Give Your Pool a Facelift this Spring and Revitalize Your Yard!
For many people, when they purchase a home, there are some features that are not exactly what they are looking for. You hit the big items on your list like price, bedroom count, and bathrooms, and know that other items, such as renovations (particularly outdoor spaces), may come down the road.
When we went out for our initial visit with a client in St. Charles, we pulled up to a stunning home on a beautiful lot. The craftsmanship and grandeur were immediately evident. When the homeowner took Carlos into the backyard, we quickly realized that it did not quite live up to the rest of the home. While the yard hit all the major points of a desirable entertaining space (complete with a beautiful pool, water slide, and spa), it lacked clean lines, congruency, and functionality.
Let’s explore the facelift we gave this backyard, giving it new life and the wow factor it deserved.
Retain Elements That Make Sense
The in-ground pool and spa were well-built and had been properly maintained, so a priority from the beginning was to feature these beautiful elements without replacing them. When the pool was initially installed, angles and curves were very popular in landscape design. That style of design is no longer on trend, so unfortunately, it caused the pool to feel much older than it was.
There were other attractive elements throughout the landscape design that were able to be retained, such as a lovely wrought iron gate, retaining walls, impressive landscape lighting, and manicured front landscaping. Our time and energy was focused entirely on modernizing the backyard and addressing drainage challenges that had been a struggle for a number of years.
Related: 6 Ways You Can Include a Retaining Wall in Your Landscape Design in Naperville, IL
Determine How the Space Should Flow, and Adjust Accordingly
The one element that least complemented the style of the home was a small fire pit set away from the existing paver patio. It was in a secluded grassy area that was accessed either by walking across a flagstone path that traversed a garden bed or going back toward the house and veering off toward the fire pit. It appeared to have been an afterthought, and it certainly was not conveniently located.
At the back of the yard was a wooden deck, half of which was covered by a metal pavilion. That left a large portion of seating uncovered and completely open to the elements. On bright, sunny days, there was little shade for the family and their guests to sit out and visit while the kids played in the pool. The wood deck was also not in keeping with the style of the home and other landscaping.
The design Carlos developed brought the fire pit onto the paved portion of the outdoor space. By being closer to the back of the home (but still a safe distance from the other entertainment pods), the family is able to step outside and enjoy a fire much more easily than they were before.
The new pavilion was built to be about double the size of the former one, allowing much more seating under shade. We also crafted an outdoor kitchen with a dining area and installed a television so this space can be used for cooking, dining, relaxing, and entertaining – really whatever the mood calls for.
Related: Patio and a Fire Pit: The Essentials to an Inviting Outdoor Gathering Place in the Hinsdale, IL Area
Come Up with a Plan… And Pivot When Necessary
Initially, our client did not intend to have a new pool deck installed. When the conversation turned to drainage issues in several areas throughout the yard, it became clear that a new paver patio was the best choice.
We installed a permeable foundation for the new paver patio and installed a modern Unilock Bristol Valley soft-touch pre-sealed product. Not only does the stone stay cooler in the hot sun (which is important as people are walking around in their bare feet as they enjoy the pool), but being pre-sealed, it requires less maintenance.
River rock paths flow throughout the space and out past the fence line, an area where there was a specific issue with water pooling. Drainage was installed under those paths to facilitate proper movement of water, and the rock garden theme supports the more modern look of the new paver patio.
Related: Consider These 3 Brick Paver Patterns for Your Naperville and Hinsdale, IL Patio
Finish with Mindful Softscape
With a sunny yard, it is important to be thoughtful about the softscape that is installed. Carlos selected shrubs and perennials that are tolerant to heavy drought, as not only do the garden beds get hours of direct sun every day, but they also don’t retain as much water due to the slope of the property.
The backyard is quite private, with the exception of abutting one property. We installed evergreens outside the fence line to provide a natural barrier that benefits both privacy and aesthetics.
Related: Using Evergreen Shrubs in Your Landscape Design for Privacy in Hinsdale, IL
The outcome of this gorgeous backyard renovation is a modern retreat that is more functional and better meets the needs and style of the family. It’s a wonderful example of how existing elements can be retained and given new life, saving both time and money with an outdoor living project. If an outdoor living facelift is on your mind this spring, let’s book your consultation and see what we can dream up together!
