This Berkley client's home was built in 2020, and the landscape was left to be a blank slate. With two young children and a small dog, they were looking to turn their backyard into a private and functional outdoor living space. Their wish list included seasonal color in the landscape, a space to relax and watch TV, and a fire pit area to enjoy late summer nights.

As Landscape Designer Brandon Opperthauser worked through the design, he imagined cozy courtyards nestled into large city parks. Just like in an inner-city, the biggest challenge here was available space. There is about 16 feet of space between the garage wall and the property line and roughly 40 feet of depth from the existing deck.

Brandon achieved year-round privacy using a specific breed of large evergreen trees that will eventually become a manicured hedge. We installed a seat wall along the back corner to create a more usable patio space. This seat installation eliminated the need for two or three more chairs and allowed for better flow when moving through the space.

The use of smart-home integrated landscape lighting in this space also allows for extended hours of use beyond sunlight and provides an added level of security around the home. The family is overjoyed at how we transformed their entire property. They spent many summer nights outside as a family in their new backyard.