Yep, unless you’re a skier or a winter enthusiast, we bet you’d like to be hanging out in any one of these backyards right now. If you close your eyes really tight and take a deep breathe, you can imagine yourself here – in our most favourite backyard retreats of 2016….
Company: Green Apple Landscaping
This Toronto homeowner lives in the Beach and therefore wanted to create a backyard with an alfresco beach aesthetic. The small urban space also had to do double-duty in order to store large items such as a motorcycle, bikes, barbecues and patio furniture.
We love this transformation as it feels like a lovely little post-war urban home with a beautifully arranged postage stamp, utterly private backyard. String up a few globe lights, add family and friends and it’s the perfect space for creating Insta-worthy dinner parties.
Company: Land Effects Outdoor Living Spaces Ltd.
Land Effects does it again with this stunning backyard. We love the refined, almost zen feel to this retreat. The waterfall fountain, the beautiful lighting and the timeless stone and wood work lend the backyard a very peaceful feeling worthy of any 5-star hotel.
Company: Curb Design
We love this backyard transformation dubbed Brenda’s Retreat by the owner. The little corner covered in pavers underneath the sweet stand of trees is perfection. We love the cheminée adjacent to the comfy seating area and how the river rock has been used at the base of the trees, keeping Brenda’s Retreat neat, trim and weed-free. The nook is cozy and organically inviting, a perfect spot to host friends for an evening drink around the fire. We can feel Brenda’s happiness from here…
Company: Synergy Contracting Inc.
This backyard caught our eye not only because it’s beautiful, but also because this homeowner is 100% committed to the new trend of totally eschewing grass in favour of other, low-maintenance backyard solutions. Along with a new irrigation system and a brand new deck, dramatic hardscaping has transformed this backyard into an elegant oasis. The touches of vibrant peacock blue add drama in the distinct seating and dining areas. These happy homeowners now have a low-maintenance backyard retreat to enjoy for years to come.
Company: AquaSpa Pools & Landscape Design
This Toronto homeowner had a 40ft pool with waterfall, stunning stonework, outdoor kitchen and a cabana constructed, the result of which is truly luxurious. We easily imagine ourselves (right now!!) hanging out by the pool on a summer evening, enjoying the fire pit, taking dips with family and friends. Superb, quality work that makes for a truly tranquil backyard experience.
Company: Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Our final selection for 2016 is yet another homeowner who has totally eradicated lawn care from their existence. This backyard has been beautifully hardscaped, providing a clean and simple palette for the well-thought out terracing and landscaping. We love the organic, curvy forms of the terraces as well as the dreamy custom-built outdoor fireplace (do we spy a pizza oven?) that evokes Jamie Oliver and his English kitchen garden. And that’s a good thing.
Winter is a great time to plan your backyard transformation. Check out our Backyard Pinterest board, our Deck board and our Pools board regularly for ongoing inspiration.
If you’re ready to get competitive quotes from top-rated contractors in your area, start here or continue your research here.
