Need help with deck/patio design
How to improve the look of my backyard? Right now, it looks pretty good from afar but there's not much usable deck space. Up close, the area looks untidy, too many plants too near the house and frankly, also in need of maintenance. We want to revamp the backyard to make it more usable and more importantly, low maintenance. Our first thought is to replace the complicated stairs with a simple one going down from the side of the deck. Open up the space and put a patio there. Kinda worried how it's going to turn out though, would appreciate any advice/pointers on how to redo the backyard.
Comments (10)
Mango YC
5 years agoThanks for your response. Here are some more pictures that I took from the center of the yard. I also feel that the current stairs looks good but it just took up so much space. The area around the stairs are not usable and surrounded by so many plants that require so much maintenance to keep clean. The stairs has some rots that need fixing and maybe a new coat of paint.
The main driving force for the change is that we kinda want to build a big patio so that the area near the house is clean and free of plants. Would also like to build a cabana, maybe where the water feature currently is.
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Comments (4)The aspect of rearranging a multitude of plants (of unknown quantities) you already have into other parts of the yard would be very complex, and therefore, difficult. It's not probable that you could get much comprehensive help by remote. You definitely have a knack for creating, ambition and some stock to work with. Even though certain aspects of the plan are a little funky looking by professional standards, what you've done nevertheless has charm and a certain homespun appeal that many people enjoy immensely. I don't mean any of that in any negative way. There are lots of lovely things around the world that are created like this. I would like to give you some food for thought as you progress with the project. Essentially, you are creating a functional piece of art. Because the main function is that of being a space that one is able to move through, it is easiest to think of it as a room or series of rooms (as you determine) that just happens to be outdoors. Therefore, it is made primarily of plants, dirt, trees and rocks ... those things that hold up well outdoors. Like inside, the room is made of "floor," "ceiling," "walls," "windows" and "doorways." If you were creating an indoor space, though you might have general ideas about them, you would not begin by dreaming about specific lamps, drapes, tables and chairs. You'd begin by thinking about window and door placements, wall textures and colors, trim and molding, floors and finishes, and how the ceiling will handle light. Later would come objects that go in the room that blend with the room itself: tables, chairs, lamps, rugs etc. For some odd reason, when we are creating outside space, people have the perpetual habit of falling in love with things ... objects (usually plants) that go in the room and start cramming the room full with their "pets" before they give much thought about the and architectural framework of the room itself. Outdoors, a tree or arbor creates a ceiling. A tree's canopy can not only seems like a roof, but also a very tall wall. Woody plants and vines can creates walls of whatever height one wishes. Sometimes they need extra support. Sometimes only trimming. Low growing, spreading plants create floors (as do rocks and earth.) Before thinking about irises, peonies and daffodils, it would be better to forget entirely about all the plants and concentrate on the forms, arrangements, heights and sizes that will define the room itself. You've all ready got a good start with a floor made of rock. Maybe it should be (visually) extended somewhat larger with a low growing, woolly looking mat of vegetation. It looks like you have begun a low wall already to separate the view into the neighbor's yard. Maybe a higher elevation "floor" (of plant material) should transition form the low floor to that wall. There are some good looking, freestanding "columns" (clean tree trunks ... very nice! ... almost palm tree like) to one side of the patio. Maybe each would look good resting on a circular base. You could begin by envisioning these "architectural" features of a plastic, formless material. (I once liked to think of everything being made of bread dough since it can take on any form.) Once the overall forms shape up, one could begin thinking about the specific character that will make up the forms. One might turn a ball of bread dough into a big leaf hydrangea, or a hedge of them. A pizza form that has been rolled out and placed next to the patio might become a bed of wild ginger or vinca minor ... it depends on what you like, what you have, the light and moisture conditions, and what you're willing to put up with. (Some plants have bad habits but they are so beautiful they must be tolerated!) You call the shots. I've gone on enough, but I think you get the general idea. Fall in love with the plants AFTER you know what you need and get those that can fill the bill. Sometimes a hedge can be a single plant material ... or it can be mixture of similar-sized plants, depending on the character that is desired. Usually, plant lovers can find a way to squeeze in -- in a sensible, artistic way -- most of the things they love. But if you don't do the architectural exercise first, you run the risk of creating something with a hodgepodge, cemetery-ish appearance ... with things sitting all over the place. It's good that you recognize the faults of the arbor. If it was at least 2' wider, a foot taller and made of beefier wood -- and painted! -- it would work better. I'll return with a hardscape suggestion when I get more time....See MoreNeed ideas for deck/patio...please help
