at all our pretty plants!!!!!!!!!!!!
We worked with Rachael at Upcountry Design to do our landscaping design and she was SO WONDERFUL at bringing our vision to life. And helping us figure out what our vision even was, too. Ha! We both wanted the yard to feel really lush, but manageable, and we needed it to be entirely kid safe. And now it is!! Here’s the full “plant palette” Rachael used for those of you that speak plant:
- Strelitzia Nicolai (Giant Bird of Paradise)
- Asparagus Fern
- Agave Attenuata
- Kangaroo Paw
- Philodendron
- Green Aeonium
- Meyer Lemon Tree
Rachael and her team also put in a drip system to keep the plants watered and healthy in the most efficient way possible!
Turf or No Turf?
We wanted to break up the yard into three areas: dining, lounge and play space. For the play space, I can’t even tell you how many times we went back and forth on whether to use real grass or artificial turf for the yard. Ultimately, after chatting with Rachael, we went with her recommendation for artificial turf because it was the most low maintenance and fit best with our lifestyle. A few months in and we are SO SO SO SO happy we finally made the leap because it is so nice to never have to worry about it.
If you’re thinking of doing turf too, just be sure to find a company that uses high quality, non-toxic materials that are safe for kiddos. The quality of turf can vary A LOT.
The two most common questions I get are…
- How much did it cost? I think our final total for the turf (we covered just over 1,000sq ft.) was around $13k. Yeah, it wasn’t cheap, but we feel like it was really worth the investment for us!
- Does it get hot? Yes. Like, really hot in the sun in super hot temps. Because of how our house and trees are situated, half to all of our yard is in the shade almost the entire day so it hasn’t been an issue for us. Honestly, when it gets up into the 90s+ here we usually don’t want to be outside regardless, but when we are, we just hang on the shaded parts. It hasn’t been an issue at all for us!
Our Black Fence
When we moved in, we had the “back” of the fence facing our side along the far end of the backyard, and the “right” side of the fence on both sides. Honestly, the entire fence isn’t in great shape but we didn’t want to spend the money to replace it since it still “does it’s job” so we had the back fence re-faced.
A lot of you were shocked that we went with a black fence. I was too! Ha! But because the new fence was, well, new and the other ones were not, they were very different colors. So to unify it, we had two options: 1) paint the fence any color or 2) stain it a dark color. After weighing both cost (stain was cheaper) and durability (everyone said stain held up better), stain was the winner! I’m not a fan of dark wood fences, so that’s why we went with a black stain! I was nervous since I’m usually drawn to light colors, but I really love the contrast and how the plants pop against it!
I didn’t get the name of the exact stain we used, it all happened kind of fast and unexpectedly (long story) but a lot of people told me Benjamin Moore makes a great black stain if you’re looking for one!
The Lounge Area + Decomposed Granite
For the lounge area, we wanted the biggest couch we could find and a fire pit. My brother has a fire pit and we spend every night around it when we’re there, year round! We went with this sectional from West Elm and it is seriously SO comfortable. I am so so happy with it, and it’s so nice that all the cushions are easily removable so we can store them away and/or clean them as needed. I added a bunch of pillows to add some color. They are all made from Moroccan and Turkish rugs and I loooooove them!! They aren’t “outdoor safe” so we’re going to find some sort of storage chest to store them in when they aren’t in use.
For ground cover in this area, we had a few options: continue the turf or break up the area with another material and in the end we chose the latter! For both cost (we tried to cut turf costs wherever we could!) and visual reasons, we went with decomposed granite (also known as “DG”) which is kind of like a rockier sand in texture but it’s compacted so it’s a more solid surface.
We really love how it looks, it breaks up the yard and really anchors the space. But I’m not gonna lie… it’s not nice to walk on and all Arlo wants to do is dig in it all day. So, that’s been interesting! Ha! We told Arlo he can only dig in the area behind the couch and that seems to be working for now. 😉
We knew both of these things would be likely going in and still went ahead with it, so we don’t necessarily regret the choice. Just being honest if you’re considering it!
Our New Patio + Pergola
The old pergola was rotting so we had to tear it down. In place of it, we knew we wanted something more modern, open and airy… but we still wanted some shade and privacy out of it.
We ended up building a slatted wall down the side that faces our neighbor’s garage and it’s maybe my favorite part of the whole yard!! It makes such a nice statement, creates a nice pathway to the backyard from our side yard and acts as a great backdrop for food, a bar, etc. when we host parties or get togethers.
For the “roof” we made it way more open and minimal and then DIY’d some simple shades out of this sun shade material. It gives the perfect amount of shade protection while still letting in light and air so it’s not stuffy under there.
We replaced the old stone flooring with this tile from Zia Tile and it made maybe the biggest difference in the whole yard. I love that it ties in the black of the fence, but it still light, bright and graphic. We kept the furniture simple with just a table and benches for now, but may add a credenza/bar type table under the window for food overflow when we entertain at some point!
