See A Sleek City Yard In Midtown Toronto

Handsome and lush, yet totally fuss-free, this midtown Toronto yard is the stuff of any urban gardener’s dreams.

Designing areas for specific functions — cooking, eating, lounging — makes the yard easy to use, whether the homeowner is in the mood for entertaining a crowd or relaxing solo. A neat inlaid ipê-wood path leads guests to the dining zone, where a mod table and sturdy aluminum chairs make room for everyone. The wood path was left unstained, so it’ll develop a soft grey patina.

Opt For Minimalist Hardscaping

“More hard surfaces means less maintenance,” says landscape architect Inese Bite. A simple flagstone patio and sculptural firepit anchor this intimate conversation area. The building in the background will eventually become a music studio.

Narrow drain grates are a practical addition to the yard, catching water that naturally runs off the patio. A pair of sleek chaise lounges, placed in front of the graphite-stained shed, offers a tranquil spot for the homeowner and his friends to kick back

Outdoor walls offer the privacy of hedges without all the pruning. Beside the home’s back door, clean-lined trellises define a cosy patio for two. Designer Kate Zeidler outfitted it with weather-resistant metal chairs: “The owner didn’t want to have to haul huge cushions in and out with the changing elements.”

Looking to get gardening? Keep scrolling for easy-care plantings!

Purple blooms make this hardy, low-maintenance plant a pretty addition to any flower bed.

These feathery lime-green blades add lively colour and interesting movement to a garden.

This tough, winter-resistant shrub is ideal for creating tidy borders around loose grasses and perennials.