A NE Portland Backyard Makeover Design
NE Portland clients landscape dreams included a studio, lots of entertaining spaces and lush plantings.
Studio garden for entertaining in spring NE Portland in its first year. In the background a new Italian oak tree was planted for shade and privacy. Quercus frainetto – Forest Green Oak
Transforming Dreams into Reality: A Backyard Makeover Story
My clients had a long wish list for their charming NE Portland home. For 18 years they have thought about what changes would make their backyard into a dream outdoor living space.
With plans to stay for at least another 30, they love their neighborhood and home, they decided it was time to transform their underutilized backyard into a personal paradise.
The long grass of their NE Portland backyard before the custom design for their dream outdoor living space.
The Big Wish List
They discovered Landscape Design In A Day through a web search and came to me with a comprehensive wish list. They envisioned a backyard that catered to their lifestyle and passions, with the following features:
- A large patio or deck for entertaining.
- A secondary seating area in the garden for relaxed conversations.
- A hot tub and sauna (though these were cut I asked for the full wish list)
- A studio for creative pursuits.
- Curved pathways and room for their dog to run.
- Shady spots for their dog to lounge.
- Bird-friendly features to attract local wildlife.
- Outdoor cooking amenities, like a grill and possibly an outdoor pizza oven.
- Privacy and good views, blocking out undesirable sights.
- Sun for edibles and herbs, alongside shade for comfort.
- Lush planting areas with color
- Low water usage and a better watering system with a timer, without investing in a full irrigation system.
Designing Their Dream Yard
Backyard in NE Portland with large flagstone patio, paths and studio, gravel base installed and in foreground a water feature with a drilled rock takes its first test run. Photo by Donna Burdick of D and J Landscape Contractors
We worked together to prioritize their wish list and right away with my first sketch we all agreed the hot tub and sauna would not fit. There was enough room to have the studio, the entertaining area and a lush garden. We kept the large laurel hedge (initially) because it provided so much privacy. The need for more lush garden planting areas won out over the laurel. They also had many lush plantings that they were fond of. Some would be re-used beautifully. With such a small yard a lot of our time and focus went to the layout of the garden rooms. I wanted a gracious landscape that would feel inviting and not cramped.
It took us several drawings with different locations for the studio to see that the studio at an angle was the right choice. To me it made more usable space and at first to my clients it seemed to take away square footage of the yard. True enough there would be more square footage if the studio fit squarely into the back corner of the yard. I was happy when I finally did the right drawing so they too could see how the angle was beneficial.
Primary and Secondary Seating Areas: We created a spacious primary patio perfect for entertaining and a secondary seating area for more intimate gatherings.
Continue reading about this dream outdoor living space in our upcoming Part Two blog that will include more details about the landscape design and plantings.
Contact me today and lets talk about starting your own landscape dream.
