Our Backyard Reveal
As part of Takin’ It Outside Week, today I want to share our completed backyard makeover.
But first, I have to take you back to where we started – a yard that was never used.
The original builder grade deck was pulled off (literally, by hubby with a chainsaw and a tractor) because we had some major flooding problems in our basement and we had a to redo all of the drainage pipes.
We added a new deck – but left an angled section for the planned future porch.
We have been talking about a pool for a long time. We actually seriously considered moving five years ago – and through a bunch of decisions, decided to stay. But if we were going to stay – we were going to make into the home we really wanted to live in. That is why we did our renovations and why we made the final decision to put in a pool.
This what our yard looked like before – but you don’t see all of the trees – that we – I mean – Hubby, me, Sunshine and Peanut took down all in one weekend. I don’t think our girls, or me for that matter, worked so hard before.
Of course, when doing a pool – there is the issues of concrete decking, fencing and landscaping.
We chose to install aggregate concrete around the pool (hubby’s choice and I love it).
I recently added a small seating area in the unused deck space and it provides another spot for relaxing or sitting with friends.
Since the porch already had all white trim, I decided to install a white fence. Hubby doubted that choice at first and wanted to install a black fence. I love the black fences as well, but felt white was the right way to go. After a run one morning hubby saw a white fence and decided he changed his mind. We are very happy with the decision and feel like it gives it more of a New England feel – which we love.
I positioned all the chairs and tables on the patio area so that if I wanted to stay out of the sun, I could still keep an eye on the kids from the porch.
Originally, we were going to DIY the landscaping – but in the end we knew Hubby’s travel schedule would just never allow for that – so we decided to have someone truck in all the rocks. We knew it would be easier to do the landscaping before the fencing and did want to wait at all on the fence for safety reasons.
After watching them do all the schlepping of the rocks – it was a very good decision!
Without a doubt, this was a big investment. But for us, we are very happy with the decision. Hubby and the girls have been swimming since before Memorial Day and they are out there together all the time.
This was a calculated choice we made and we feel lucky to have been in a position to be able to make it.
And although I spent the first few weeks on the sidelines taking pictures because it was just too darn cold for me, even I can’t resist anymore and have been swimming away.
Laughing and enjoying a yard that is finally used with my family.
If you would like to see more about our outdoor spaces, please visit Our Colorful Vintage Screened Porch and Our Playhouse / Pool House or Summer Decorating Ideas.
