One of my pet peeves is a beautiful new home, with no landscaping - it looks like something is missing. Now hear me out, the landscaping doesn't have to be lavish, but a little something goes a long way, in my opinion. I like to consider our walkway and general front yard landscaping when designing a home - I need a home for my beloved hydrangeas.
In our previous home, one of my biggest regrets was treating the backyard as an afterthought. While it turned out beautiful, there were a few things I wish I had considered ahead of time, like planting for added privacy.
This time around, I knew exactly what I wanted for our backyard, but I needed an expert to help bring my vision to life. For instance, I wanted cedars and hydrangeas to line the fence behind the pool, but I had questions about the best layout, the amount of space needed for each plant, and the optimal placement for the pool.
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To avoid repeating past mistakes, we decided to plan the backyard simultaneously with the house. It's been exciting to see it all come together. We decided to bring on Pro Land Landscape Construction Inc. (this isn’t sponsored) for the design plans. Although we haven’t decided who will execute the work yet, as we’re still gathering quotes, their design process has been impressive so far. I discovered them through a sign in front of a beautifully landscaped home, and despite my initial skepticism, they’ve exceeded my expectations.
One thing I would recommend, if you're building a home, is to dig for the pool before starting on the house. This approach is more cost-effective since getting machines into the backyard after the house is built can be more challenging and expensive. Currently, we’re focusing on the area surrounding the pool. My plan includes cedars lining the back fence, hydrangeas in front, and a water feature with spouts pouring into the pool, creating an English Garden vibe that I absolutely love.
I'm particularly grateful we hired a designer because I've learned so much about the setbacks required for our property. Due to local regulations, our pool needs to be 10 feet from all fences, which positions it closer to the house than I initially wanted. While this isn't ideal, it's better to know now and plan accordingly rather than face surprises later. To soften the view from our porch to the pool, we're considering climbing hydrangeas for the pool fence.
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Another exciting addition is our cabana, which will include a bathroom—a feature we missed in our previous home that led to many wet feet inside. The cabana will also have a large storage area that I hope to double as a seating area with a counter and a bar fridge during summer. We're also planning an outdoor shower, a feature I’m really excited to design.
These little details are opportunities to add unique touches to our space. The overall look will match our home, with a white exterior and a cedar roof, making it a charming and cohesive addition to our backyard.
Stay tuned as we continue to transform our yard into a dream outdoor space. I can’t wait to share more updates with you all!
Xo
Caroline
