Creating Rooms in Our Yardzen Yard
Goldenbird Design’s first feature! Such a pinch me moment!
It’s been fun chatting with the Yardzen team over the past couple of months, and feeding a lot of our yard elements into their 2023 Trend Report. We are especially excited (and grateful!) for the recent article that they published about our backyard renovation. It in, I talk about how important it was to me that the backyard feel like a natural extension of our home. To help achieve that, I approached the space as different “rooms.” My husband and I talked a lot about the purpose of each of these “rooms” — how and when we would use the spaces. How many people should each space accommodate? Which corners got morning sun? Where was the best place to watch the sun set? Which view did we enjoy most? Thinking through these types of questions really leads to intentional design and well-lived-in spaces — I encourage you all to have the same type of conversations when you are considering a remodel or space refresh.
Please read the full article here! And if you want some “room” inspo, keep reading below.
Here are a few “room” ideas to consider for your backyard.
1. A space to gather.
This corner was thoughtfully designed to welcome a large group as much as a lazy afternoon nap. The built-in bench was a big investment, but it really serves to ground our outdoor “living room” space in a way furniture simply couldn’t. There’s something about the combination of the ipe wood seating, raw cement backing, and delicate jasmine growing in the backdrop that feels so organic and inviting.
2. A cafe corner.
I’m a sucker for a good bistro table situation that feels like it could just maybe be nestled in the English countryside. This cafe corner sits just outside our kitchen, and offers a tranquil setting for breakfast or casual dinner for two. There’s something about the fluid shape of the wicker chairs set among the edible garden that draws me to sit here and stay awhile.
3. An outdoor shower.
I encourage you to get creative with your side yard. For many, this is wasted space. In fact, this area used to store our trashcans. Can you believe it?!
It’s easy to go crazy with an outdoor shower, but this honestly didn’t take much. We extended the natural materials we were using in the rest of the yard, and had custom copper piping built for the rain shower to work with our existing plumbing. The hose extension also works wonders for giving our dog a post-beach bath.
4. A spot for a cup of coffee.
I really wanted an arched patio off of our primary bedroom. It felt like a sweet break from some of the more angular lines in our yard, and offered the perfect space to plant a vintage bistro chair. The sun hits here first thing in the morning, and it serves as the perfect spot to welcome a new day.
xx, mckenzy golding