The new pergola/privacy wall cost about $10k, a lot of you asked about that! You can find a DIY tutorial for a similar wall here which is one of the inspo photos we sent to our contractor! If you’re handier than us, you can go the DIY route!
Outdoor Lighting
We added string lights over the lounge area and it really lights up the whole yard which is so nice! It makes it feel super cozy at night, too.
We added one sconce by the door on the patio, and had intended to add two more by the table, but turns out the existing electrical over there was illegal and dangerous and it was too costly to re-do it the right way, so we just had our electrician remove it entirely.
The basket light hanging above the table is an (indoor) IKEA lampshade that I DIY’d using a grass skirt from the party store. It currently doesn’t have a light in it, but we’re likely going to hook that up in the near future and use that as our light source here!
On “Phase Two”
We still have a few things we want to add to the yard in what I’m calling “phase two”! First, we’re still hunting for the right play structure for Arlo. We definitely need something (to keep him out of the DG, haha!) but keep going back and forth on swings vs playset vs playhouse and what will get the most use and also fit the best in the space/vibe we have. Stay tuned!
We also still need to add a grill… somewhere! We are thinking of putting up some sort of screen by where our water heater is (not pictured) to cover it, and may place the grill in front of that.
And last, we’re hoping to add some more lighting on the “play” side of the yard. Again, for cost reasons, we didn’t want to pay to have it done but when we start work on the garage-to-playroom conversion, we’ll be able to update the electrical in both spots at once which will make things more cost effective!
All in all, we are so thrilled to finally be able to USE this space!!! It feels like we doubled the size of our house, because we kind of did honestly!! This was our priciest endeavor on the house but also one that we’ll get the most use out of, and likely the best return on investment when we sell someday too!!
Photos by Jeff Mindell
Eeeep! Can’t believe this is the same yard!! Jeff took the “before” photos when we first bought the house, but honestly, it looked 20 times worse by the time we started the renovation haha! So it really feels like the CRAZIEST difference. Everyone that comes over is like “woah.”
The best part about living in Los Angeles is getting to enjoy outdoor space year round, and we’re so grateful to have it now!!
Sources
Landscaping Design: Upcountry Design
Patio Sources
Tile: Zia Tile*
Table | Benches | Chairs
Table Runner | Penny Cushions
Sconce | Basket Light from IKEA (+ DIY’d) | Large Planters | Lanterns
Pergola Shades
Lounge Area Sources
Outdoor Sectional* | Rattan Chairs
String Lights
Pillows: Soukie Modern and Badia Design
I’m not linking our fire pit because I bought it from a company I no longer support, and honestly we don’t like it anyways! It has almost no flame and we may replace it at some point.
Play Area
Rattan Love Seat | Kids Table + Stools
*Indicates an item that was gifted in exchange for coverage in this post. All opinions are my own!
Carmen says
You guys, this is amazing. You guys did such a fantastic job. & I’m glad you took your time with it. Worth every second. & the use of color in the space is amazing especially popping against the black fence. You did amazing!
Victoria Shingleton says
Kelly, it’s BEAUTIFUL! Really love this project – it’s so warm and welcoming! I’m having major backyard envy right now (I don’t have a backyard). Well done!
Also, anyone looking to “DIY” a pergola, gazebo, any overhead structure in California…. you’re going to need a building permit. To people in other locations, look into your local municipal codes.
Luka says
You don’t need a permit if it’s under 120 square feet. I learned this the hard way (mine is over 120 square feet).
megan says
Wait is washer and dryer outside a california thing????
Andrea says
On some older houses it is! But most nowadays have a laundry room/closet where everything is separate, unlike other parts of the country where the washer/dryer is in the kitchen.
Kelly says
Yeah! I know a lot of people who have it outside, since the weather is temperate year round and space is limited. But like Andrea said, mostly people who have old houses!!
Michelle says
You could use an outdoor solar or battery operated lantern light under your lamp shade… they have so many kinds these days. There are the ones with cut outs that project light shapes onto the surrounding areas; that could be a fun way to bypass the electrical issue.
Michelle
Kelly says
Smart!! I need to look into that!
Jennifer Howell says
They also have solar Edison lights that you can string across your backyard.
Jenna says
So good!!! Cant wait to see what you come up with for a play structure! I know my daughter who is 7, still loves to swing and do monkey bars, if that is any help. She will also play in a sandbox for quite awhile. My 1 year old will play in a sandbox forever.
Kelly says
That’s good to know!! Arlo LOVES swings for sure, and I know I loved mine until I was like… in middle school! Haha Now just gotta find one that isn’t gigantic!
Jenna says
So good!!! Cant wait to see what you come up with for a play structure! I know my daughter who is 7, still loves to swing and do monkey bars, if that is any help. She will also play in a sandbox for quite awhile. My 1 year old will play in a sandbox forever.
