There’s nothing like enjoying a little slice of paradise in your own backyard. But where do you begin? Our favorite experts shared some of their ideas about creating a haven at home where you can relax, refresh, celebrate, spend time with loved ones, or simply enjoy your own solitude any time of day or night.
Flow & Function
When building or redesigning an outdoor space, one must consider not only the aesthetics, but the functionality of the space, says Thomas Malinowski, manager of Thousand Oaks Fireside and Design.
“You are literally adding usable, livable square footage to your home—square footage that will not only add enjoyment to your home, but also value,” says Malinowski, who has been involved in the hearth, barbecue and casual furniture industry for about four decades.
The “Outdoor Room” concept has been around for a long time, but the refinement of design and product offerings suitable for outdoor use has become quite sophisticated, he notes.
“There was a time when outdoor furniture was unmistakably outdoor furniture,” he says. “Now, many outdoor furniture brands are just as comfortable indoors as well as outdoors.”
Likewise, “grilling equipment has gone through a transformation, from an offering of a simple gas or charcoal barbecue to virtually unlimited possibilities with regards to grilling and accessory equipment available for the outdoor kitchen.”
For more than a decade, Thousand Oaks Fireside and Design has specialized in selling, designing and building outdoor spaces with built-in barbecue islands, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and heating equipment.
“Our 3-D graphics program allows us to show you what your space will look like before the first brick is laid,” Malinowski explains, adding that this program “allows us to drop in the actual equipment that is being considered and to make last-minute design changes.”
Making changes after the island is built, or even after the building process has begun, can be almost impossible, very costly, or both, he warns.
“Consideration must be given to how the family entertains, future family growth and positioning of the structures so as to make it convenient and seamless with regards to the design of the home,” Malinowski advises. “Often times when we visit a site, an existing barbecue island has been constructed in a very inconvenient or inappropriate place.”
He notes examples of this when he hears clients say, “We have this outdoor kitchen, but it is on the side of the house where no one wants to go… everyone wants to be near the pool when we are entertaining,” or “Our existing island is way out in the yard so far from the house that it is not convenient to grill over there.”
“At times, the view comes into play as to where to position the island,” he says. “If raised bar or counter seating is part of the design of the island, you want to avoid having your guests, while they are seated at the island, to be looking at a wall or the house while the view in back of them goes unnoticed.”
There are many things to consider when designing an outdoor space, he further emphasizes.
“Rushing into getting it done quickly without much thought can lead to an underappreciated or unwanted space.”
View the latest products at ThousandOaksFireside.com or call 805.496.6660 to schedule a design consultation.
Vision
When you have a backyard, big or small, you get a chance to create a piece of paradise away from the world and its noise—a place where you can sit by an olive tree, take in the beauty of hydrangea flowers and appreciate what nature offers us when we take time to pause, says Kristina Jones, CEO & Principal Designer with Cat In A Hammock, an outdoor living design and build construction company.
“It’s those moments that elevate our experience of life and give us peace,” she emphasizes.
Homeowners constantly tell her that they didn’t spend much time in their backyard before they transformed it.
“And once they finished, it’s the best place to spend time and take break, share breakfast, discuss plans for the week or unwind over a glass of wine,” Jones says.
When you begin envisioning your perfect backyard, “first, think about what you enjoy doing, for example, dining or laying in a hammock,” she advises. “Make sure you have the basics covered and have marked out the main patio seating area.”
Second, think about what you would like to be doing in your backyard.
“Know that even though your current space doesn’t have that—for example, an area to gather around a fire pit—it’s something you can create.”
Third, select a style and color scheme. “Is it modern with gray tones, or is it natural with curvy pathways and brown tones?”
Fourth, search Pinterest and decide what type of plants you like.
“Do you want flowers that brighten up the garden and don’t mind maintaining them, or do you want evergreens and grasses that look beautiful and have low maintenance, or maybe a little bit of both?”
And finally, make sure you include landscape lighting.
“It will make your backyard truly transform from ordinary to extraordinary in the evenings, and you’ll get to enjoy it longer after the sunset.”
She also recommends doing a complete plan of your backyard even if you are going to do it in increments, because “having a complete plan will prevent double work in the future.”
If you are thinking of adding a fire pit later, hire a plumber to run a gas line and leave a stub up in the ground. “That way you won’t have to demolish or remove any hardscape or plants later. When you’re doing it at the same time, it will save you money on rework in the future.”
In other advice: avoid overplanting.
“Especially if you’re buying the one-gallon size—it’s tempting to plant them close so you have a full garden immediately,” says Jones, adding that it will not be a happy garden in six months when plants are fighting for space, water and nourishment.
To avoid this, “find out how large the plants get. If one plant gets to 3 feet wide and so does the one next to it, you need to plant them 3 feet apart, for example, Germander sage and Spanish lavender.”
