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Design Dilemma Porches & Decks Landscape Design

Small awkward backyard...layout/design help pleaseeee:)

2 years ago

Our home is on a narrow downtown lot (40x140ft). We have sliding glass doors along the back of our home which open onto a porch that extends along the back of the house (the porch.. unfortunately isn’t the best quality wood and our builder put a concrete slab underneath by mistake). The remaining back yard is small measuring approximately 40x30ft and the side yard is approximately 10x80ft.

We were thinking that maybe the backyard should be hardscaped, and the side and front yard could be left grassy.
Wish list:
-small built in outdoor kitchen
-built in seating and a fire-pit.
-A water feature w/ small in ground spa if possible
-Also, the property next to our side yard is an eyesore and although we have a basic fence up...further privacy features on both sides of the rear yard would be a plus!

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Comments (13)

jck910
2 years ago
What is that huge black wall?
acm
2 years ago
Confused by 2nd and 4th photos -- what is the beam that stretches forward from the porch, and what is the large black wall at the back of your property??
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Wright, I'm finding I'm guessing way too much what the context might be. Is the driveway running along outside the basement stairs, or does the dining bay look out on it? Is there garden outside that back door or garbage cans? Where are the sunshine and views to be treasured and used? Is the bay to the floor or does it stop short? Is there a relatively spacious living room that could easily provide space for dining for 2-6? Is the living room so small that it really needs the open dining area shown to keep it from feelling cramped? Could you shift the door to the basement to the bottom of the stairs and open the stairwell at the kitchen level to open up the space visually? Would that be a bad idea because you never go down there if you can possibly avoid it? Just imagining in lieu of a real picture that: You have a pretty back yard outside that back door, do use the basement enough to make opening up that wall a less than horrible prospect, and the living room would be pleasant and attractive without the dining area: In that situation I'm imagining shifting the kitchen to the wider living room side in a precision engineered U. Dining for two by a glass back door, and maybe a pretty window added to make it particularly to sit there. Perhaps the bay remounted on the back wall. Open banister to stair well on left, art, mirrors, whatever displayed on the wall beyond, traffic flowing unimpeded along the left from back door to living room. BTW, DH wanted to catch tarpon, so I'm in Florida right now in an old mobile home juust under 600 square feet, but the layout is so excellent I'm constantly amazed at how large it lives. Except the kitchen. It was designed for an unaugmented area and its 7x10 was supposed to hold the dining area too. I fantasize about what some tweaking within its footprint could do for it. Someday maybe--if a storm doesn't wash it out into the estuary first.
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Hey Jillius! I believe the ceiling height (where you pointed) is the same as the kitchen, but I'll double check when I get into the house. Good point about the head space remaining the same due to the design of the staircases.. duh, I should've known that. :) I'm struggling to wrap my head around what I'd do here though.. level the floor, add 2 steps (up) from the basement, move the kitchen doorway over, and add 2 steps (down) from the kitchen to the great room? The benefit is that this increases the 7' width to 8'. However, since the stairs and exterior walls constrain any more opening, changing the back stairs area probably isn't enough for a U or L-shape, huh? I just hate facing walls while I'm in the kitchen (cooking, cleaning, and/or prepping). But I know galley makes the most sense.. Here are actual measurements I took (red are walls I'm contemplating removing). Here is another view of the backstair case area, while standing on the basement steps: The brown skinny door on the left next to the kitchen steps is a closet/pantry thing. View from standing in the great room looking toward kitchen: View in kitchen:
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"On a side note , my hubby is wondering if we can make the Den(what I referred to as formal living room) into a huge closet, part of the master bedroom and closed off from the foyer." No, just no. Do you really own so many clothes that you need a closet that big in addition to the walk-in closet you already have? Re-organize your existing closet better to hold more. Container Store has their Elfa systems on sale now. We redid all our closets with Elfa. They all hold 50% than they used to with the builder installed closet systems. You wrote that your dad lives with you. Is this a temporary move or a more permanent arrangement? Do you plan to care for him as he ages or will he move to an assisted living facility at some point? If he will be living with you for a long time, I recommend that you assess which downstairs room you can turn into a bedroom for him and add plans to expand the powder room to be a full bath. Or you add an elevator so that he can go between floors safely. For instance, if you enclose the DR to convert it to a bedroom, then it would make sense to move the formal DR to the hearth room, eliminating the need for a breakfast nook. If you enlarge the bathroom, you'll need to add additional pantry space elsewhere. If, however, your dad will move to an assisted care living facility when he begins to have more health issues and/or has mobility issues, you don't have to take the above considerations into account as you design the kitchen. If you haven't done your big picture plan first, put the kitchen remodel on hold until you have.
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Honestly, don’t waste your time and money on this apartment. Anything you add will be on your $ and with 3 dogs and a temporary room mate, I wouldn’t invest in anything.
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acm
2 years ago
Also, seems like you need a landscape architect to help you design and put a plan into place.
houssaon
2 years ago
I would not get rid of all of the grass. You can install privacy plants at strategic locations so you don't get a full view of the neighbors. You can add slats to the sides of the porch for privacy. I would also want something to break up the black side of the garage. Maybe you can incorporate it into your water feature.

