concrete

This young family came to us looking to transform their yard into an area where they could easily entertain their guests. They were looking to add a seamless wraparound patio that meshed with the look of their existing home and garage. Concrete was chosen as the base of the patio, and was then topped with limestone slabs. A short retaining wall was added along the edge of the patio in the back to give the space more definition. Raised planters along the garage and a custom outdoor kitchen extend their living space to the outdoors. The designer chose to add lighting along the edge of the retaining wall giving the space a low, warm blanket of light. Bougainvillea was planted along the garage climbing upwards, providing a pop of color against the light coloring of the home. Holly trees were chosen to line the backyard fence, as well as the side yard along the street. This helped to provide a green wall of privacy and soften the stone facade.

Another fun Crestview project! This young couple wanted a back yard that reflected their bohemian-eclectic style and could add additional privacy from the ever climbing construction around them. A place for "hanging out and drinking coffee or beer in the backyard." But what was most exciting, was the air stream they had just purchased and were in the process of restoring. With the end goal of using it as a guest home for family and friends, we were challenged with creating a space that was cohesive and connected this new living space with the rest of the yard.

In the front we had another quark to fix. The sidewalk from their front door to the street suddenly stopped 5 feet from the curb, making a less than inviting entry for guests. So, creating a new usable entryway with additional curb appeal was a top priority.

We managed the entertainment space by using modern poured concrete pad's as a focal. A poured concrete wall serves as a bench as well as creates a visual anchor for the patio area. To soften the hard materials, small plantings of succulents and ground cover were planted in the spaces between the pads. For a backdrop, a custom Cedar Plank wall and trellis combined to soften the vertical space and add plenty of privacy. The trellis is anchored by a Coral Vine to add interest. Cafe style lighting was strung across the area create a sense of intimacy.

We also completed the fence transition, and eliminated the grass areas that were not being utilized to reduce the amount of water waste in the landscape, and replaced these areas with beneficial plantings for the wildlife.
Overall, this landscape was completed with a cohesive Austin-friendly design in mind for these busy young professionals!