Find inspiration for backyard projects and request a free design consultation at CatInAHammock.com or call 805.263.4200 to learn more.
Design Details
Life in Southern California presents itself with the unique opportunity to enjoy outdoor living year-round, says Justin Kopicki, owner of Cal CustomScapes.
“With real estate at a premium, I like to consider any available outdoor space part of a home’s useable square footage,” he says. “These are spaces that deserve the same attention to detail and customization as the rest of my client’s home.”
Cal CustomScapes is committed to an aesthetic and client-centered philosophy deserving of each person’s individual style and investment in their home.
“My customers appreciate the opportunities they have to be involved in the design process and being able to customize their project to their individual tastes,” says Kopicki. “In considering the style and architectural features of my clients’ homes, as well as their functional needs, I work with them to create one-of-a-kind outdoor living spaces.”
Design elements that can be incorporated into your space include fountains, custom grill enclosures, fire pits and custom planters.
“These features—together with the architecture of your home, trees, plantings, and walkways—can be highlighted by LED lighting,” he recommends.
In other advice, Kopicki suggests keeping an open mind and welcoming a dialogue during the design process by addressing questions such as, “What about your yard do you already love? What would you change? How do you envision using your new space?”
Additionally, accent lighting is an important part of creating a gorgeous outdoor living space.
“Cal CustomScapes specializes in the design and installation of low-voltage LED lighting systems,” Kopicki says. “Outdoor lighting fixtures come in a wide variety of different styles, finishes and intensities, as well as color gradients to bring your yard to life during the night hours. A well thought out lighting design can also provide a stunning nighttime display from inside the home.”
You should also consider your priorities when looking at available space—meaning how you want to use the space and the style and feeling you want to create. That said, it’s important to have a well-defined plan regarding style and intended use.
“Every home presents itself with unique opportunities for how space can be used,” Kopicki adds. “One design consideration that should never be overlooked is the appearance of an outdoor space from inside the home.”
Visit CalCustomScapes.com or call 818.369.9500 for more information.
Comfort & Luxury
In Southern California, there’s simply no better place to socialize than outside in your very own backyard haven.
“Whether it’s alfresco dining, lounging around a fire table, or having that long-awaited get-together with friends and family, the right furniture pieces can make all the difference,” says Bryan Gold, marketing manager at Aldik Home, which is proud to only carry Summer Classics outdoor furniture.
“It is impeccably made, durable and most importantly, as comfortable—or even more comfortable—than indoor furniture,” Gold emphasizes. “Summer Classics is the only luxury patio furniture that hits all the right notes.”
Aldik Home is unlike any retail store you have ever visited, he says. “Filled to the brim with the most lifelike silk flowers and plants, handmade artificial trees made with real trunks, and silk floral arrangements, this 24,000-square-foot store is a feast for the senses.”
Aldik Home has been the “go-to secret weapon” for interior designers, set decorators and savvy homeowners looking to add the finishing touches to their indoor spaces with some lasting natural beauty. “And for those looking to transform their outdoor space, interspersed amongst the artificial plants and flowers is the most jaw-dropping line of patio furniture on the marketplace: Summer Classics,” Gold says.
For those looking to add natural beauty to their outdoor space, teak is a trendy patio furniture option this year.
“It is important to be discerning about the types of teak furniture you see on the marketplace, however, as not all teak is created equal,” Gold advises.
Summer Classics uses the finest teak in the world: marine-grade, sustainably harvested teak from Indonesia, which outperforms all other teak.
“Not only do they choose the best material, they also adhere to the best building methods, like hand-carving curved pieces rather than cutting corners and steam-bending like other manufacturers,” Gold says. “They also employ the mortise and tenon construction method, which while more laborious, makes for much more durable furniture.”
Summer Classics’ teak furniture is available in the natural honey-golden color or in a pre-weathered finish called Oyster teak, a favorite amongst interior designers.
“This Oyster teak is a maintenance-free, set-it-and-forget-it teak that gives you peace of mind and stunning sophistication,” Gold says.
When creating your backyard paradise, keep comfort at the top of your mind, he further recommends.
“If you purchase furniture that looks nice, but isn’t very comfortable to sit in, then you won’t be spending as much time outdoors as you had hoped,” Gold warns. “If, on the other hand, you choose furniture that is luxuriously comfortable, you will find any excuse to sit outside or invite friends and family over.”
Comfort is key, which is another reason Summer Classics stands out.
“All of Summer Classics’ collections, be they Teak, Aluminum or Resin Wicker, are amazingly comfortable,” Gold adds. “Aldik Home showcases more than 20 different collections of Summer Classics furniture, including the Majorca line, which is the most comfortable patio furniture in the world.”
See Summer Classics collections at AldikHome.com or call 818.988.5970 for more information.
