Move from country to city is a challenge. We have a very small urban lot. Backs onto 2 smaller homes very close! About 60'wide and 20' deep backyard. A raised walkout from the kitchen about 6' above ground currently housing the BBQ. Wooden fence surrounds yard. I have planted gardens along fence. Problem is creating a backyard with privacy and patio/or deck and gardens. Ideas, suggestions and help is appreciated, please!
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Hello designdolly,For some backyard/patio inspiration and tips for spatial planning, check out our Inspiring Backyards photo gallery, Tropical-Inspired Outdoor Spaces photo gallery, and my blog post on outdoor spaces (there's an urban backyard with great tips for privacy).I hope those help! Good luck with the yard!Gwen McAuley (gmcauley at hhmedia.com)
I am thinking of doing the deck about 20' like you suggested. Creating an area on the ground floor surrounded by green to block out the neighbouring houses is the hard part. Thinking of installing a trellis or overhanging pagola to give some privacy. Any picsw or ideas would be great. Thanks!
Thanks DecorGuy, I like your ideas. Extending the deck along the back of the house won't work because of the huge windows in the basement. I like the idea of rocks or grass ... thinking of a water feature to incoporate height (thanks!) Pictures would be great. I appreciate this. Thanks! ":)
HI there Design Dolly, have you thought about playing the width of your yard and extending the deck length to about 20 feet wide and only about 10 feet deep... without seeing your backyard layout im only guessing here...you could do a 2 level deck with very limited railings. I would also create a garden space by putting large boulders in one of the corners and building it up giving height (if this doesnt make sense I can try to find you pictures of all the ideas Im mentioning. When looking for privacy in a limited backyard, I have found a great way to achive this is with using either pyramidal cedars and/or the use of tall grasses... what kind of look do you like? and do you get alot...or limited sun?
When we lived in Edmonton, we had a long narrow lot, and then by the time we put a garage on the back at the lane, we had NOT MUCH left. I am not a fan of grass ATALL, so we did a large deck with different levels (2 deck levels and a *floor* level) and used large planters and screens along with the levels to create spaces and gardens, although I also ran a narrow bed around the outside of one side of the deck and along the garage wall. It worked really well, was very comfortable and cosy. You can also gain a lot of *softness* by growing vines up your fencing and along the top. When you are planning, think about the *rooms* you would like to create and design accordingly -- one for dining, with BBQ area perhaps off, one for sitting (ours had a firepit in the middle), and so on.
Have fun....
if the backyard is 20' deep why not deck it the whole 20' to the lot line.
Then you could add a privacy fence at the back with climbing vines or a canvas privacy screen and move the plants into planter on top of the deck. I will try and get some pics.