These are Savannah Hollies, an evergreen tree.
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These are Eagleston Hollies
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Also look into Little Gem Magnolias.
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Lastly, the lilac color of the Crepe Myrtle would give you some privacy.
New Orleans Estate · More Info
sunshine_31
2 years ago
What does the sidewalk lead to, and why isn't it centered on the exit door? What is the big wall? What is that black bar overhead? How big is the grass area?
hhba
Original Author
2 years ago
Sidewalk is from the garage (with carriage house overhead) to the mudroom. There is a stairs that runs the length of the back of he garage so the door had to be in the corner. There is a bathroom in the back corner of our house so unfortunately we could not line up the sidewalk to the exit door. The “beam” is a covered walkway for the sidewalk from the garage to the house. Thank you for the privacy plants ideas!
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Some inspro

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kelli_ga
2 years ago
It’s such a small space that I wouldn’t landscape it without a pro. You know what you want. Once you start hardscaping, things become more difficult to change and yard becomes hotter. What about breezes? Plants?

The pro may be able to find ways to use the space in the side yard for some of your features.

Unless you plan to be the designer. Then you need to pull out some paper and start mocking up designs. Create a lot of alternatives to choose from.
kelli_ga
2 years ago
A few ideas: I have seen pavers on a porch with columns like that and they looked beautiful. I don’t know if they are practical for your porch.

When you refered to ”built-in seating” I thought about Palm Springs backyards. You may want to google that.

When I had a tiny sideyard, someone suggested a ”secret garden”. I had always wanted a potting bench (only because they were cute) and I planned to put one in that narrow area with tools hung from the siding and pavers underneath.
Christopher CNC
2 years ago
You have a $100,000 plus wish list. That is going to need some permits and construction drawings. You will need to hire someone who can do that - to code.
Louise Smith
2 years ago
I would plant trees with a strong vertical habit to block views. Otherwise, I'd focus on one thing that you really want. With neighbors so close I wouldn't want a jacuzzi/hot tub. Would a grill built into a stone structure do for an outdoor kitchen?

Have you looked online for small gardens/backyards? I have a very small backyard and find inspiration pics to be very helpful.
Jennifer Hogan
2 years ago
So much depends on where you live, what the codes are (our setback is 15' for pools/spas), how long you intend to stay in the home and what type of family may want to purchase it when you sell. If you remove all the green space many people will have zero interest in buying your home. Most seem to want at least some yard space.
opaone
2 years ago
A few things to think about.

- It might be difficult to keep grass healthy on that side yard. A walkway w/ some plantings might do better and provide a nice entrance for guests to come around to your back yard.

- Depending on what zone you're in, sun availability, etc... Vertical arborvitea could do well to soften the eyesore. Consider only doing a few rather than a thick hedgerow if they'll block any sunlight.

- Firepit? Maybe. The smoke (and PM and carcinogens that it produces) can be annoying for you and neighbors. I think they're OK in more open areas but that's not what you have. An outdoor fireplace with a tall chimney (and possibly built against your house) might be a better option but also $$$$'s.

- Firepit seating. Teak benches that will allow you to rearrange easily when you want.

- Spa? As in hot tub? Many people install them and then after the novelty wears off get tired of the maintenance. Some love them but many not. A good sauna might be a better option.

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