Comments (3)Your plight is very similar to ours more than 15 years ago. A backyard waiting for something. We planned, then built a brick paver patio. An egress porch covering the original steps was part of the plan, as was a free-standing pergola. Footings for these were installed in conjunction with the patio build. We don't experience any visual obstruction with the pergola from inside the house - it is approximately 14' from the house and 9' tall. Our patio is graded about 22" below the first floor. Following completion of the patio, we paid a local nursury to design the flanking gardens. I've linked photos of our patio and its' features. Comments are below some pictures. There is another album with more details about the pergola. Hope this helps get you started. Good luck. Here is a link that might be useful: Patio...See MoreNeed help in Selecting Patio Deck Tile
Comments (0)I am planning to make patio something similar to - http://www.remodeling.hw.net/project-gallery/featured-dual-radius-deck_o I am confused for which Tile to use..Any suggestions..I m debating between following three.. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Style-Selections-Serso-Black-Walnut-Wood-Look-Porcelain-Floor-And-Wall-Tile-Common-6-in-x-24-in-Actual-5-75-in-x-23-75-in/3815453 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Style-Selections-Serso-Mahogany-Wood-Look-Porcelain-Floor-And-Wall-Tile-Common-6-in-x-24-in-Actual-5-75-in-x-23-75-in/3815455 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Del-Conca-Woods-Vintage-Gray-Wood-Look-Porcelain-Floor-and-Wall-Tile-Common-6-in-x-24-in-Actual-23-5-in-x-5-84-in/1000046237 Also suggestions on color for Patio ? Thank for your time...See MoreNeed help deciding between a Deck or Patio
Comments (10)Would have a landing where the stairs end now, and then add landing width steps coming off of it toward the front and to lawn level. Expand existing lower patio to accommodate whatever needs are desired. Does not need to extend in front of left half of home. Landscaping/planting can make up for whatever "balance" issues are perceived....See MoreMango YC
5 years agoRecently we had a massive snow storm resulting in a few fallen trees and many dead plants hence the neglected look of the yard. The existing deck steps take up pretty much all the space so the only usable space is under the deck. Without changing the steps, we don't gain much space if we were to pave the entire under area. We also have wasps and for some reason, they like building nests around the deck steps.
We're not set on having the gazebo but just thought that it might be nice to have since we have so much space in the yard.
Definitely going to remove the bushes right in front of the window but maybe just trim the larger ones in front. Not too sure. We're looking for landscape designer now but I feel that we need to know what we want first to get better results. Also aware that deck and steps are expensive so that's why we are more keen on building a bigger patio since it's cheaper. And maybe a spiral stair if it's cheaper.
More pics below. Thanks again!
PROYardvaark
5 years ago"We're not set on having the gazebo but just thought that it might be nice to have since we have so much space in the yard."
"... the only usable space is under the deck. Without changing the steps, we don't gain much space..."
These two statements seem to be arguing against one another, making them difficult to reconcile. The pictures seem to indicate, more or less, a fair amount of space, making the stair removal position puzzling. And it seems as if removing the stairs is, in a way, jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Patios are not necessarily cheap either. The steps might need some fixing now, but that's potentially a lot cheaper than demolishing them and reconstructing them differently. The eyesores that exist below the stairs and deck seem to be, more or less, a lack of installing the right plants or materials, and a lack of maintenance.
Could you add another photo spread? Stand at the top of the main set of steps (near the center of the house) and show a series of slightly overlapping photos of the outward bound view, trying to include ground space within 10' - 40' of the house. (Aim the camera down a little but not too much.) The house itself should show in the first and last picture. (Don't use a computer/camera generated panorama as it is too small to see detail.)
Mango YC
5 years agoI'm sorry for the confusion, I meant lack of usable deck/patio space. We have a very large yard so plenty of space to run around but not so much for patio furnitures, bbq etc
We've had a few designers/contractors out and the general consensus seems to be that the deck steps should go too. And that the plants on the right should go so we are pretty sure that we would remove all plants. The only problem is that the septic tank is located a few feet from the windows (to the right of the main steps when facing the house) so we'll have to think about what to do with that area.
Also consensus is cabana/gazebo is a bad idea so I guess we're not doing that anymore.
Here are a few more pics:
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago- PRO
Yardvaark
5 years ago
Revolutionary Gardens