Backyard blues

I sure would love to win this contest!

Our yard is just grass and mud because we lost our home to fire on May 24 last year.

The Daily Herald covered the story. We lost our family dog and all of our personal possessions.

After the fire, my family was living in a hotel and presently we are in a rental house. My family really misses our home and yard. We expect to move back into our home in May.

I have a family of five, a grandson with a new grandchild on the way.

Our yard in the summer was always being used. Before the fire, there was a beautiful flowering tree, landscaping, and a brick patio. The patio had a grill and a nice patio set on it. We had a small little area with chairs to enjoy and an outdoor fire in the evening. Now as you can see from the pictures, it is all gone. I now have the backyard blues!

We want to have an open house this spring/summer and invite the neighbors, friends and family who supported us during this difficult time. As of now, they would not be able to go in the yard since nothing is there. I dream of a beautiful yard again with friends and family enjoying ... a cocktail on a new brick patio or deck ... enjoying something to eat off the grill ... listening to waterfall or looking at a pond with fish ... sitting and talking on a beautiful patio set and then retiring into the yard to sit around an evening fire.

My family has had a tough year and I would love to be able to tell them I won this contest and we are getting a backyard makeover.

Thank you for letting me share our story.

Sharon Zeeck

Prospect Heights

Belgard Hardscapes offers a transformation idea with a budget of $20,000.

Belgard Hardscapes wanted to create an inviting space to help restore this backyard area that used to provide a haven for its owners and a place for friends and family to gather.

Using the Belgard Design Studio, the new patio layout provides functional sections, such as cooking at the grill and relaxing by the fire, as well as a flowing space, with multiple entrance and exit points for playing children and entertaining guests. Belgard Dublin Cobble was used for the main section of the patio bordered with Holland Stone which is also used for an inlay pattern adding depth to the overall design. Using complementary pavers to create this fun pattern allows the homeowners to add a bit of uniqueness to the square space. A low wall using Belgard Weston Stone separates the patio from the rest of the yard but allows the owners and guests to still enjoy activities that may be occurring in the yard, like children playing tag or adults enjoying Bocce ball. Weston Stone was also used for the fire pit and built-in seating, creating an area for relaxation and gathering with plenty of seats for roasting marshmallows or telling ghost stories by the fire. The new space creates an enjoyable extension of the home that invokes a relaxing and quiet evening under the stars as much as it encourages afternoon barbecues and festive birthday parties.