Small patio demands better use of yard
I would love to have an entertainment space to truly relax and enjoy our backyard. Having purchased the house last summer, my husband and I look forward to having family and friends over. While our yard is a lovely size, and a mature pin oak provides some shade, the rest of it is not ideal for get-togethers.
With only an 8-square-foot patio, there is not enough room for a table and chairs, only the grill. In addition, the air conditioner sits right outside the door of the house (note how I am attempting to "hide" it with a structural feature) making conversation a challenge when the unit is on. Overgrown shrubs provide a nice view of birds from the kitchen window, but they also make the whole area feel closed in. With a western exposure, the sun beats down in the afternoon, and without any shade or covering, sunglasses are a must!
Creating a larger, welcoming patio area would be the ideal solution. Winning one of the Get Your Summer On prizes would allow us to have that quintessential leisure space that would be a great extension of our home and allow us to entertain in style.
Design by Blain's Farm & Fleet, Elgin
Expert: Dormie Roberts, farmandfleet.com.
Budget: Less than $2,000
You have a large backyard, but not much patio space. So let's make the most of that playground behind your house. Hopefully these tips will help you spend your leisure time in your backyard all summer!
Suggestions
• I would recommend a Pleasant hearth fire ring. This is for constructing an in-ground fire pit. It has a durable construction and will make it easy to keep the true shape of the in-ground pit. You can add a top to it to have a nice wilderness scene to your backyard. It also comes with a wire mess to help reduce the spread of sparks. Also, smoke is a natural insect repellent. Spend time near the fire without being bugged by those pesky pests!
• Once your fire pit is in the ground, you will need outdoor seating for all your family and friends. Adirondack chairs are popular in the summer months. They are durable, water resistant and stackable for easy storage. Another option is to add a decorative outdoor pillow or a side table.
• Another way to entertain while having a get-together is having yard games everyone can enjoy. We have a wide range of games from corn hole toss to lawn dice. These are games the whole family will enjoy with an easy clean up and storage. Also great for camping trips and tailgating, too! Or if you rather play a game of volleyball or badminton, we have the perfect combo kit for you.