Deephaven Patio

In October 2010, Tamea Price purchased a home in Rock Hill, South Carolina, that had been unoccupied for three years. She viewed this as a significant sign, especially since the property became available the same week her divorce proceedings began. The house, particularly the expansive backyard, required extensive renovation. The backyard, which overlooked a neighborhood lake, was initially overgrown with fescue grass that attracted geese and river birch trees around the pool that blocked sunlight and shed leaves. Price's vision was to meticulously transform the space with purpose and intention. The transformation of the backyard was comprehensive. TG&R Landscape Group removed all existing plants and hardscapes, retaining only the pool and the oldest trees. The redesigned area now features a hot tub beside the pool, which is enhanced with miniature waterfalls flowing from fire bowls. An updated outdoor kitchen and a cushioned seating area complement a large stone fireplace, custom-built by Kevin Crook of Bella Design Group, creating an inviting space for social gatherings. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, every element of Price's backyard was chosen with a specific philosophy in mind: form feng shui. Melinda Smith, a Western School of Feng Shui graduate, introduced Price to this ancient Chinese system. Form feng shui focuses on orienting structures and interiors to optimize the flow of positive energy. Unlike compass feng shui, it does not rely on magnetic bearings but instead divides a space into nine sections, similar to a tic-tac-toe board. Each section represents a life theme, such as career or health, and is associated with specific colors and materials that promote positive energy in that area of one's life. Price found that applying these principles deepened her connection to herself and her surroundings. Although she lacked formal training in landscaping or design, she used Smith's expertise as a guide to conceptualize her backyard. Price paid particular attention to the 'love and relationships' section of her feng shui grid, located in the far corner of her backyard. Here, she installed a striking Bermuda-style moongate, a circular stone structure symbolizing eternity. Inside the gate, two large stepping stones lead to a circular garden. Facing the lake, a traditional Japanese torii gate, marking a sacred space, features a loveseat swing. For her plant selections, Price chose blueberry bushes, planted in pairs, on either side of the moongate. Tall, tropical red-orange canna lilies encircle the garden, and spider lilies create a bed of blooms in the spring. Red and pink were specifically chosen for this area, as they are considered auspicious colors for relationships. In the 'fame and reputation' section of the yard, Price installed a custom-built labyrinth. Crafted by George Crump, 'The Stone Man,' it replicates one found in the medieval Chartres Cathedral in France. Labyrinths are believed in feng shui to guide energy flow by directing one's feet along a winding path. Price uses its eleven paths for meditation and intends to add it to the Worldwide Labyrinth Locator, allowing others to experience it. Her backyard is a testament to the vision, patience, and skill required to create an inspired outdoor living space that is both personal and meaningful. Price expresses her desire for her transforming life to attract new connections for sharing love and joy, considering her garden an oasis for both her inner and outer self. #BackyardDesign #FengShui #GardenTransformation #OutdoorLiving #LandscapeDesign #MeditationSpace #HomeImprovement #SereneRetreat #ZenGarden

Garden rooms are increasingly popular outdoor structures designed for relaxation and connecting with nature, effectively bringing the natural environment inside a home. Unlike greenhouses, their primary purpose is leisure, offering a retreat without the commitment of a full home renovation. These versatile spaces can accommodate lounging, entertaining, and dining, and their rising appeal stems from their ability to provide a natural sanctuary. Expert Laura Janney, founder of The Inspired Garden, emphasizes their role as a nature-filled haven for unwinding. Landscape architect Cory Morris adds that garden rooms are a less complex and more affordable alternative to traditional home extensions, potentially increasing property value. Before embarking on a garden room project, careful planning is essential. It is crucial to consult local building regulations and strategically choose a location that maximizes natural light and privacy. The design should also integrate harmoniously with the existing home. Considerations for amenities such as electricity, automation, heating, plumbing, and appropriate materials for both indoor and outdoor living should be addressed during the planning phase. Once the structure is in place, the focus shifts to planting. Low-maintenance options like ZZ plants, snake plants, and pothos are recommended for those new to gardening, as they are resilient and thrive in various conditions. For individuals with more time and rooms with ample natural light, statement plants like fiddle leaf figs, monsteras, and rubber plants can add significant aesthetic value. Plant trends expert Katie Tamony highlights "green drenching" as a current trend, which involves using a diverse range of plants and foliage with soothing green tones and varied textures to create serene spaces. Integrating exterior landscaping with the garden room’s interior, perhaps through climbing plants such as roses, hydrangeas, and clematis, further blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor environments. Decorating a garden room involves selecting elements that promote joy, peace, and happiness. Natural materials, soft color palettes, and an abundance of plants and fresh flowers in elegant vases are ideal. Since these are external structures, it’s important to consider off-season and nighttime use. This includes implementing an ambient lighting plan, with string lights being a popular choice, and creating cozy areas for reading and relaxation. Additional elements like wind chimes, wireless speakers, and candlelight can enhance the tranquil atmosphere, making the garden room a truly functional and beautiful extension of the home. #GardenRoom #OutdoorLiving #HomeDesign #LandscapeArchitecture #PlantCare #InteriorDecorating #NatureConnection #HomeImprovement