Amanda J. says
This looks awesome!!!!!
Amy says
Can you please share what brand/make of turf you picked out?? We are looking as well for our kids to play on and they have just so many kinds!
Mia G says
WOW WOW WOW!!!! I love this so much! The cushions are such a fun pop of color but I can tell it will still look wonderful even when they’re stored away! I totally want a pergola like that in our yard now. Wonder if we can convince the HOA…..
Mia G says
Also, the black fence is kind of perfect. With everything in front of it (plus the fact that it’s a stain rather than paint) makes it just kind of blend back there as a nice neutral backdrop that lets everything pop!
Kirsten says
love this! Looks like the best place to gather with friends. We are starting to gather ideas for our patio/yard in Charleston, sc and really love how you did the pergola. Curious about the tile- did it go stop the existing concrete, or how does that work?
Kelly says
Yes! They broke up and removed the stone and then used the same concrete foundation for the tile!
Hannah Robinett says
Beautiful space!!!
We just got this SmartPlayhouse for our 3 year old and she LOVES it. It’s on the pricier side but it’s beautifully made by a designer in Spain. I would highly recommend it!
https://www.smartplayhouse.com/portfolio/outdoor-playhouse-kyoto-junior/
Mjbythebay says
We had some initial issues with rocks popping out of our fire pit and were really unhappy with it at first but it ended up to be easily fixed by removing a lot of rocks that were sitting on the fire ring. We had initially dumped the whole bag of rocks in but only needed 75 percent of the bag. You might give that a try…our flame got way higher after that because it had more air circulation. Love your canopy!
Lindsay says
We are redoing our backyard and I am so inspired by your space! Where is the fire pit from?
Kevin says
Hi Kelly –
Thanks for a fantastic article showing all the ways to make your own DIY backyard oasis!
It appears that you may have installed Artificial Turf in some of the photos- and while most readers may not realize it, DIY Artificial Turf is not really that complicated.
Time Consuming, Yes. But with a little help from your friends, it’s a “doable” project. I wrote an article here that may be of interest to your readers https://besthomegear.com/diy-artificial-grass/
Congrats on an awesome blog and keep up the great work!
Jenifer Benz says
I personally like your article and thumbs up to you for sharing such a defined knowledge. Thank you.
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mojgan Mojgan dadashi says
Hello, May I ask where did you get your fire pit area L shaped seating?
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After a long time. I’ve read a beautiful article thanks for share
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Outdoor lighting is simply an amazing solution that gives your yard a special fairy-tale atmosphere. I read about this earlier on the electrical contractor blog. In addition, it works great for increase the level of security of your home
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Courtney says
Looks great!! Fun, casual and peaceful. Do you know what the mature trees are?
Kelly says
They are jacarandas!
Ashley O says
Did you cut the fabric? If so what did you do to keep it from fraying?
Jennifer Howell says
Looks lovely. I hope you are aware that those Bird of Paradise will get huge (20′) and spread at least 4-6′ wide over time. Looks like a lovely place to enjoy the outdoors!
h2test w says
nothing serious.
Shweta T says
Hi, your backayrd looks wonderful. We are also considering installing an artifical turf in our backyard. What brand/ make did you install turf?
Puja says
Hi Kelly,
If you were to list your readers by most time they have read this article, then I will top that list. 🙂 I LOVE LOVE your taste and specially those tiles. I am working on my backyard and thinking to install the same tile. I want to know how is your experience so far with kids spilling food and stuff on the tile? Are you able to keep them clean , specially as they are white?
Thank you in advance.
Puja
Alicia says
Hi Kelly
Are you able to share more about the artificial turf? The brand and type?
Thanks!
Alicia
Gael says
This is perfection! You’ve captured what I’ve been trying to visualize for our backyard and patio makeover. This is definitely going to be inspiration for us. We’re in TX, so we really appreciate the detail. The astroturf won’t work here, and now I know why I don’t see it being used much. I can’t wait to peruse the rest of your blog. I can tell I’m going to be a fan.
mercedes says
congrats! Looks fabulous!!! what grass do you have there? Thanks!
Lisa says
I love where you put the fire pit and the sectional in that area. I absolutely love how you did the ground cover. It looks stunning. Thank you for sharing these great photographs with the materials and plants used. We just LOVE your design! Simple but beautiful , warm and inviting.
Kelly says
Hi Lisa, Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled that you love the fire pit and the sectional. They create a cozy and comfortable spot to enjoy the outdoors. I used the ground cover to add some texture and color to the space. I wanted to create a simple but beautiful, warm and inviting area for people to enjoy. Thanks for taking the time to look at the photographs and the details of the materials and plants! Best, Kelly
Panda says
Ugh. The artificial turf makes me so sad. Not environmentally friendly; that plastic will last for thousands of years. The rest is lovely, especially the jacaranda tree against the dark fence.