Turning a narrow backyard into a delightful outdoor living retreat comes with its challenges, especially in the compact confines of the Village of West Clay in Carmel, IN. In this recent project, landscape designer Gary Warren of Greensketch Concepts laid the initial groundwork, but as the project unfolded, collaboration and creativity resulted in a uniquely designed space that makes the most of every square foot.
Translating a three-dimensional vision into a two-dimensional drawing can often present challenges in the landscape design process. We often find that some people need to see the plan in action to fully understand what the paper concept will look like. Such was the case for our client, so as we were digging, shaping and planting, we ended up making many changes to the original design. Flexibility is a key to a successful landscape project!
The existing 15-ft deep backyard featured a 5ft covered porch and a floating patio designated for outdoor dining. Facing the side of a neighbor’s home, our clients were looking to expand the outdoor living space while adding privacy. The solution involved adding an 11ft by 11ft patio off the existing one, constructed with five 24-inch square limestone pieces in each direction. Three-inch gaps between the stones were planted with a ground cover version of sedum, offering a unique look to this Indiana backyard.
Privacy was achieved through strategic plantings, including an upright Japanese Maple, a narrow form of Linden, a Laceleaf maple, and various other plants to create a visually soothing aesthetic. Our client envisioned this new patio to serve as a relaxing conversation niche to entice her indoor-centric husband outside. Her plan worked! Now he loves spending time in the backyard.
We also had to keep our client’s two golden retrievers happy. By keeping as much of the grassy area as we could, and purposefully making the new patio area flush with the existing patio and yard, the pups can happily zip across the whole expanse.
Updating the landscaping, which harkens back to the early 2000s, was another goal of the project. Most foundation plantings have a lifespan of 10-15 years, so it was time for a reset. We changed all the existing beds, reshaping and rebuilding as necessary. To add a final touch, our client found a contemporary multi-level fountain, creating a focal point between the patio and the back property line.
Through collaborative efforts, creative solutions, and a flexible approach, our clients now enjoy an outdoor living space that beautifully makes the most of every inch of their narrow backyard. If you have questions about this project or are contemplating your landscaping makeover, feel free to reach out to us via email or phone at 317-997-4803.
