Small Backyard from Blah to Beautiful!

These clients had a boring and not very inviting small backyard that they wanted to upgrade to better fit their style and needs.  

Here are the before pictures:

                                 Backyard East

                                 Backyard West

My design included hardy, colorful and bee friendly plants to provide year round interest and for an extension of the paver patio for the BBQ area.  The far corner of the west end we wanted to screen the view of the houses and initially planned for a small corner pergola but supply issues had the clients looking elsewhere and they found some gorgeous panels in an antique shop that really helps that corner pop!

After: 

Here is the back corner, just perfect for a little getaway!

In the east side of the back yard I added a Hydrangea tree to anchor the corner overlooking a water feature surrounded by bee friendly hardy perennials.  Within hours of installation the clients were happily surprised by how many bees and other beneficial insects were visiting, it really livened up their yard!

In the years to come the clematis vines will cover the trellis's and the plants will fill in to create a hardy but lush and inviting backyard oasis.

2019 Landscape Projects - Bend

2019 Landscape Projects - Bend Backyard Make-over

During the winter of 2018/2019 a wonderful family contacted me to make-over their backyard, they had an old paver patio that had warped over the years and some lawn.  The clients hired me to help them create a more functional, modern backyard with kitchen, fire pit, dining area and water feature.  

Before:  A tired backyard with a warped old paver patio and a not very functional lawn and surrounding beds.

 After:  A modern luxurious backyard with a large patio, Zen fire pit from Cement Elegance, bubbling boulder water feature, enticing outdoor kitchen and subtle lighting.  The surrounding planting includes a layered selection of perennials, shrubs and trees that create seasonal interest and a lush paradise made for the Central Oregon climate.

After:  The patio is now large enough to be multi-functional with fire pit, dining area and outdoor kitchen easily accessible from inside.

After:  A modern, state of the art outdoor kitchen with grill and smoker, with integrated sink and counters custom made by Cement Elegance.  The Light Smoke color of the cement counters and cladding complement the grey of the large pavers in the patio creating a unified color palette for the backyard.

After:  The Zen firepit from Cement Elegance is the perfect size for the backyard creating a twilight gathering place for the family to enjoy their beautiful backyard and watch the stars twinkle.

After:  The Bubbling Boulder water feature installed by Brian O'Keefe of Ripple Effect creates a soothing sound to the garden bringing in birds and butterflies who drink or bathe in the waters.

Frontyard Before:  The family spends a lot of time in the front yard with the children playing on the sidewalk or in the street with the rest of the neighborhood.  The homeowners desired a better place to sit, socialize and watch their children.  

Frontyard After:  Using the same large pavers from the backyard, we create a seating area with layered textural plantings to create an inviting and stunning front yard area that can now be used to socialize with neighbors, watch the children and enjoy a glass of wine.

Landscape designed by Carlseng Designs

Hardscape installed by Brian O'Keefe of Ripple Effect

Plants installed by Anna Vacca of Flower Power 

Outdoor kitchen built by Sunset Outdoor Living

Outdoor kitchen cladding and counters by Cement Elegance

Irrigation and lighting by Miller Irrigation