A concrete retaining wall offers up seating for barbecues and parties.

Lisa, Rich Whate and their kids enjoy newfound privacy in the backyard. An eight-foot-high fence, stained a semi-transparent coffee colour, offers a sense of seclusion in the heart of downtown.

Mixed but not matched fencing looked awkward.

Lisa and Rich love to host summer soirées, but their small yard was cramping their style. They liked the small plot of grass, but there was no room for a decent-sized dining table.

Tables and chairs fold up and can be stored away as needed.

A deck and built-in banquette provide plenty of stylish dining space. The classic colour scheme of grey-browns and white can be easily updated with new throw pillows.

A custom banquette stows cushions in rainy weather.

The seat of this bench lifts up to reveal space beneath for chairs, pillows and outdoor serveware. In a small backyard in the city, storage space is invaluable. The loose seat cushion was made about 20 inches shorter than the banquette to allow room for potted plants.

See more before and after photos of this makeover in our photo gallery.

A floating shelf holds plants or drinks.

The graphic mirror adds a focal point and brings a bit of the indoors outdoors.

Concrete stairs ate up a 52-square-foot chunk of this backyard.

The back of the house was an eyesore, with a temporary railing and different colours of siding, paint and brick.

Soft grey-brown paint warms up a slatted wall.

Architect Gillian Green designed an ingenious deck with removable panels that maximizes leisure space but allows access to the stairs below leading to the basement. This existing wall was painted the same shade as the brick to the right for a cohesive look. A comfy butterfly chair surrounded by greenery offers the perfect perch to while away a summer afternoon.

See more before and after photos of this makeover in our photo gallery.

Eight-foot-tall french doors make a statement.

Custom doors allow light into the dining room and convenient access to the backyard. They can also kept open while entertaining for flow indoors and out. Two sconces and two planters flank the doors to create balance.

See more before and after photos of this makeover in our photo gallery.

A gap-toothed, 40-year-old fence didn’t offer much privacy.

A thin strip of turf was hardly worth designing around, so Green pared back the grass in exchange for more practical deck space.

Horizontal planks lead ones gaze around the yard’s periphery.

A long planter that sits atop a concrete retaining wall is filled with grasses, softening the lines of the fence. A modern steel container planted with a birch tree offers a touch of nature in this backyard.

See more before and after photos of this makeover in our photo gallery.