Before and After: 3 Bare Yards Gain Leafy, Secluded Seating Nooks
Get ideas for tucked-away garden areas that offer privacy, relaxation and a feeling of escape
Want to get away in the garden without feeling completely cut off? Voluminous plantings are your ticket. Billowy grasses, bushy foliage and well-placed trees can hide seating from the street and neighbors’ eyes as well as other parts of the yard, creating luxurious-feeling escapes in not much square footage. In city or suburb, your magical retreat awaits.
After: Dense plantings against a dark backdrop were key in creating intimate areas and that feeling of being nestled in nature. Nuttall took advantage of the new fencing and paving to increase the vegetation, bringing in fragrant climbing plants such as star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides, USDA zones 8 to 10, find your zone) on the fence and velvety green baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii, zones 9 to 11) between the pavers. Pockets of ferns and billowing grasses add to the exuberant array.
Note too how the neighboring trees beyond the fence contribute to the leafy look.
This photo was taken from the space between the new outdoor dining table and kitchen. Behind this area is another table with chairs, rounding out the entertaining-ready setup.
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Note too how the neighboring trees beyond the fence contribute to the leafy look.
This photo was taken from the space between the new outdoor dining table and kitchen. Behind this area is another table with chairs, rounding out the entertaining-ready setup.
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Tucked into the back of the yard is a covered lounge with a hidden feel and a fire pit. Evergreen pleached oleaster trees (Elaeagnus x ebbingei ‘Compacta’, zones 7 to 9) create privacy without obscuring the original brick of the wall behind. The floating section of the bench to the right is underplanted as well.
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Before Photo
“After” photos by Jude Parkinson-Morgan
2. Private Sectors
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Palo Alto, California
Landscape architect: John Black of Verdance Landscape Architecture
Landscape contractor: Modern Landscaping
Before: A stretch of bare bisected lawn and some view-blocking trees against the side of the house — that pretty much sums up this San Francisco Bay Area front yard on a corner lot before landscape architect John Black put his talent to work. The homeowners wanted to grow flowers and edibles in addition to having places where they could lounge. And they wanted the new design to complement the home’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, with Japanese character and a bit of whimsy.
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2. Private Sectors
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Palo Alto, California
Landscape architect: John Black of Verdance Landscape Architecture
Landscape contractor: Modern Landscaping
Before: A stretch of bare bisected lawn and some view-blocking trees against the side of the house — that pretty much sums up this San Francisco Bay Area front yard on a corner lot before landscape architect John Black put his talent to work. The homeowners wanted to grow flowers and edibles in addition to having places where they could lounge. And they wanted the new design to complement the home’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, with Japanese character and a bit of whimsy.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
After: Although this spot looks like a secluded garden clearing, it’s actually the area on the side of the house near the tallest tree next to the window in the previous photo. The terra-cotta walkway at the back here is in about the same location as the main path seen previously. A stacked-stone wall curves behind the seating area, helping separate it from the street.
Along with preserving the mature trees, the designer brought in plantings including ‘Superb’ grevillea (Grevillea ‘Superb’, zones 9 to 11), ‘Barbecue’ rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Barbecue’, zones 8 to 10) and sage (Salvia clevelandii ‘Winifred Gilman’, zones 8 to 11, plus S. greggi ‘Dark Dancer’, zones 7 to 10). He focused on plants with low water needs throughout the entire redesigned landscape and turned to Houzz for ideas and inspiration.
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Along with preserving the mature trees, the designer brought in plantings including ‘Superb’ grevillea (Grevillea ‘Superb’, zones 9 to 11), ‘Barbecue’ rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Barbecue’, zones 8 to 10) and sage (Salvia clevelandii ‘Winifred Gilman’, zones 8 to 11, plus S. greggi ‘Dark Dancer’, zones 7 to 10). He focused on plants with low water needs throughout the entire redesigned landscape and turned to Houzz for ideas and inspiration.
Shop for outdoor lounge furniture on Houzz
Before Photo
Before: The backyard previously had a moss-covered brick patio and a few planting beds.
After: A new path made of Arizona flagstone took over from the previous path on the other street-facing side of the house. It meanders through a new garden there, then through a gate to this charming area with a cafe table and chairs. Delightful touches abound, including a laser-cut-steel pergola, a bubbler fountain made of California jade and a koi artwork by one of the homeowners.
Fragrant and colorful plants add to the romantic and tucked-away feel.
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Fragrant and colorful plants add to the romantic and tucked-away feel.
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3. Perfect Harmony
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their children
Location: Madrid
Size: About one-third of an acre (1,200 square meters)
Landscape designer: Aleza Nájera Paisajistas
Before: Extensive but abandoned, this landscape in Spain had plenty of potential. Designer Aleza Nájera Paisajistas used Houzz Pro software to manage the project, which involved creating several areas for different purposes while instilling overall harmony.
Find out why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their children
Location: Madrid
Size: About one-third of an acre (1,200 square meters)
Landscape designer: Aleza Nájera Paisajistas
Before: Extensive but abandoned, this landscape in Spain had plenty of potential. Designer Aleza Nájera Paisajistas used Houzz Pro software to manage the project, which involved creating several areas for different purposes while instilling overall harmony.
Find out why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro
After: A pool now sits in the area seen in the previous photo, and right nearby is this seating area nestled among billowy plantings. The designer kept water usage in mind, bringing in drought-tolerant plants that attract beneficial wildlife and offer plenty of texture and delightful aromas, such as lavender (Lavandula sp.), sage (Salvia sp.) and coast rosemary (Westringia sp.).
This pulled-back shot shows how the area relates to the pool and the greater landscape. Gently winding paths lead not just to the pool but to a fruit orchard, a vegetable garden, a dining area shaded by trees, and a table and chairs open to the sun.
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1. Narrow Escape
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two teenage daughters
Location: East London
Size: 701 square feet (65 square meters); 16½ by 42½ feet
Landscape designer: Natasha Nuttall Garden Design
Before: Not only was this London backyard plot narrow, but it had an unkempt appearance and a falling-down fence. The owners wanted a yard where they could entertain and hang out with their daughters, one that would have an immersive feel and be easy to maintain. Oh, and they also wanted a lounge area, a dining table, additional casual seating and an outdoor kitchen. Let’s see how landscape designer Natasha Nuttall fit everything in.