The best rooms in a home are sometimes the ones you never expected to build. In Middle Tennessee, the backyard is becoming much more than a patch of grass beyond the back door. With thoughtful design, it can become an outdoor living room, a private retreat, an entertainment destination, or even a personal wellness sanctuary.
For Frank Brigante, foreman with Epperson Landscape, it all starts with understanding how homeowners actually want to use the space. “We strive to design something custom for each client so that they get exactly what they are looking for and will utilize the space that they have.”
That philosophy shifts the focus from creating a yard that simply looks beautiful to creating one that feels purposeful. A homeowner who loves entertaining might envision a generous patio, outdoor kitchen, and pavilion. Someone looking for tranquility might prefer a secluded garden, fire pit, or the soothing sound of a waterfall.
The possibilities are nearly endless.
Bringing the Indoors Outside
A backyard can become an extension of the home, with outdoor kitchens, comfortable seating, lighting, speakers and TVs creating natural gathering spaces.
For football fans, a pavilion with heating, fans, speakers and a TV can become an outdoor viewing room. For those seeking a quieter escape, a fire pit, fountain or waterfall can create a peaceful retreat.
Wellness features such as a sauna, cold plunge, outdoor shower, yoga area, or raised garden beds can take that retreat even further.
“We can combine these different elements to create a space that is specific to the client's needs.”
Privacy With a Natural Touch
Privacy does not necessarily mean surrounding the yard with a wall of fencing. While fencing can provide security and structure, carefully placed trees, shrubs, and grasses can create privacy while maintaining a more natural feel.
Evergreen trees can provide year-round screening, while layered plantings can define individual spaces. Taller shrubs or grasses can separate a fire pit from the rest of the yard, while an outdoor kitchen can help establish an entertaining area.
A low wall around a fire pit can even provide seating while giving the space its own identity. It is these thoughtful details that transform an open yard into a collection of purposeful spaces.
The Magic of Lighting
As the sun goes down, thoughtful lighting can completely change the atmosphere. Landscape lighting can highlight architectural details, illuminate pathways and outdoor kitchens, accent trees and landscaping, and draw attention to water features. Subtle lighting around a patio can provide visibility without interfering with the way the space is used. “Lighting is a feature that most homeowners don’t think about enough.” The right lighting does more than extend the hours a backyard can be enjoyed. It adds warmth, ambiance, and another layer of design.
Designed for the Way You Live
For Epperson Landscape, creating an outdoor space begins with listening. Inspiration photos can help homeowners communicate a style, but the more important question is how they want to live in the space.
The team begins with an on-site consultation, discussing intended use, materials, styles, plants, and layout. From there, a sketch develops into detailed 3D renderings and an estimate. Once approved, Epperson Landscape coordinates the installation, communicating regularly with the client throughout the process.
“We want to make sure it is done right the first time.” That commitment to quality, communication, and attention to detail is part of what sets this family-owned, locally operated business apart.
As a small but established local business, Epperson Landscape has built strong relationships with other businesses in the community. The team regularly collaborates and cross-refers with local companies, including others in the landscaping industry, to provide clients with the best overall solution for their project.
That relationship-driven approach extends to the Epperson team. Many employees have been with the company for years, and every leader brings hands-on field experience. Clients can expect regular updates throughout a project, often daily, and the team is always just a phone call away.
Many customers return for additional projects. For Epperson Landscape, that word-of-mouth growth is a pretty good sign they are doing something right.
Ultimately, creating a remarkable backyard is not about adding the most features. It is about creating a space that reflects the people who live there.
Because when a backyard is thoughtfully designed around the way you live, home does not end at the back door. It simply opens to another room.
EppersonLandscape.com