Patio of the Week: Petite Pool Enhances a Toronto Backyard
A once-neglected yard becomes an inviting urban retreat, complete with an outdoor kitchen, a lounge and a plunge pool
A Toronto family’s desire to have a contemporary outdoor getaway at home, where they could relax and enjoy being outside, inspired the renovation of their backyard. Before the redesign, the 1,450-square-foot backyard fell short; it featured little more than overgrown shrubs, a decrepit lawn and a small patio that did little to inspire the family’s outdoor living aspirations.
With the help of landscape designer Samantha Kleinknecht — whose firm, SK Design, completed the project’s design and construction — the family can now dine, cook, lounge and even swim in their newly renovated backyard. “Even though the space is the same size, we’ve reclaimed a lot of it by taking out the overgrown plantings that were there and opening things up,” Kleinknecht says.
With the help of landscape designer Samantha Kleinknecht — whose firm, SK Design, completed the project’s design and construction — the family can now dine, cook, lounge and even swim in their newly renovated backyard. “Even though the space is the same size, we’ve reclaimed a lot of it by taking out the overgrown plantings that were there and opening things up,” Kleinknecht says.
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Before: The backyard was unmaintained and didn’t provide the family with the inviting outdoor living space they wanted. “There was nowhere to eat. There was nowhere to have people over,” Kleinknecht says.
After: The new backyard is paved predominantly with Techo-Bloc, an engineered material, in a light gray color. Due to the freeze-thaw cycle of Toronto, the pavers were dry-laid in an aggregate base. “We tend to dry-lay stuff so it has that give in the winter,” Kleinknecht says. This installation method also makes it easier to replace individual pavers if one breaks or stains over time. Using Techo-Bloc, as opposed to natural stone, also saved on the budget, which allowed the team to splurge on built-in features and natural stone accents around the spa.
New fencing made from pressure-treated stained pine encloses the backyard in a rich, dark material. (The team also stained an existing storage shed.) “Everything looks better against a darker fence,” Kleinknecht says. The dark color “does make [the fence] recede into the back a little to make [the yard] look a little bigger.” The horizontal placement of the planks also helps make the yard look bigger. For this kind of installation, Kleinknecht advises using deck boards, as opposed to fence boards, and placing the posts closer together to keep the wood from bowing.
Existing mature trees, including a Japanese maple, inspired a planting palette filled with shade lovers. “We went with greens, whites and pinks,” Kleinknecht says; the plants include oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’). Boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Gem’) lines the front of the shed and runs down the side of the yard for year-round color and structure. Artificial turf under the trees stays green throughout the year and provides a resilient play area for the family’s dog.
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New fencing made from pressure-treated stained pine encloses the backyard in a rich, dark material. (The team also stained an existing storage shed.) “Everything looks better against a darker fence,” Kleinknecht says. The dark color “does make [the fence] recede into the back a little to make [the yard] look a little bigger.” The horizontal placement of the planks also helps make the yard look bigger. For this kind of installation, Kleinknecht advises using deck boards, as opposed to fence boards, and placing the posts closer together to keep the wood from bowing.
Existing mature trees, including a Japanese maple, inspired a planting palette filled with shade lovers. “We went with greens, whites and pinks,” Kleinknecht says; the plants include oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’). Boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Gem’) lines the front of the shed and runs down the side of the yard for year-round color and structure. Artificial turf under the trees stays green throughout the year and provides a resilient play area for the family’s dog.
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An outdoor dining area sits along the fence. A built-in dining bench on one side of the table was a splurge but helped save space in the narrow yard. It also offers hidden storage and adds a custom touch to the design. “We also did some up-down lights on the fence behind the dining bench, so it feels like an actual dining room,” Kleinknecht says.
An outdoor lounge with a smokeless fire bowl and teak furniture sits at the bottom of the stairs, providing the family with a comfortable outdoor space where they can relax.
Kleinknecht also placed potted plants around the edges of the patio to soften the space and add greenery. In most parts of the patio, she used tropicals, perennials and annuals. “These plants will die back in the winter, but when the snow flies, the homeowner may choose to put some seasonal cuttings in some of the planters,” Kleinknecht says.
Behind the lounge, a new outdoor kitchen sits next to the outdoor dining area and features a built-in grill, a refrigerator and undercounter storage behind sleek stainless steel doors.
Kleinknecht also placed potted plants around the edges of the patio to soften the space and add greenery. In most parts of the patio, she used tropicals, perennials and annuals. “These plants will die back in the winter, but when the snow flies, the homeowner may choose to put some seasonal cuttings in some of the planters,” Kleinknecht says.
Behind the lounge, a new outdoor kitchen sits next to the outdoor dining area and features a built-in grill, a refrigerator and undercounter storage behind sleek stainless steel doors.
As a cost-saving tactic, the designer created the kitchen from a modular cabinet system, which one of the homeowners helped configure to suit her needs. The design team then installed a custom countertop made of polished Eramosa limestone, mined from a local quarry. The containers next to the kitchen grow culinary herbs.
Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two school-age sons and a dog
Location: Toronto
Size: 1,450 square feet (135 square meters); 58 by 25 feet
Designer and builder: SK Design; Feasby & Bleeks Design selected the furnishings
A new 9-by-9-foot pool that is 3 feet deep anchors the backyard. “The homeowners wanted a [full-size] pool, but they didn’t have room,” Kleinknecht says. This petite fiberglass pool gives the homeowners the feature they wanted while still leaving room for other landscape design elements. The team sunk the pool into the ground, keeping 15 inches above grade. They coped the top edge in Eramosa limestone, a locally quarried stone; the edge doubles as seating.
Given Toronto’s cold-winter climate, the pool is heated to be a hot tub in winter, with the homeowners placing temporary heating pads on the ground between the pool and the house for access. “I’m finding that even though it’s cold here, it’s a place they can use year-round,” Kleinknecht says. Unlike most freestanding hot tubs, which often have the control panel on the side of the tub, this one’s operating equipment sits in another part of the yard, which meant the team could build around the tub in a way that didn’t require access. (The pool is covered when not in use.)