The article explores various strategies for enhancing backyard privacy, transforming outdoor spaces into tranquil and secluded garden oases. Creating a sense of privacy allows homeowners to relax and entertain without concerns about prying eyes, and different solutions are available to suit diverse yard aesthetics and functional needs. One effective method is to create a "green room" using strategically placed trees and foliage. Landscape architecture firms utilize these natural elements not only to soften garden boundaries but also to provide essential privacy and a quiet escape, particularly in urban settings. This approach makes the outdoor space an inviting extension of the home. Another natural option involves layering lush foliage around existing structures like fences. By surrounding a wooden fence with shrubs, trees, and other plants, a verdant and organic barrier is created, making the wall appear as an integral part of nature and adding to the garden's overall lushness. Adding structures is another popular way to introduce privacy. A cabana, for instance, can be incorporated into a poolside area to create a more secluded retreat, offering a private space for relaxation or entertainment away from other guests. Border gardens, exemplified by Martha Stewart's own garden, utilize pergolas framing wisteria, allium, and camassia to form delicate yet effective natural borders that enhance privacy and seclusion. Privacy walls do not always need to be solid. An iron privacy wall can offer elegance and seclusion while allowing natural light to filter through, maintaining an open and airy feel. Combining traditional elements, such as rock walls with shrubs, creates a classic and effective privacy screen, reminiscent of English cottage gardens. Incorporating shrubs adds height and integrates the wall seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. For a truly robust privacy solution, stone walls are highly effective, especially when designed to blend with the home's existing architecture and materials. Sourcing stones from the same quarry as the house ensures design continuity and a cohesive material palette, while the dense nature of stone also helps muffle ambient sounds, contributing to a serene environment. Pergolas are versatile structures that can enhance privacy while adding style and coziness. When adorned with string lights, they create a warm and inviting atmosphere, defining separate areas within the yard and acting as a visual barrier. Wooden fences remain a classic choice due to their natural material and ability to blend with the landscape, providing an easy and elegant way to ensure privacy for outdoor sitting areas and other amenities. Similarly, outdoor kitchens benefit greatly from privacy enhancements like pergolas for shade and white fences for added seclusion, fostering a private space for gatherings. For more advanced outdoor entertainment setups, incorporating a television within a private, wood-fenced area creates an ultimate hideaway for watching events with friends. Finally, for pools, the concept of a pool house designed to be hidden from the rest of the property offers a completely separate and private entity, functioning as another room of the home but with ultimate seclusion. These diverse strategies collectively offer homeowners a range of options to create their desired private and tranquil backyard retreat. #BackyardPrivacy #GardenOasis #OutdoorLiving #LandscapeDesign #Foliage #Pergola #StoneWalls #WoodenFences #OutdoorEntertaining

This article details the transformation of the outdoor spaces of Jeremy Giles and Rose Kanan's contemporary home in Sydney’s Paddington, undertaken by Phil Antcliff of Fifth Season Landscapes. The owners sought a garden suitable for relaxation and entertaining, and to visually soften the front of their house. Despite the restrictive nature of the inner-city property, Phil's design successfully converted impractical areas into versatile and functional outdoor rooms, creating cohesive front and back entertaining zones. The front yard, which previously featured synthetic turf, paving, and undesirable leylandii trees, was completely revamped. The new design resulted in a stylish front garden intelligently partitioned into two private sections. One area, a courtyard, exhibits understated elegance that harmonises with the surrounding neighbourhood and the adjacent dining room. This design effectively extends the interior living space, allowing a nearly seamless transition from inside to outside when the sliding doors are opened. The courtyard offers a serene lounging area, enveloped by lush greenery and the calming sound of a water feature, which helps to mask urban sounds while maintaining a connection to the street through strategically placed screening plants like Syzygium australe ‘Select Form’ lilly pillys. Key design elements in the front courtyard include ivory travertine paving, chosen to match existing tiles and create a comfortable size and shape. Citrus trees in large pots from The Balcony Garden add scale, complementing a stone-clad wall. An Eco Outdoor ‘Claybourne’ setting furnishes the space, creating a habitable outdoor room. The privacy screens, provided by the lilly pillys, were selected at an advanced size for immediate effect, also serving to reduce reflection from the light-toned tiles. Potted citrus trees continue the green perimeter, blending with the evergreen plantings. The design also incorporated a built-in concrete bench along the wall, which extends to become a barbecue spot, effectively drawing the eye across the garden's length. A charcoal wall serves as a backdrop, allowing the brighter tones of concrete and greenery to stand out, with jasmine planned to grow along wires for added privacy. The front entrance, a challenging area due to the existing heritage fence and gate, was made welcoming with generous sandstone steppers leading to the front door, anchored by a custom-built steel planter. The color palette and sculptural forms used in the planter and plants link the front and back gardens, ensuring a sense of continuity throughout the property. The back of the house, initially a narrow and barren strip, was transformed into a sophisticated and practical area. Paving provides a landing from the indoor bar and a functional path connecting the back gate, barbecue, and side passage to the front garden. Gravel was introduced for its multi-purpose utility, serving as a soft, permeable surface for rainwater drainage, adding textural contrast, accommodating plantings, and acting as mulch around Buxus balls, which mirror sculptural elements from the front garden. The tonal consistency among the travertine, gravel, and concrete, combined with varied textures, makes the narrow space feel expansive and visually engaging without being overly ornate. A central feature in the back garden is the high-impact concrete bench, which offers ample seating along the wall before transitioning into a taller benchtop housing a built-in barbecue. Its sleek design and finish contribute to the overall crisp aesthetic. Stainless-steel trellis wires on the boundary wall provide height without creating a solid enclosure, supporting climbing vines for privacy. A white flowering crepe myrtle further enhances screening and greenery, establishing an inviting entertainment area, especially when illuminated by Gardens At Night lighting. The planting scheme strategically combines various textures, shapes, and colours, including Japanese box, mondo grass, lamb’s ear, fiddle-leaf fig, Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, and a lime tree, to create depth and interest within the compact space. #CourtyardGarden #LandscapeDesign #OutdoorEntertaining #InnerCityLiving #GardenDesign #OutdoorRooms #PlantSelection #SpaceMaximization #HomeRenovation