Expansive Options
Building a blissful backyard adds an entire new layer to your living space, says Brad Kinder, owner of The Folding Door Store.
“A backyard paradise truly creates a sanctuary that is not only an escape for your own relaxation, but also a place where you can spend quality time with your loved ones,” Kinder says. “The folding and sliding doors we offer allow this new sanctuary to flow seamlessly in and out of homes and have helped our clients create incredible entertainment spaces.”
The Folding Door Store provides the best patio doors with an approach to carefree living. With locations in Westlake Village and Irvine, the store offers extensive selections of the three fundamental types of patio doors, including folding glass doors, sliding and multisliding doors and swinging French doors.
“The doors open up to wide open spaces, obscuring the thin line between an interior space and an exterior landscape,” explains Kinder, adding that The Folding Door Store handles everything, from engineering to professionally trained and qualified installation teams. “Our doors provide homeowners superb access to their immediate surroundings, be it a patio, gazebo, swimming pool, garden or even an orchard.”
Considering the best use of your space and thinking through your backyard layout are key to a successful design, says Kinder.
“If you want your backyard to truly feel like paradise, then you should create a functional area that feels open and promotes relaxation,” he says.
In other advice, “less is more… the doors we offer help open the space tremendously, both from the indoors and outdoors of your home. It allows homeowners to include more than they normally could without space looking too tight.”
Also be sure to avoid making decisions based solely on aesthetics and to prioritize functionality.
“You need to think about the direction of the sun throughout the day, if the furniture you like is too heavy or will easily get dirty—and perhaps water-resistant sitting areas/furniture if you have a pool,” Kinder advises.
At The Folding Door Store, “you have the option of including an integrated screen and shade system with your door which allows homeowners to have complete control over how much sunlight they let into their homes.”
See their selections at TheFoldingDoorStore.com or call 805.947.1212 for more information.
A Firm Foundation
Details like antique cobble stones and custom planter walls take your backyard oasis to another level. Angelus Block and Paving Stones is a family owned local company specializing in manufacturing products that combine the sophistication of Southern California's architecture with the progression of seismic structural design. Their visionary designers recognize concrete masonry as a design material in addition to its utility, taking into account life safety, earthquake resistance, fire resistance, longevity, and sustainable use and reuse of materials in their construction.
Their offerings include a wide range of concrete paving products to accommodate many design possibilities and price points in a designer’s palette of shape, texture and color options worthy of the numerous award-winning projects built with their material. The Paseo Paver is a popular option for backyard patios, pool decks and outdoor entertainment areas, because of the stone’s smooth, flat surface and clean lines; rustic options include the Timberline paver and tumbled Estate Cobble and Castle Cobble lines.
“People seem to really like large format pavers like our Paseo and Pavilion pavers for patio and pool decks,” says Angelus’ Paver Sales Manager Tom Murphy. “The other trend we’re seeing are linear and plank-style pavers like our Aqualina and Timberline. The combination of a wood plank look with the low-maintenance and longevity of concrete pavers has been a real plus for our customers.”
Southern California living also means outdoor dining, and rustic wall stone and Stonewall® II units make the perfect foundations for barbecues, fire pits and tables. Rustic wall stone—which can be used for low planter walls, pilasters, barbecues and outdoor seating areas—is a versatile product that combines the look of natural stone with the ease of use of a manufactured unit. The StoneWall® II Retaining Wall system provides ease in creating elegant, naturally beautiful, and durable walls reminiscent of handcrafted stone walls. With a product and system capable of a variety of design and build options, it is possible to create a backyard retreat that will be the envy of the neighborhood.
The Angelus planter wall is a durable, easy-to-install unit that provides versatility as well as beauty. It is lightweight and easy to handle, and no special tools are required. Its secure, interlocking design makes installation easy. Plus, Angelus planter walls enable you to build straight, curved or terraced walls to fit the contours of your yard. They are made of high-strength, low-absorption concrete to provide permanent, environmentally safe walls that are virtually maintenance-free.
You can also enhance your outdoor entry and living spaces with the Tango™ Project Block, the latest addition to the Angelus decorative wall product line. The innovative design makes for an extremely versatile, easy to install wall block. The split-one-side-one-end design means corners and columns are no problem. And the unique angled tail adds the stability and secure fit of a dove-tailed joint when used in freestanding wall applications.
Angelus’ Paver Light™ is another popular option that can be easily incorporated into all types of outdoor projects, from patios, walkways and pool decks to wooden decks and docks, and garden and retaining walls. The 12-volt system is safe and economical to operate and does not require a licensed electrician for installation. The bulbs, while easy for adults to change, are not accessible to children. The warm color of the incandescent lamp included with each fixture creates a beautiful outdoor ambiance similar to candlelight or the illumination of a kerosene lamp.
Visit AngelusPavingStones.com and AngelusBlock.com or call 805.485.1137 for more information.