The Entertainer's Backyard

Project Overview

A 20-plus-year-old wood deck had reached the end of its life, and a sloped backyard limited how much of the acre-and-a-half property the homeowners could actually use. We are replacing the deck with a complete outdoor living space: geogrid-reinforced retaining walls and tiered patio levels turn the grade into level living areas, and the layout is split into three defined zones — a cookout and bar area, a dining area, and a firepit lounge with built-in seating walls. The firepit was relocated in the design so the tree became a feature instead of a hazard, downspouts are being redirected away from the foundation, and the yard is being regraded and re-established with sod. The full design was produced and approved before a shovel hit the ground; construction is underway now.